Description
Crack chicken casserole delivers pure comfort straight from your kitchen to the dinner table. Creamy, cheesy, and packed with ranch-seasoned chicken, this crowd-pleasing dish guarantees smiles and clean plates.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 (12 oz) package egg noodles
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Supporting Ingredients:
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 6 slices bacon
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ¼ cup chopped green onions
Seasonings and Extras:
- 1 packet (1 oz) ranch dressing mix
- Salt
- Pepper
- Optional: Red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Submerge 1.5 lbs chicken breasts in water seasoned with 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp pepper. Boil for 18 minutes at a rolling boil until chicken reaches 165F. Shred chicken completely using two forks.
- Fill a large pot with water and 1 tbsp salt. Boil 12 oz egg noodles for exactly 9 minutes until perfectly tender. Drain noodles thoroughly in a colander.
- Soften 8 oz cream cheese at room temperature. Blend cream cheese with 1 packet Ranch dressing mix and ½ cup mayonnaise in a mixing bowl until completely smooth.
- Fold ¾ cup cheddar cheese into cream cheese mixture. Add 6 crumbled bacon slices and ¼ cup chopped green onions. Mix gently until ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Combine shredded chicken and cooked noodles with creamy sauce. Stir carefully to ensure every noodle gets coated. Pour ½ cup chicken broth into mixture and blend thoroughly.
- Transfer entire mixture into a greased 9×13 inch baking dish. Spread contents evenly across pan. Scatter remaining ¼ cup cheddar cheese across top surface.
- Heat oven to 350F. Bake casserole for 22 minutes until cheese melts completely and edges turn golden brown.
- Remove casserole from oven. Allow dish to rest for 5 minutes before serving to help sauce settle and flavors meld.
Notes
- Swap rotisserie chicken for shredded turkey or canned chicken to save time and add variety to the dish.
- Use gluten-free egg noodles and a dairy-free Ranch mix to make this recipe friendly for those with dietary restrictions.
- For extra crunch, sprinkle crushed butter crackers or panko breadcrumbs on top before baking to create a delightful golden topping.
- Prep this casserole ahead of time by assembling everything except the final cheese topping, then refrigerate and bake when ready to serve, adding 5-10 minutes to the cooking time.
- Prep Time: 15-20 minutes
- Cook Time: 28-35 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 489 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 690 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg