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Crack Chicken Casserole is loaded with cheese, bacon and chicken. Creamy and delicious casserole with tons of flavor and the ultimate comfort food! It’s quick to prep, easy to bake, and guaranteed to be a family favorite.

Crack Chicken Casserole in a casserole dish with a serving on a wooden spoon
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I love serving casseroles for an easy weeknight flavor. All the ingredients of this crack chicken recipe is baked in a baking dish for a creamy and delicious meal. Bacon, chicken, cheese, and pasta is the perfect combination and my whole family loves it!

There are many ways to enjoy the ingredients of Crack Chicken. You can make Instant Pot Crack Chicken Sandwiches, Slow cooker Crack Chicken, Crack Chicken Dip, Crock Pot Crack Chicken Soup, Instant Pot Crack Chicken Pasta Recipe or Crack Chicken Sliders. Simple ingredients makes crack chicken recipes a family favorite.

You may also love King Ranch Chicken Casserole, Ritz Chicken Casserole or Chicken Divan Recipe.

Ingredients

Ingredients needed - macaroni, chicken, bacon, cream cheese, sour cream, milk, ranch, pepper, cheese, onions
  • Dry Elbow Macaroni – You can use any small pasta. Cook before combining with other ingredients
  • Chicken Breast – Cooked & Diced into 1 inch pieces. Cooked leftover chicken works great too!
  • Bacon – Cooked and diced. You can also use already cooked bacon
  • Cream Cheese – Softened at room temperature
  • Sour Cream – For a lighter option, use Greek Yogurt
  • Milk – We used whole milk
  • Ranch Seasoning Packet – Use the packet or make Ranch Dressing Mix Recipe
  • Black Pepper – Simple spice addition
  • Shredded Cheddar Cheese – Use freshly shredded cheddar cheese
  • Green Onions – Chop into small pieces

Scroll to the recipe card for the full recipe details.

How to Make Crack Chicken Casserole

Step 1 – Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and spray a 9X13 baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Step 2 – Cook the pasta based on the package instructions to al dente.

Combining the cream cheese, sour cream, milk, and seasoning together in a bowl

Step 3 – In a large bowl, beat together the cream cheese, sour cream, milk, ranch seasoning mix and pepper with a hand held mixer until creamy.

Mixing in the pasta, chicken and cheese into the bowl with the cream cheese mixture

Step 4 – Step 4 – Then gently mix in the cooked chicken, pasta, half of the cheddar cheese and half of the chopped bacon. Stir by hand carefully until the ingredients are completely combined.

Spreading the mixture into the casserole dish

Step 5 – Then pour tender chicken, bacon mixture evenly into the prepared casserole dish.

Crack Chicken Casserole spread into the casserole dish topped with shredded cheese and chopped bacon

Step 6 – Sprinkle with the remaining shredded cheddar cheese, bacon and the sliced green onions.

Step 7 – Baked for 35-40 minutes in prepared baking dish until the cheese is melted.

crack chicken casserole in a baking dish with a serving on a wooden spoon
Review Pin Print
A small white plate with a serving of Crack Chicken Casserole, topped with melted cheddar, bacon pieces, and chopped green onions. Two forks and a black-and-white checkered napkin are nearby.

Crack Chicken Casserole

5 from 20 votes
Crack Chicken Casserole is loaded with cheese, bacon and chicken. Creamy and delicious casserole with tons of flavor. The perfect weeknight meal.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 6
Cuisine American
Course Main Course
Calories 852
Author Carrie Barnard

Ingredients

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Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and spray a 9X13 baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Cook the pasta based on the package instructions to al dente.
  • In a large size bowl, beat together the cream cheese, sour cream, milk, ranch seasoning mix and pepper with a hand held mixer until creamy.
  • Then gently mix in the cooked chicken, pasta, half of the cheddar cheese and half of the chopped bacon. Stir by hand carefully until the ingredients are completely combined.
  • Then pour this mixture evenly into the baking dish.
  • Top with the remaining shredded cheddar cheese, bacon and the sliced green onions.
  • Baked for 35-40 minutes until the cheese is melted.

Recipe Notes

Pro Tips
  • Cheese – When adding in the cheese, make sure you shred your own. Pre-shredded cheese contains added ingredients.
  • Chicken – We used chicken breast, but you can easily chicken thighs or chicken tenderloins. We have even used rotisserie chicken for an easy option. This is a great recipe to use your leftover chicken in.
  • Shredded Chicken – If you make chicken ahead of time, it needs to be shredded for this recipe. We recommend shredded chicken with a hand mixer or a stand mixer to easily shred the chicken.
  • Ranch Dressing Mix – You can purchase a ranch seasoning mix at the store but you can also make Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix. It is easy to make and there is no ingredients that you can’t pronounce.
  • Cooked Bacon – Make sure to cook bacon before adding to the casserole mixture.
Variation Ideas
  • Change the Pasta – We used elbow macaroni pasta, but you use penne, rigatoni or even spaghetti.
  • Add in Vegetables – Mix in some broccoli, bell peppers, or anything that you have on hand.
  • Use Rice – Instead of using pasta, mix in some white rice or cauliflower rice.
  • Cheese Variations – We used Cheddar Cheese but you can also use other types. Colby Monterrey Jack Cheese or Pepper Jack Cheese is a great option.
  • Ranch Seasoning – You can use the dry seasoning packet or you can make Homemade Ranch Seasoning.
  • Bacon – We used regular bacon in this recipe, but you can easily use turkey bacon. You can also buy the already cooked bacon for a easy addition to this casserole.
Topping Ideas
There are many ways to top this amazing meal. The melted cheese is delicious on top but we like to add a few toppings to add more flavor.
  • Cheese
  • Sour Cream
  • Green Onions
  • Bacon Bits

Nutrition Facts

Calories 852kcal, Carbohydrates 33g, Protein 43g, Fat 60g, Saturated Fat 29g, Polyunsaturated Fat 5g, Monounsaturated Fat 18g, Trans Fat 1g, Cholesterol 197mg, Sodium 901mg, Potassium 628mg, Fiber 1g, Sugar 5g, Vitamin A 1425IU, Vitamin C 2mg, Calcium 517mg, Iron 1mg

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What to Serve with Crack Chicken Casserole

Crock Pot Crack Chicken Casserole is a hearty meal, so we tend to make sides that are light. Here are some of our favorites.

  • Roasted Vegetables – We love to roast broccoli or asparagus for an easy side. They come out tender and the texture is crispy.
  • Simple Side Salad – A simple green salad is easy to make and it is a great side to this casserole. It is light but healthy and it is a good balance.
  • Garlic Bread – Anytime we make a pasta dish, we always make garlic bread.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Leftover Crack Chicken Casserole

Store the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge. We think it taste best the next day as all the ingredients have really marinated together.

How to Reheat

You can place the casserole in a sauce pan to reheat or in the microwave. We like heating in the sauce pan so you don’t get hot spots from heat in the microwave.
Heating in the microwave works great too. I usually just heat in 30 second intervals.

Can I Freeze Crack Chicken Casserole?

Yes, you can freeze this crack chicken pasta, but the pasta texture may be slightly different. If you plan on freezing it, you may make the mixture without the pasta. Then mix in the cooked pasta when you are ready to serve.
Store the crack chicken mixture in a freezer safe container. Place in the freezer and it will be good for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight when ready to reheat.

crack chicken casserole on a plate

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie Barnard — a professional food blogger with over 14 years of experience helping busy families make dinner fast, easy, and affordable.

At Eating on a Dime, I share simple, budget-friendly recipes that are tested in my own kitchen and approved by my 8 kids. With millions of readers each month, I’m here to help you cook real food for real families — without the stress.

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5 from 20 votes (19 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. Stephanie says:

    Does this recipe have cream of chicken soup in it?

    Reply
    1. Carrie Barnard says:

      No – I don’t use cream of chicken soup in this recipe. I hope you try it out and let me know what you think!

      Reply
  2. B*L says:

    5 stars
    I brought this to Thanksgiving lunch with family and it was a hit! Immediate and extended family loved it!

    Reply