This irresistible Crack Chicken Casserole is the very best weeknight comfort food. Creamy, cheesy, bacon-filled, and loaded with juicy chicken and pasta, the whole family will love this easy weeknight dinner.
Cheesy Crack Chicken Casserole
It’s hard not to love a good casserole recipe – am I right? And this this crack chicken casserole is one of my favorites. The ultimate quick and easy weeknight dinner, it will have the whole family begging for seconds – or thirds. Filled with tender cooked chicken and pasta in a cream cheese ranch sauce and topped with gooey melted cheese and crispy cooked bacon, it is the very definition of comfort food.
Ingredients in Crack Chicken Casserole
Find the printable recipe with measurements in the recipe card below.
- Cream Cheese: In this version casserole version, I chose to include cream cheese as part of the creamy sauce rather than cream of chicken soup. If you prefer a more liquid cream sauce, mix up to one cup of chicken broth or milk with the cream cheese.
- Sour Cream: For added creaminess and tang. If sour cream isn’t available, substitute with plain Greek yogurt.
- Ranch Seasoning Mix: Adds a tangy, herby flavor.
- Chicken: In this recipe, I used boneless chicken breast, but chicken thighs also work. If you’re short on time, you can use any leftover cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken.
- Cheese: Sharp cheddar and mozzarella cheese are perfect for this dish, but Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, or a sprinkle of crumbled feta would be great.
- Cooked Pasta: Shell pasta, penne, bowtie, elbow macaroni, etc.
- Bacon: Provides a smoky, salty flavor. Cook separately until crispy, then finely dice or crumble.
Optional Additions: Sauteed garlic and onions, mushrooms, peas, or broccoli.
How to Make Crack Chicken Casserole
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a large oven-safe skillet or baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
2. Beat the cream cheese using an electric mixer until easily whipped and easily spreadable, then add the sour cream, ranch dressing mix, salt, and black pepper and continue to mix until fully combined.
3. Add the chicken to the cream cheese and ranch mixture and mix until coated. Transfer to the prepared casserole dish and bake for 20 minutes.
4. As the chicken bakes, boil the pasta in a large pot of salted water according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
5. Remove the chicken from the oven and stir gently. Stir in the pasta and cooked bacon, then add half of the shredded cheese and stir until melted. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top.
6. Bake for 5-10 minutes, then broil on high for 3 minutes or until the top is golden and bubbly.
7. Garnish with sliced green onions if desired.
What to Serve with Easy Crack Chicken Casserole
I highly recommend serving this family favorite with a fresh green salad or yummy roasted veggies like broccoli, asparagus, or zucchini.
Storage
Transfer the leftover casserole to an airtight container. If you have a large amount, consider dividing it into smaller, portion-sized containers for easier reheating. Place in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Can You Freeze Crack Chicken Casserole?
Yes. To freeze, first allow the leftovers to cool completely before transferring them to freezer-safe airtight containers and place them in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. When ready to reheat, first allow the casserole to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat in the microwave or in the oven until it’s heated through. If the casserole looks a little dried out, stir in a few tablespoons of chicken broth or milk before reheating.
More Amazing Casseroles
- Hashbrown Casserole
- Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole Recipe
- Butternut Squash Casserole
- Chicken Noodle Casserole
- The Best Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe
- Zucchini Casserole
- Chicken and Rice Bake
If you try making this Crack Chicken Casserole Recipe, please leave me a comment and let me know! I always love to hear your thoughts.
RECIPE CARD
Crack Chicken Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 (8-ounce) block cream cheese - softened
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 (1-ounce) package Ranch Seasoning Mix
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon Ground black pepper
- 2 pounds chicken breast - cut into 1-inch pieces
- 8 ounces shell pasta
- 6 slices bacon - cooked until crisp and chopped
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese - freshly shredded
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese - freshly shredded
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a large oven-safe skillet or baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Beat the cream cheese in a large bowl until easily spreadable, then add the sour cream, ranch dressing mix, salt, and pepper and continue to mix until fully combined.
- Add the chicken to the cream cheese mixture and mix until coated. Transfer the chicken to the prepared oven-safe casserole dish and bake for 20 minutes.
- In the meantime, boil the pasta in a large pot of salted water according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Remove the chicken from the oven and stir gently. Fold in the pasta and cooked bacon, then add half of the shredded cheese and stir until melted. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top.
- Bake for 5-10 minutes, then broil on high for 3 minutes or until the top is golden and bubbly.
- Garnish with sliced green onions if desired.
Jessica’s Notes
- Short on time? Swap uncooked chicken for shredded rotisserie chicken (approximately 3 cups).
- Leftovers: Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Nutritional Information
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)
So confused on how 20 minutes at 375ยฐ was to cook the chicken completely, i had about 6-7 minutes left on time and chicken was still pink and raw as i put it in, what did i do wrong? ๐
Hi Karrah, was this before adding the cooked pasta and cheese? After adding the pasta and shredded cheese, the recipe instructs cooking for 10 more minutes plus a few minutes to broil the cheese, up to 33 minutes. The chicken should be cooked within this time, but all ovens vary, so perhaps yours just needed a few minutes longer.
Very pleased with the results!
This sounds delish! What is the serving size for this?
1/6 of the total dish ๐
I’m making this for friends who just had a baby. Planning to put it in their fridge so they just take it out and pop it in the oven to “cook” when they want it. Would you recommend doing all the steps except the last 10 minutes, letting it cool then covering it with foil to take it over?
That sounds like a thoughtful and practical plan for your friends!
They can store the casserole in the refrigerator until theyโre ready to heat it. Be sure to include instructions for them to bake it, but they will need to fully heat it up from the refrigerator temperature which will take significantly more time than the directions above ๐
Do you cover the chicken and sauce for the 1st 20 min?
Nope, no need to cover it in the oven ๐
If youโre using precooked chicken, how long would you put in oven once covered in cream cheese mixture? Not the full 20 minutes correct?
And then put back into oven once pasta is done?
Or only put casserole in oven when pasta is done with cream cheese + chicken for 5-10 minutes plus the broil?
Thatโs a great question! If youโre using precooked chicken for your crack chicken casserole, youโll want to adjust the baking time to avoid drying out the chicken. Since your chicken is already cooked, the main goal in the oven is to heat everything through and meld the flavors, especially the creamy cheese mixture.
Hereโs a streamlined approach: Once you’ve combined the pre-cooked chicken with the cream cheese mixture, add this to the cooked pasta (assuming the pasta is mixed into the casserole as well). You only need to bake the combined ingredients for about 5-10 minutes, just long enough to get everything hot and bubbly. After that, you can then broil it for a few additional minutes to get it goldenโwatch it closely to ensure it doesn’t burn ๐
Can I use chicken thighs instead?
Absolutely ๐
Hi I have family coming and was thinking about making it in the slow cooker. Would you still precook the pasta? How long before you add pasta do you think?
For making crack chicken casserole in a slow cooker, you indeed need to adjust the method a bit. It’s generally a good idea to still precook the pasta because adding uncooked pasta directly to the slow cooker can result in uneven cooking and a mushy texture. Cook the pasta until itโs just under al dente, as it will continue to cook in the slow cooker. Add the precooked pasta to the slow cooker about 30 minutes before the casserole is done to avoid it becoming too soft.
Thanks that’s what I was thinking. Can’t wait to try it.
I made this recipe dairy free because of food allergies in the family. It turned out great and even a couple picky eaters loved it.
Thanks for the feedback and rating, Robin.
I am happy your substitutions worked out well ๐
Made tonight. Fast, easy and delicious.
I appreciate your delicious feedback and rating, Tina ๐
Just eating this right now fresh out of the oven! I VASTLY improved it with half a large yellow onion thinly sliced, some garlic, frozen peas, and breadcrumbs on top. Reminds me of my mom’s cooking! Delicious!
Thanks for the delicious feedback ๐
Making this 2nite. Looks interesting
Let me know how it turns out ๐
Could this be done in a slow cooker?
Yes, Crack Chicken Casserole can indeed be adapted for preparation in a slow cooker, offering a convenient and effortless cooking method. Simply combine the ingredients in the slow cooker and let it do the work.
Did this recipe today hunkering down with some winter weather, and it was fantastic! Super easy.
If I were to do this with precooked chicken, would o still need to do the 20 minute bake with the cream cheese mix, or would just mix everything together and bake for little while?
Thanks for the fantastic feedback and rating, Darrin ๐
All other Crack Chicken Casserole recipes call for “cooked” chicken. This one does not. I am assuming you do not precook the chicken, and the chicken cooks during the first 20 minutes of cooking time in sauce?
Yes, it cooks in the first 20 minutes and continues to cook per step 6:
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6. Bake for 5-10 minutes, then broil on high for 3 minutes or until the top is golden and bubbly.
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You can used cooked chicken per the note section, which will reduce the total cook time ๐