Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole

Fully cooked bacon ranch casserole sits in its baking dish on a light pink background. It has been topped with fresh chives.

4.70 — Votes 10 votes

Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole

This chicken bacon ranch casserole is what casserole dinner dreams are made of! Zesty ranch-seasoned shredded chicken sits on a layer of creamy mashed potatoes, followed by a generous sprinkle of melted cheese, crispy bacon, and fresh chives.

Prep Time5

Cook Time55

Total Time1

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free

Servings: Servings

Author: Cassy Joy Garcia

Ingredients

For the Potatoes

3 pounds Yukon gold potatoes
3 tablespoons butter
½ cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper

For the Casserole

5 cups cooked, shredded chicken
¾ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons dried dill
4 ounces Monterey jack cheese, shredded
10 ounces bacon, cooked and crumbled
2 tablespoons fresh chives, for garnish

Instructions

Place a pan on the stovetop over medium heat and, once hot, add the bacon to it. Let the bacon cook, flipping it occasionally, until crisp. Once finished, set the bacon aside.
While the bacon cooks, place the potatoes in a large pot, cover the potatoes in water, and bring to a simmer over high heat. Simmer for 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are easily pierced with a fork.
Drain the potatoes then add the butter, cream, salt, and pepper. Using a potato masher, mash the potatoes until smooth.
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the potatoes out in the bottom of a 9x13 casserole dish (or any 3.5-4 quart dish).
For the chicken layer, mix the mayo with the lemon juice and dill in a large bowl, and whisk until smooth. Add the cooked, shredded chicken and toss to combine, then spread the chicken over the mashed potatoes.
Top the chicken with the shredded cheese and then sprinkle the bacon on the very top. Bake the casserole for 20 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and the casserole is warmed through.
Top with fresh chives, then serve and enjoy!

Notes

Make your mashed potatoes in the Instant Pot - this recipe walks you through making the mashed potatoes in a pot on the stovetop, but if you want to keep things even more hands-off, feel free to make Instant Pot mashed potatoes instead.

Use ranch dressing - this recipe calls for tossing the shredded chicken in a creamy, ranch-inspired blend of ingredients, but you could also use 3/4 cup of ranch dressing, if you'd like.

Nutrition