Description
A rich and comforting creamy chicken ranch casserole made with tender chicken, pasta, cream cheese, cheddar, and ranch seasoning, baked until bubbly and golden on top.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 2 large chicken breasts, about 500 grams, cut into bite sized chunks
- 3 cups (300 grams) dry pasta such as penne or rotini
- 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning mix
- 200 grams cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/2 cups (150 grams) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 1 cup (240 grams) sour cream
- 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 190 degrees Celsius and bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook the pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken pieces, season with salt and black pepper, and cook for 5 to 7 minutes until lightly golden and fully cooked.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, ranch seasoning, and half of the shredded cheddar cheese. Stir until smooth and well blended.
- Add the cooked pasta, chicken, diced red bell pepper, and chopped parsley to the bowl. Mix until evenly coated.
- Transfer the mixture into a baking dish and spread evenly. Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheddar cheese over the top.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until bubbly and lightly golden on top.
- Let the casserole rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Cook the pasta just until al dente so it does not become too soft while baking.
- Allow the casserole to rest after baking so the sauce thickens slightly.
- You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and refrigerate until ready to bake.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 125mg