Crack Chicken Casserole

This creamy cheesy and tender crack chicken casserole is an amazing easy dinner recipe for the whole family that you can make in no time mid-week.

Everyone loves comfort food. And if the meal has a combination of juicy chicken, creamy thick sauce, cheese, and bacon, you simply can’t say No to such a delicious casserole.

Plus, for home cooks, all easy recipes are always dump-and-go casseroles where you can literally throw all the leftovers, shut the oven door, and wait for the magic. Never fails.

So if you haven’t heard and haven’t tried yet the crack chicken casserole, it is time to make it! I guarantee the entire family will need a proper nap after this one!

Why Is It Called Crack Chicken?

The name started for a very simple and obvious reason – this chicken casserole is addictive and so good, that you will crave it again and again. And this recipe has been an American staple for decades now!

The crack chicken casserole recipe is also often called crack chicken, bacon, and ranch casserole.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• My family favorite because of the tender chicken breasts, loads of gooey cheese, and crispy bacon. And, of course, ranch seasoning. This baked casserole just tastes amazing!
• Minimal prep time and straightforward recipe. If you buy everything pre-cooked, you literally don’t have to do anything.
• Great way to use leftover chicken after holidays.
• Freezable and makes a great meal prep option.

Ingredients Notes

• Cream cheese. Brick type softened at room temperature for easy mixing. It is the rich base for our creamy saucy casserole.
• Sour cream adds more creaminess, silky softness, and a little tang to the mix. Greek yogurt can replace sour cream.
• Shredded cheddar cheese, and make sure to have some more for topping. Cheddar cheese is a go-to choice, but so is Monterrey Jack Cheese or Pepper Jack Cheese. Buy cheese in blocks and shred it yourself.
• Shredded mozzarella cheese is such a nice soft mild cheese that makes great stretchy cheesy sauce once melted.
• Seasoning mix: dry ranch seasoning mix, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper to taste. The ranch flavor is very balanced with all other ingredients, it won’t be overwhelming. If you can, make your own ranch seasoning mix at home.
• Whole milk, if needed to thin the mixture (I used just 3 tablespoons). You may not need it during cooking, but the next day, macaroni may soak up some of the sauce and it will be thick.
• Chicken, cooked and shredded (you can use shredded rotisserie chicken)
• Cooked bacon, crumbled (reserve 1 slice for garnish)
• Pasta, cooked, large elbow or shells, can even use penne, bowtie, or egg noodles.
• Green onions for garnish, optional. Cilantro or parsley are great options for garnish too.

Kitchen Equipment

• 9×13 baking dish

How To Make Crack Chicken Casserole

1: Prep Work

1. To proceed with the recipe, make sure to pre-cook chicken and bacon in olive oil or butter, and boil the pasta. Cook pasta till al dente and do not rinse it. If you cook bacon yourself, you can save a bit of the grease for the casserole mixture.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
3. Prep a 9×13 baking dish (casserole dish) with cooking spray or cooking oil. Set aside.

2: Make The Casserole Mixture

1. Mix the cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, ranch seasoning mix, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl until well combined. If the mixture is too thick, add a small amount of milk, 1 tablespoon at a time until desired consistency.
2. Stir in the shredded chicken and chopped bacon.
3. Fold in the cooked pasta until the mixture is well coated and combined.

3: Bake

1. Transfer the chicken mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread it into an even layer.
2. Bake for 25-30 minutes in the preheated oven or until the casserole is bubbly and the top is golden brown. Check it after 20 minutes and cover it with foil if it gets too brown.
3. Optional: Remove it from the oven and add more shredded cheese. Return to the oven for an additional 5-10 minutes or until cheese is melted.
4. Garnish with reserved bacon and sliced green onions when serving, if desired.
5. You can serve crack chicken casserole as a main dish, with some steamed or roasted veggies, bread, or green salad.

Storage

Store leftover crack chicken casserole in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave checking every 30 seconds.

Freezing Instructions

Uncooked casserole can be frozen for up to 3 months. Simply mix all the recipe ingredients as instructed and freeze in a freezer-safe dish until ready to bake. Thaw overnight in the fridge, and bake.

Baked crack chicken casserole can also be frozen for 2-3 months. Wrap it tightly in two layers of aluminum foil. Thaw in the fridge and reheat in the oven at 350F.

Frozen chicken casserole can dry out, so reheat or bake with an extra splash of broth or milk.

Substitutions & Variations

• Instead of milk, you can use half and half, condensed cream of chicken soup, or chicken broth to thin the creamy sauce and add more savory salty flavors. Apart from this, you can also stir in homemade or store-bought mayo to the creamy casserole base.
• Yummy add-ons that will bulk up the dish: colorful bell peppers, frozen hash browns, jalapenos (or hotter peppers), or peas.
• Make a crunchy topping using panko breadcrumbs or crushed crackers (like regular Ritz crackers). Mix them with some melted butter in a small bowl, then top the casserole, and bake. Less crunchy, but packed with carbs option is to add some chopped biscuits on top.
• Vegetarian version. If you don’t eat meat and dairy, use alternative meats or veggies like broccoli, eggplant, potatoes, or zucchini.
• Instead of pasta, you can also make crack chicken casserole with rice, cauliflower rice, or tater tots.
• You can use regular onion instead of onion powder. Simply saute it in some oil or butter before mixing in.

Expert Tips To Make The Best Crack Chicken Casserole

• To cook this dish in an Instant Pot. Load cooked chicken, bacon and ranch seasoning, and cream cheese and cook on manual for 5 minutes. Quickly release the pressure, stir, add uncooked pasta and broth, and cook for another 3 minutes. 
• To cook this casserole in a slow cooker as a savory dip or main course, simply layer out raw chicken, cream cheese, and ranch mix and cook on low for 7 hours. Shred the chicken, add bacon, and cheese, and give it all another 10-15 minutes.
• You can also make a crack chicken casserole in an air fryer at 300-325F for 12-15 minutes.
• Grate the cheese at home. Store-bought pre-shredded cheddar cheese can have additives that keep it from melting completely.
• For the extra crispy topping, keep the casserole in the oven for an extra 5 minutes on the broiler.

Popular Questions

Should You Cover A Chicken Casserole When Baking?

I don’t cover chicken casserole during the cooking time to allow the top of the casserole to brown and become crispy. If you top your dish with panko breadcrumbs, you should also leave it uncovered.

If the top of the casserole is browning too quickly, you can cover it with foil.

Is It Okay To Put Raw Chicken In A Casserole?

I recommend using cooked chicken in casserole recipes to shorten the cooking time, but you can add raw chicken to the dish too, in that case, you need to cook it longer to make sure the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature 165F).

Why Is My Chicken Casserole Watery?

This crack chicken casserole won’t be watery. But if you’re adding too much stock, milk, or raw veggies full of natural juices, the casserole may be watery and soggy at the bottom.

If you love this casserole recipe, you’re going to love these other casseroles too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!

More Crack Chicken Recipes

Instant Pot Crack Chicken

Slow Cooker Crack Chicken

Chicken Bacon Ranch Wonton Cups

Rotisserie Chicken Bacon Ranch Tacos

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