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Crack Chicken Casserole in a rich and creamy sauce made with bacon and ranch.
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Crack Chicken Casserole

This Cheesy Crack Chicken Casserole is loaded with tender chicken, creamy sauce, bacon and topped with a buttery cracker crust. This will be a new favorite for family dinners. And it's also a great recipe for feeding a crowd! This dish is seriously addictive! And make sure to read below for some fun tips and variations to this recipe. 
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword casserole, crack chicken
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces egg noodles cooked and drained
  • 4 cups cooked chicken cubed
  • 1 cup cooked and chopped bacon
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1-1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 can 10.5 oz, cream of chicken soup
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 packet dry ranch dressing
  • 1 sleeve Ritz crackers crushed
  • 1/4 cup butter melted
  • chopped green onions

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 and grease a casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
  • Cook pasta according to directions on box.
  • Add chicken, bacon, sour cream, shredded cheese, soup, milk and ranch dressing to a mixing bowl and mix well.
    Mixing chicken, bacon and ranch dressing together
  • Add Pasta into the bowl.
    Adding pasta to crack chicken casserole
  • Spread into prepared pan.
    Spread bacon ranch casserole in pan.
  • In a small bowl, combine crackers and butter and sprinkle on top of chicken. Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly around the edges. Serve topped with green onions
    Crack Chicken Casserole coming out of the oven.

Notes

Pasta- Try different kinds of pasta. Spaghetti, Penne or a shell-shaped pasta would be fun!
Reduce Some Calories?- Don't even ask how many calories are in this dish. Who cares?!?! But, if you want to trim some of the guilt, you can sub Greek Yogurt for the Sour Cream. And you can use Turkey Bacon instead of regular Bacon. You can also use Low Fat Cheese. 
Fun with Cheese- We used Cheddar Cheese and it was great. But feel free to mix it up a bit. Colby Jack, mix in some swiss, or pepperjack to add some kick!
Add Some Kick- Speaking of adding spice, try mixing in half a cup of buffalo sauce into the mixture if you like a little heat!
Chicken- We used boneless skinless chicken breasts. But using Chicken Thighs may add some moisture to this dish if desired. We also love to make casseroles with Rotisserie Chicken. In fact it's a great idea to buy a couple Rotisserie Chickens from the store, break them down and keep them in the freezer. Another great idea is to use Leftover Turkey for this recipe. A great option for leftovers after the holidays!
Alternative Topping- Try using Panko Bread Crumbs instead of the crackers. 
Fun Additions- Try adding peas for some color. Or one small can of Green Chiles or Jalapenos for some heat. Make sure you drain the can before adding. 
Serve with Some Bread- These would go great with our Quick and Easy Drop Biscuits!