With bacon, tender chicken, pasta, cheese, and a creamy ranch sauce, it’s easy to see why this crack chicken casserole is addictive! Bring this to a potluck and watch it disappear.
Crack chicken casserole is a dish that pairs all those flavors and textures we just can’t get enough of—a creamy sauce, plenty of cheese, ranch seasoning, and bacon, all combined with pasta and chicken to make it a meal. This casserole is easy to make and also perfect for feeding a crowd, making it a great option for potlucks—or weeknight dinners with leftovers!
Why You’ll Love This Crack Chicken Casserole Recipe
- Big, bold flavors. Bacon, ranch, and cheddar make this casserole super tasty.
- Easy to make ahead. As with most casserole recipes, this one is great for prepping ahead so it’s ready to pop in the oven when it’s time for dinner.
- Family-friendly. Even picky eaters will have nothing to complain about with this crack chicken casserole! You just can’t go wrong with pasta and chicken in a creamy sauce.
What You’ll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.
- Homemade ranch seasoning – You’ll need buttermilk powder, dried parsley, dried dill, garlic powder, onion powder, dried chives, salt, and black pepper. If you prefer, you can use a store-bought packet.
- Pasta – Elbows, shells, and rotini work well.
- Olive oil
- White onion – Yellow onion is fine too.
- Cooked chicken – Cook it any way you like, then shred it. Rotisserie chicken is another good option, or try this Instant Pot Shredded Chicken.
- Greek yogurt – Or cream cheese for a more traditional crack chicken casserole.
- Cream of chicken soup
- Seasonings – Garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Turkey bacon – Cook this, then crumble it.
- Cheddar cheese – You can shred your own for the meltiest texture, or use store-bought shreds for convenience.
- Green onions
How to Make Crack Chicken Casserole
- Make the ranch seasoning. Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl.
- Cook the pasta. Follow the package directions, then drain.
- Cook the onion. Sauté it in oil until it’s softened.
- Combine. Stir together the chicken, yogurt, soup, and seasonings, then fold in the pasta, bacon, and onion.
- Assemble. Spread the mixture into a greased baking dish and top with cheese.
- Bake. Bake in a 350ºF oven for 25-30 minutes. Garnish the crack chicken casserole with green onions and bacon, then serve.
Tips and Variations
- Cook the pasta to al dente. The pasta will continue to cook a bit in the oven, so you want to start with al dente pasta to keep it from getting mushy.
- Let it cool before serving. Allowing the crack chicken casserole to cool for a few minutes before serving helps the sauce thicken up a bit.
- Make it vegetarian. To make this dish vegetarian, substitute the chicken with plant-based chicken, roasted cauliflower, or chickpeas. Use cream of celery soup or cream of mushroom soup instead of cream of chicken.
What to Serve with Crack Chicken Casserole
Crack chicken casserole is a meal on its own, but you can round things out with a simple salad (try one of these easy vegan salad dressing ideas). A veggie side dish like oven roasted root vegetables or sauteed garlic green beans would also be delicious.
How to Store
- Refrigerator: Store leftover crack chicken casserole wrapped in the baking dish or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: This casserole can be frozen before or after baking. Simply wrap tightly with foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before baking or reheating.
- Reheat: Reheat individual portions in the microwave, or cover the casserole dish with foil and reheat at 350ºF until warmed through.
More Casserole Recipes
Crack Chicken Casserole
With bacon, juicy chicken, pasta, lots of cheese, and a creamy ranch sauce, it’s easy to see why this crack chicken casserole is so addictive!
Ingredients
For the Homemade Ranch Seasoning:
- ¼ cup buttermilk powder
- 2 tablespoons dried parsley
- 1 tablespoon dried dill
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried chives
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
For the Casserole:
- 8 ounces pasta (elbow, shell or rotini work well)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium white onion finely chopped
- 2 cups cooked chicken shredded
- 1 cup greek yogurt or 8 oz cream cheese*
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
- 2 tablespoons Homemade Ranch Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup cooked turkey bacon crumbled
- 1 cup shredded red cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onions
Instructions
- Make the Ranch Seasoning: In a small bowl, mix together all the ingredients for the homemade ranch seasoning. Set aside.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with olive oil or cooking spray.
- Boil the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the finely chopped white onion and sauté until translucent and tender, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded chicken, greek yogurt, cream of chicken soup, two tablespoons Ranch Seasoning mix, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined and creamy.
- Add the cooked pasta, crumbled turkey bacon and sautéed white onion to the chicken mixture. Stir everything together until evenly distributed.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Spread it out evenly with a spatula. Top with shredded cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is bubbly and slightly golden.
- Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with green onions and additional bacon crumbles if desired.
Nutrition
Calories: 286kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.002g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 708mg | Potassium: 388mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 838IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 221mg | Iron: 2mg
