Crazy Good Chicken Bacon Casserole (Printable)
Creamy baked pasta with tender chicken, bacon, and melted cheese under a crispy golden topping.
# What You'll Need:
→ Proteins
01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or chopped
02 - 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
→ Pasta
03 - 12 oz penne or rotini pasta
→ Dairy
04 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
05 - 1 cup sour cream
06 - 1 cup whole milk
07 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened
08 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
→ Vegetables
09 - 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
10 - 1 small onion, finely diced
11 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Seasonings
12 - 1 teaspoon salt
13 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
14 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
15 - ½ teaspoon dried thyme
→ Topping
16 - ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
17 - ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
03 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add a splash of oil or butter, then sauté diced onion for 3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Stir cooked chicken, crumbled bacon, thawed peas, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and dried thyme into the skillet. Remove from heat.
05 - In a large bowl, whisk together sour cream, softened cream cheese, whole milk, and 2 cups shredded cheddar until smooth and creamy.
06 - Add drained pasta and chicken mixture to the cheese sauce. Stir thoroughly until all components are evenly coated and combined.
07 - Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Spread evenly into a uniform layer.
08 - In a small bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs, melted butter, and remaining ½ cup cheddar cheese. Mix until breadcrumbs are evenly coated.
09 - Sprinkle crumble topping evenly over the casserole. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until bubbly around edges and golden brown on top.
10 - Let casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and make serving easier.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- Everything bakes in one dish so cleanup is basically nonexistent
- The combination of smoky bacon and sharp cheddar creates layers of flavor that somehow get better overnight
02 -
- Undercook your pasta by 2 minutes since it will continue cooking in the oven
- Room temperature cream cheese blends much smoother than cold straight from the fridge
03 -
- Freshly grated cheese melts better than the pre shredded stuff which has anti caking agents
- Let the casserole rest for those full 5 minutes or it will be too loose to serve neatly