BBQ Ranch Chicken Casserole – Indulge, in the flavorful realm of the BBQ Ranch Chicken Casserole, a dish that guarantees to delight your taste buds and fill your kitchen with a scent. This classic American dinner blends the tanginess of BBQ sauce with the tang of ranch dressing. Making it a dearest among people of all generations. With its tender shredded chicken, crispy bacon and a medley of cheeses this casserole goes beyond being a meal; it creates an experience served in a dish.
I prepared this BBQ Ranch Chicken casserole for the first time on a cold evening when we were looking for warmth and comfort. I remember rooting through the fridge for some inspiration. —And there it was: the leftover rotisserie chicken from last night and the extra bacon. While the casserole was baking in the oven, it sufficed our home with its desirable scent. Our anticipation grew. The real hook came at the dinner table when my husband and daughter laughed with joy. This dish has now become a symbol of home. Comfort for us and has brought us together after a long day.
What makes this BBQ Ranch Chicken Casserole truly special?
The BBQ Ranch Chicken Casserole is a crowd-pleaser. It can be effortlessly crafted using leftover elements. It’s a combination of BBQ and ranch flavors. Assembles a flavor that pleads to both children and adults. This dish is especially ideal, for nighttime as it brings everyone together around the table with expressions.
What You Need To Make This BBQ Ranch Chicken Casserole Recipe?
Bowtie Pasta: These adorable little pasta shapes are not just noodles; they add a twist to our casserole. They love to dance around in the creamy sauce capturing every bit of flavor along the way.
Shredded Chicken: Imagine the chicken as the star of the show bringing depth and substance to your dish. Whether it’s leftover, from the night a store-bought rotisserie chicken or freshly cooked it’s about adding comfort and warmth to your meal.
Bacon: Here’s the secret for a whisper in every mouthful. Once cooked and chopped bacon becomes that friend who always knows how to make things better. Real bacon pieces are the way to go since they provide a texture and richness that imitation bacon just can’t match.
Cheddar Cheese: Think of cheddar cheese as the binding agent that brings everything together harmoniously. When shredded and melted into a gooey, delight it envelops ingredients in a warm embrace.
Corn: These golden kernels are like bursts of sunshine on your plate. They add sweetness and a tender crunch that takes you back to carefree days filled with happiness.
Rotel and Green Chiles: These ingredients bring twists. Turns to our culinary story. They infuse the dish with zest. Provide a kick, without overpowering its flavors.
Ranch dressing and BBQ sauce: They make a pair creating a sauce that’s tangy yet creamy, rich and full of zest. It’s, like the background music, for our dish setting the mood for every bite.
Chopped onions: These add a touch of flavor complexity that may go unnoticed visually but will certainly be tasted lending an aromatic boost to the casserole.
Steps To Make BBQ Ranch Chicken Casserole:
Step 1: Start by preheating your oven to a cozy 350 degrees, setting the stage for what’s to come.
Step 2: Boil your bowtie pasta until it’s perfectly al dente. As it cooks, imagine the smiles this dish will bring. Drain well and let it be the canvas for your masterpiece.
Step 3: In a large mixing bowl, gently combine the al dente pasta with the shredded chicken, the crispy bits of bacon, the melty cheese, sweet corn, Rotel, green chiles, creamy ranch, smoky BBQ sauce, and the subtle kick of minced onions. Each ingredient adds its own story to the dish.
Step 4: Lovingly transfer this mix into a casserole dish, sprinkle with love (and more cheese, if you wish), and bake for 15-20 minutes. As it bakes, let the anticipation build.
Step 5: Once the cheese is bubbly and the edges golden, gather your loved ones. It’s more than a meal; it’s a moment to share.
Tip:
Enrich the dish by layering flavors right, from the beginning. Before blending your ingredients whisk together the ranch dressing and BBQ sauce in a bowl. Consider adding a whiff of smoked paprika or a touch of chili powder to this mixture. This little step strengthens the core of the sauce. Guaranteeing that each morsel of your casserole bursts, with a chasm of flavor that is both indulgent and nuanced. It’s an adjustment. It heightens the dish into a culinary chef-d’oeuvre. That will vacate your loved ones expecting more.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I make this in advance?
You can definitely prepare this in advance. Simply put together the casserole ahead of time. Store it in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to serve bake it. Add a few minutes to the cooking time.
Can I use a different type of pasta?
You can use any type of pasta you prefer. Just make sure to choose one that can hold onto the sauce and cheese nicely like penne or fusilli.
Is it freezer-friendly?
This dish freezes well. If you want to freeze it do so before baking it. When you’re ready to enjoy it thaw it in the refrigerator. Then bake as instructed.
BBQ Ranch Chicken Casserole
Ingredients
- 12 oz bowtie pasta
- 3 c chicken breast cooked and shredded
- ½ c bacon cooked and chopped
- 2½ c cheese cheddar shredded
- 15 oz corn canned and drained
- 10 oz Rotel undrained
- 7 oz diced green chiles undrained
- 1 c ranch dressing
- ¾ c BBQ sauce
- 1 tablespoon minced onions
Instructions
- Start by preheating your oven to 350°F.
- Next, cook the bowtie pasta until it reaches the desired al dente texture and then drain it.
- In a bowl combine the pasta, with shredded chicken chopped bacon, shredded cheese drained corn, Rotel (including its juice) green chiles (with their juice) ranch dressing, BBQ sauce and minced onions.
- Transfer this mixture into a casserole dish. If you prefer a cheesy touch feel free to sprinkle some cheese on top.
- Place the dish in the oven. Bake for approximately 15 to 20 minutes or until it becomes hot throughout and the cheese has melted to perfection.
- Now you can enjoy your mouthwatering BBQ Ranch Chicken Casserole from the oven. It will be hot. Bubbling with deliciousness!
Notes
