This Creamy Chicken Bacon Ranch Bake is a delicious and easy dinner recipe that the whole family will love.
Perfect for busy weeknight dinners - this chicken oven bake takes just minutes to prepare. So grab your favourite casserole dish and get started!
This dish is creamy, cheesy, and full of flavour. It's perfect for a quick, easy weeknight dinner that the whole family will love!
Just like my Creamy Oven Baked Chicken and Rice With Bacon and Creamy Tuna Pasta Bake, this oven baked chicken bacon ranch is SO creamy and packed full of protein and flavour!
Why You're Going To Love This Recipe
- Ready in under 1 hour - perfect for a busy weeknight dinner.
- So versatile - such a simple but satisfying meal to serve in many ways. Try in the cooler months served with root vegetables and greens, or in the warmer weather with a light salad. Great left-overs for next days lunchbox too!
- Creamy and cheesy - this dish is packed with comforting flavours, with tasty cheese and cream, not to mention the smoky flavour of bacon throughout as well.
- Family-friendly - chicken bacon ranch bake is a great option for a family-friendly dinner.
What You Need
I tend to grab chicken breast fillets whenever they're on special as it makes chicken dishes, such as this creamy chicken bacon ranch bake, a very budget friendly family meal!
Note: Please scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for ingredient quantities and the full detailed method.
For The Chicken Bake
- Onion - one medium brown or white onion diced.
- Bacon - diced, I like to use streaky bacon, but any similar cut works well.
- Skinless chicken breasts - cut each chicken breast fillet into several smaller pieces.
For The Dressing
- Ranch dressing - for convenience I use a store-bought ranch dressing, however you can make ranch dressing yourself if you like.
- Sour cream - I recommend using the full fat version for the creamiest flavour, however if you prefer, you could use the light version.
- Parmesan cheese - either grate from a block yourself, or use store bought grated or shredded.
- Cheddar (or tasty) cheese - use either grated or shredded cheese.
Equipment Required
This super easy family dinner requires NO fancy equipment!
- Frying pan - to saute the onion and bacon.
- Baking dish - use an oven proof baking dish or casserole dish (no lid necessary) - a dish approximately 20cm x 30cm (8" x 11") works well.
- Grater - for grating the cheese (or use pre-grated cheese if you prefer).
- Oven - I specify fan-forced temperatures. If using a conventional oven, just increase the temperature by 10-20 degrees.
Step By Step Instructions
You'll find this is a lovely quick dish to put together and have in the oven - smells so good when it's baking too!
Note: Please scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for ingredient quantities and the full detailed method.
Step 1 - Preheat And Prep
Preheat oven to 180 degrees celsius (fan-forced) or 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Grease a 20cm x 30cm (8" x 11") oven baking dish and set aside.
Step 2 - Saute The Onion And Bacon
Saute the onion and bacon over a medium-high heat for 5 minutes or until softened.
Step 3 - Assemble The Dish
Place half the onion and bacon into the base of the dish.
Lay the roughly sliced chicken breast pieces over the onion and bacon.
Mix the ranch dressing and sour cream together in a small bowl.
Pour this sauce over the chicken.
Step 4 - Garnish And Bake
Sprinkle over the remaining bacon and onion, and top with both the grated cheeses.
Bake for 35 minutes or until the chicken has cooked through and the cheesy top is golden (if over-browning, add a sheet of foil loosely over the top).
Expert Tips
- Serve creamy chicken bacon ranch bake with pasta or mashed potato and vegetables, or a light salad.
- For a low carb or keto friendly option, serve your bacon ranch chicken with cauliflower mash or zucchini noodles.
- If you don't have chicken breasts, you can also use chicken thighs.
- To make ahead, assemble the dish up to 24 hours in advance and store it in the fridge until ready to bake.
- Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days, or frozen for up to 3 months.
- To reheat, place in the oven at a low temperature until heated through. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave.
- For a shortcut, use rotisserie chicken or pre-cooked shredded chicken, this will reduce baking time.
- For variation, use shredded mozzarella cheese instead of cheddar cheese for a different flavor and texture.
- Try adding some chopped green onions or chives to the top of the dish after baking.
- Add some spice by mixing in a tablespoon of hot sauce to the ranch dressing mixture.
- If you have a ranch seasoning mix instead of ranch dressing, just mix the seasoning with the sour cream.
FAQ's
This cicken oven bake is delicious served with mashed potato, roasted potatoes, steamed rice, or pasta. It is also great with a simple green salad or some steamed vegetables.
No, there's no need to brown the chicken pieces before making this creamy chicken bacon ranch bake. Instead, the chicken fillets bake in the oven.
Just be sure to check the internal temperature when finished to make sure it's done - you can test with a knife, the juices should run clear not pink.
The internal temperature for cooked chicken should be at least 75 degrees celsius (165 degrees Fahrenheit).
Related Recipes
Chicken casserole recipes are always perfect for serving as a main dish, along with some yummy sides, to make a complete meal for the entire family!
Here are a few of my most popular chicken recipes:
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Creamy Chicken Bacon Ranch Bake
Ingredients
- 1 onion brown or white, diced
- 300 g bacon diced
- 600 g skinless chicken breasts cut into smaller pieces
- 250 ml (1 cup) ranch dressing
- 125 g (½ cup) sour cream
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese grated
- ½ cup cheddar cheese grated
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180 degrees celsius (fan-forced) or 350 fahrenheit. Grease a 20cm x 30cm (8" x 11") oven proof baking dish and set aside.
- Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook the onion and bacon for 5 minutes or until softened.
- Place half of the onion and bacon into the base of the dish.
- Top with chopped chicken breast pieces.
- Mix the ranch dressing and sour cream together in a small bowl. Pour the sauce over the chicken.
- Sprinkle over the remaining bacon and onion and top with the grated cheeses.
- Bake for 35 minutes or until the chicken has cooked through and the cheesy top is golden (if over-browning, add a sheet of foil loosely over the top).
Notes
- Serve with pasta or mashed potato and vegetables, or a light salad.
- For a low carb or keto friendly option, serve your bacon ranch chicken with cauliflower mash or zucchini noodles.
- If you don't have chicken breasts, you can also use chicken thighs
- If you have ranch seasoning rather than ranch dressing, you can mix some seasoning with sour cream.
- To make ahead, assemble the dish up to 24 hours in advance and store it in the fridge until ready to bake.
- Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- To reheat, place in the oven at a low temperature until heated through. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave.
- For a shortcut, use rotisserie chicken or pre-cooked shredded chicken.
- Use shredded mozzarella cheese instead of cheddar cheese for a different texture and flavor.
- Try adding some chopped green onions or chives to the top of the dish after baking.
- Add some spice by mixing in a tablespoon of hot sauce to the ranch dressing mixture.
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