Description
Hearty Loaded Potato Ranch Chicken Casserole blends comfort food classics with zesty ranch flavors. Crispy bacon, melted cheese, and tender chicken create a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 4 medium russet potatoes, diced into 1-inch pieces
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup ranch dressing
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsps fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Ignite the oven to 400F (200C) and thoroughly coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray for effortless food release.
- Potato Foundation: Massage diced potatoes with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper, ensuring each cube absorbs the robust seasoning profile, then spread evenly across the baking dish.
- Initial Roasting: Dispatch potatoes into the heated oven for 20-25 minutes, cultivating a tender core while maintaining structural definition.
- Chicken Preparation: Luxuriously enrobe chicken pieces in ranch dressing, guaranteeing complete coverage of the protein with the creamy, herbaceous coating.
- Casserole Assembly: Retrieve the partially roasted potato base, carefully nestle ranch-drenched chicken atop the potato landscape, and cascade a lavish layer of shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheeses across the entire surface.
- Final Transformation: Return the constructed casserole to the oven for an additional 20-25 minutes, allowing the chicken to reach a safe 165F internal temperature while the cheese melts into a golden, bubbling masterpiece.
- Garnish and Serve: Crown the dish with crisp, crumbled bacon and a delicate sprinkle of fresh parsley, then present immediately to showcase the harmonious blend of textures and flavors.
Notes
Optimize Potato Cutting: Dice potatoes uniformly into equal-sized cubes (around 1/2 inch) to guarantee consistent cooking and prevent uneven texture variations across the casserole.
Temperature Precision: Use a meat thermometer to confirm chicken reaches exact 165F internal temperature, ensuring safe consumption while maintaining juicy tenderness without overcooking.
Cheese Melting Strategy: Allow cheese to rest for 2-3 minutes after removing from oven, enabling perfect melting consistency and preventing immediate liquid cheese dispersion when serving.
Dietary Adaptation Techniques: Substitute regular ranch with Greek yogurt ranch for lower-fat version, use turkey bacon for leaner protein, or replace chicken with plant-based alternatives like tofu for vegetarian adaptation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 80mg