Description
This Festive Dinner Crack Chicken Casserole is a comforting, creamy, and cheesy dish perfect for holiday gatherings or family dinners. Featuring tender chicken, smoky bacon, and a flavorful blend of cream cheese, sour cream, and ranch seasoning, this casserole combines the indulgence of classic comfort food with the satisfying texture of elbow macaroni. Topped with shredded cheddar cheese and garnished with fresh green onions, it’s a hearty meal that everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Protein
- 1½ cups dry elbow macaroni
- 3 cups cooked skinless, boneless chicken breast, cubed
- 16 slices bacon, cooked and diced (about 1 ½ cups)
Dairy and Cream Base
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 10.5 oz can cream of chicken soup, undiluted
- 2 cups sour cream
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup milk or half-and-half
- 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
Seasonings and Vegetables
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 1 ounce packet ranch dressing seasoning
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 green onion, sliced thin for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the Macaroni: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare Bacon and Onion: Cook bacon slices in a skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove and drain on paper towels, then dice into small pieces. In the same skillet, add butter and sauté the diced yellow onion until translucent and soft.
- Mix Cream Base: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, softened cream cheese, and milk or half-and-half. Whisk together until smooth. Add ranch seasoning, black pepper, kosher salt, and onion powder, then mix well.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the cooked macaroni, diced cooked chicken, sautéed onions, and half of the cooked bacon into the creamy mixture. Stir in 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese. Mix thoroughly to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Assemble the Casserole: Transfer the mixture to a greased baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the casserole uncovered for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese on top is melted and bubbly, and the casserole is heated through.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Sprinkle the sliced green onions and remaining diced bacon on top as garnish before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute cooked rotisserie chicken for convenience.
- For a lighter version, use reduced-fat sour cream and cheese.
- Adjust seasoning to taste, especially salt and pepper.
- For extra crunch, add crushed crackers or breadcrumbs on top before baking.
- This casserole can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated before baking; just increase baking time slightly if baking cold.
Keywords: crack chicken casserole, creamy chicken casserole, cheesy chicken dinner, holiday casserole, comfort food casserole, bacon chicken casserole