PREP TIME: 30 mins | COOK TIME: 30 mins | TOTAL TIME: 1 hr | SERVINGS: 8
This crack chicken casserole is one of my favorite casseroles! Super cheesy, creamy, packed with bacon, and very comforting. Prep this in under thirty minutes and have this casserole ready on your dinner table in a breeze! Crazy good your entire family will surely ask for this crack chicken casserole over and over again!
Ingredients
3 tbsp butter
3 c. skinless, boneless chicken breast, cooked and cubed
16 slices bacon, cooked and diced (this measures 1½ c. once cooked)
1½ c. dry elbow macaroni
1 small yellow onion, diced
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 green onion, sliced thin
2 c. sour cream
¼ c. milk or half-and-half
10.5 oz. cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 oz. ranch dressing seasoning packet
1 tsp onion powder
3 c. shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp black pepper
How to make Crack Chicken Casserole
Step 1: Prepare the oven. Preheat it to 375 degrees F. Ready a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Lightly grease and set aside.
Step 2: Pour water into a medium-sized saucepan, filling up to ¾ full. Bring the water to a rolling boil, then add the elbow macaroni. Cook the macaroni until al dente. Drain when done and set aside.
Step 3: Melt the butter in a medium-sized skillet. Once melted, add the dice onions and saute for about 5 to 7 minutes over medium to high heat, stirring using a wooden spoon until translucent and the onions are beginning to turn golden/light brown. Take off the heat and set the onions aside.
Step 4: Place the softened cream cheese, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk or half-and-half, and a package of ranch dressing powder in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Mix using a handheld mixer on medium speed until creamy. Keep mixing on low and add the kosher salt, black pepper, and onion powder. Mix well until blended.
Step 5: Into a large mixing bowl, transfer the sour cream mixture. Next, add the macaroni along with the cubed chicken breast, cooked onion, 1½ c. of cheddar cheese, and ¾ of a c. of cooked bacon. Mix well using a large wooden spoon until everything is incorporated.
Step 6: Into the prepared baking dish, pour the chicken mixture, evenly spreading it. On top, sprinkle the rest of the shredded cheddar cheese, bacon, and thinly sliced green onion.
Step 7: Place in the preheated oven and bake for about 35 to 40 minutes or until the top of the cheese is melted and gooey.