Loaded Potato Ranch Chicken Casserole is a whole dinner in one! All topped with melty cheese and bacon. Picky eater approved!
A DELICIOUS DINNER ALL IN ONE PAN
I am really excited to share this recipe for Loaded Bacon Ranch Chicken Casserole with you today. It turned out so, so good! I mean you really just can't go wrong with potatoes, chicken, melty cheese and bacon, right? This is definitely one of those all-in-one meals that I really think your whole entire family will love. It is easily customizable to suit your family's tastes!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Yes, you can. If you forgot to pick up a bottle of ranch dressing, you can just season the potatoes and chicken with some ranch seasoning mix.
Yes. You can peel and dice russet potatoes instead of using baby gold potatoes.
Yes. Chicken thighs are a wonderful substitute as they are usually less expensive than chicken breasts. Just make sure to grab the boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
With this recipe, we are using ranch dressing to really give this chicken some flavor. In addition to the dressing, it is very important to also salt and pepper the chicken. You could also add a little garlic powder and/or paprika to the mix. This will all really infuse the chicken with a lot of flavor and save it from being too bland.
It is actually safe to put raw meat into casseroles. Once the chicken reaches the cooked temperature of 165F degrees, all the bacteria that might have been there will have been killed once the dish reaches that temperature.
This really is a whole meal in one. However, if you want to add some more vegetables to your plate, I suggest some steamed carrots or broccoli. Or serve with a delicious side salad (with ranch dressing, of course!)
Leftovers can be stored in a covered container, in the refrigerator, for 2 days. It can also be frozen in a freezer safe container for up to 2 months. Allow to come to room temperature, then microwave to reheat.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- gold baby potatoes
- boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Ranch dressing
- salt and pepper
- Mexican Cheese Blend
- bacon
- green onion
HOW TO MAKE LOADED BACON RANCH CHICKEN CASSEROLE:
Preheat oven to 450f. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Dice potatoes into 1-inch cubes.
In a large bowl mix together the diced potatoes, salt & pepper and ¼ cup ranch dressing. Note: It's really important you add a bit of salt & pepper along with the ranch dressing. It makes a difference in the flavor.
Scoop the potatoes into prepared baking dish (save that bowl, we're going to use it again for the chicken.
Bake the potatoes for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until almost thoroughly cooked (they won't be fork tender quite yet.)
While the potatoes are cooking, start cutting up the chicken breasts.
Add the cutup chicken to the bowl you used to the potatoes and add salt and pepper and the remaining ¼ cup ranch dressing.
Once the potatoes have cooked 30 minutes, remove baking dish from the oven and lower the oven temperature to 400F. Top the cooked potatoes with the raw marinated chicken. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil (Warning: Baking dish will be VERY hot so use oven mitts to do this.)
Place baking dish back in the oven and cook for an additional 20 minutes (or until chicken is fully cooked.)
Take baking dish out of the oven and top with shredded cheese, bacon and green onion.
Place back in oven for 8-10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
CRAVING MORE RECIPES? GIVE THESE A TRY!
Loaded Potato Ranch Chicken Casserole
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds baby gold potatoes
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- salt and pepper, to taste
- ½ cup prepared ranch dressing, divided use
- 2 cups Mexican Cheese blend
- 1 cup cooked and crumbled bacon
- ½ cup diced green onion
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450F degrees. Spray a 9"x 13" baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Dice the potatoes into 1-inch cubes.
- In a large bowl mix together the diced potatoes, salt & pepper and ¼ cup ranch dressing.
- Pour the potatoes into prepared baking dish and spread out evenly (save that bowl, we're going to use it again for the chicken.)
- Bake the potatoes for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until almost thoroughly cooked (they won't be fork tender quite yet.).
- While the potatoes are cooking, add the cubed chicken to the bowl you used for the potatoes and add salt and pepper and the remaining ¼ cup ranch dressing (see my notes below about additional seasoning ideas).
- Once the potatoes have cooked 30 minutes, remove baking dish from the oven and lower the oven temperature to 400F degrees.
- Top the cooked potatoes evenly with the raw marinated chicken.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil (Warning: Baking dish will be VERY hot so use oven mitts to do this.)
- Place baking dish back in the oven and cook for an additional 20 minutes (or until chicken is fully cooked and has reached 165F degrees internal temperature).
- Take baking dish out of the oven and top with shredded cheese, bacon and green onion.
- Place back in oven for 8-10 minutes (or until cheese is melted and bubbly).
Video
Notes
- Leftovers can be stored in a covered container, in the refrigerator, for 2 days. It can also be frozen in a freezer safe container for up to 2 months. Allow to come to room temperature, then microwave to reheat.
- Chicken thighs can be used instead of chicken breasts.
- Don't forget to also season the chicken and the potatoes with salt and pepper. In addition, try adding some garlic powder and/or paprika to your seasonings.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Originally published: February 2016
Updated and republished: December 2021
SJR
Added some fresh garlic, as well as rosemary and oregano and some cream cheese to the chicken.
Nicole
Made this for dinner tonight. Will definitely make it again and again. Very tasty, and filling. Made with simple ingredients that I had on hand. Made a tiny change as suggested by someone else and sprinkled the potatoes with garlic powder along with the salt and pepper.
Amie J Davey
So do you just use dry ranch seasoning or make the dressing. I'm confused, because sometimes it says dressing and the it says seasoning.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
You can see in my ingredient photo above
Sarah
Absolutely delicious! My husband raved about this recipe! The only change I made was sprinkling the potatoes with garlic powder and we used cheddar jack cheese. Definitely will be a regular dinner in our house, thank you for a great recipe!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Love your additions, Sarah! Thanks so much for coming back to leave a review!
Hope
This was a delicious dinner! Huge hit with my parents!! Just wondering if the nutritional information is based on the entire casserole, or one serving?
Baljithayer
Hi can I use chicken thighs
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Yes you can 🙂
Tammy Miller
I’ve made this recipe several times. It’s definitely a keeper.
we loved it.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Thanks so much Tammy!
Heather
My family absolutely loved this.
Jen Noll
This was so good and easy to make. Hubby and I loved it! Definitely a keeper.
Jo
Love it. Easy recipe that feeds a lot of people and tastes very good. My whole family enjoyed it and have made it several times for them.
Beth
I made this for supper tonight and it was so good. Everyone in the family loved it. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful recipe.
Elly
Would this recipe work without the chicken? I like to make it for a bbq I'm attenfing, but bc of all the other bbq meats I don't want to make it with chicken..
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Hi Elly, you could. I would just use less dressing. 🙂
Jessica ostroski
We've made this 4 times now since finding this recipe. It has become one of my fiancee and mines favorites! We do half potatoes and half cauliflower to make it a little healthier. We've also added broccoli and asparagus to it just to add more veggies. Turns out great every time!
Debbie
We are empty nesters and I don’t make big casseroles anymore. Would it be possible to half the recipe?
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Hi Debbie - I don't see why not! 🙂
Shelly Rawlings | ShellyRawlings.com
I've made this for my husband and myself three or four times now and we both love it! I really appreciate that all the measurements noted in this recipe are actually correct; that is, I actually get the result I'm hoping for! I usually throw a little garlic powder and rosemary in with the ranch/salt/pepper mix, but the recipe is great as-is, too. Thanks for posting this! 🙂
Brandie @ The Country Cook
This makes me so happy to read, Shelly! Thank you so much for taking the time to come back and leave feedback!
Stacie
I made this tonight for dinner. The flavor was great, but there was A LOT of liquid in the bottom of the casserole dish. Is this normal? I followed recipe to a "T"... Maybe just ranch (powdered) seasoning next time?
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Hi Stacie! Glad you enjoyed the flavor of this one. Sometimes it's the chicken or the brand of ranch dressing. So you are correct, you could absolutely just use the pack of ranch seasoning if the liquid on the bottom bugs ya too much. 🙂
Denise
I made this for supper today and it was very good. My son and husband liked it too!!! Thanks for all the Delicious recipes you post. I have tried many and all was a hit at my house.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
This makes me so happy to read - thank you Denise!
pam
Can I make this with sour cream and Hidden Valley Ranch powder?
Tarin Vickers
Did you try it with the sour cream &packet? I'm curious myself, or cream cheese even.
Felica
We added cookies wings n things hot sauce to the ranch with the chicken! So so yummy!!
Sara Chouinard
This is so delicious and comforting on a cold day. I add broccoli and it tastes just like a loaded baked potato.
Shannon Burrell
Delicious and easy
Bobbie
Wondering if the cubed hash brown potatoes would work here? Looks so yummy!!
Loisa
Liove the ranch flavor. It instantly became a family favorite!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Woo hoo!!! Thanks so much Louisa!