The Ultimate Comfort Food Casserole! is a bubbling bake of shredded chicken and tender broccoli in a creamy bacon-ranch cheddar sauce. The sauce builds right in the skillet from butter, crumbled bacon, cream cheese, and ranch seasoning, then everything goes under a thick cap of cheddar. It's a 50-minute dinner that tastes like a hug and lands at just 2.3 g of net carbs per serving.
The Ultimate Comfort Food Casserole!
Get ready to fall in love with your new favorite weeknight dinner! This Cheesy Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole is the definition of comfort food. We’re talking tender shredded chicken and crisp broccoli florets swimming in a ridiculously creamy, savory cheese sauce packed with ranch and smoky bacon. It’s all baked under a blanket of bubbly, golden-brown cheddar. This dish is incredibly easy to throw together, naturally low-carb, and guaranteed to have everyone asking for seconds. It’s a one-pan wonder that delivers big on flavor without the fuss!
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 35 minutes
Servings: 6
Ingredients
• 2 tbsp / 28g (0.99 oz) butter
• ¼ cup / 28g (0.99 oz) cooked bacon, crumbled
• 2 ½ cups / 283g (10 oz) cheddar cheese, shredded and divided
• 4 oz / 113g cream cheese, softened
• ¼ cup / 60ml (2 fl oz) heavy whipping cream
• ½ oz / 14g (0.49 oz) ranch seasoning mix (about ½ a packet)
• ⅔ cup / 160ml chicken broth
• 1 ½ cups / 128g (4.5 oz) small broccoli florets
• 2 cups / 310g (10.9 oz) cooked chicken breast, shredded
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F / 177°C. Lightly grease a 9×9 inch or similar-sized casserole dish.2. In a large skillet over medium-low heat, melt the butter. Whisk in the crumbled bacon, ½ cup of the cheddar cheese, softened cream cheese, heavy cream, ranch seasoning, and chicken broth until the sauce is smooth and fully combined.3. Let the sauce simmer gently for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it begins to thicken.4. While the sauce simmers, lightly steam the broccoli florets in the microwave or on the stovetop until just tender-crisp. Be careful not to overcook.5. Remove the sauce from the heat. Stir in the shredded chicken and steamed broccoli until everything is evenly coated in the creamy sauce.6. Pour the mixture into your prepared casserole dish and spread it into an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining 2 cups (480 ml) of cheddar cheese over the top.7. Bake for 25 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted and the edges are bubbling.8. For a perfectly golden, crispy top, switch the oven to a high broil and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes. Keep a close eye on it to prevent burning!9. Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving. This helps it set up for easier serving.
Nutritional Information
• Nutrition (per serving)
• Calories: 449
• Net Carbs: 2.3g (0.08 oz)
• Total Fat: 33.5g
• Saturated Fat: 20.1g
• Cholesterol: 133mg
• Sodium: 1001mg
• Total Carbs: 2.9g (0.1 oz)
• Fiber: 0.6g
• Sugar: 0.8g
• Protein: 31.3g
Pro Tips
• Use a store-bought rotisserie chicken to save on prep time. Simply shred the meat and you’re ready to go!
• For a perfect texture, steam your broccoli until it’s tender-crisp, not mushy. It will continue to cook in the oven.
• Feel free to add other low-carb veggies like cauliflower, mushrooms, or spinach to the mix for extra nutrients and flavor.
FAQ
Q: Is this Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole keto-friendly
A: Yes, absolutely! With only 2.3g (0.08 oz) of net carbs per serving, this recipe is naturally low-carb and perfect for a keto diet.
Q: Can I use rotisserie chicken for this recipe
A: Definitely! Using a store-bought rotisserie chicken is a great pro-tip to save on preparation time. Simply shred the meat and follow the recipe as directed.
Q: What other vegetables can I add to this casserole
A: You can easily add other low-carb vegetables. The recipe suggests cauliflower, mushrooms, or spinach, which would all be delicious additions.
Q: How do I store and reheat leftovers
A: Store any leftover casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. You can reheat individual portions in the microwave or place the entire dish back in the oven at 350°F (180°C) until warmed through.
Pro Tips
- Use a store-bought rotisserie chicken to save on prep time — simply shred the meat and you're ready to go.
- Steam the broccoli florets until just tender-crisp, not mushy, since they continue to cook in the oven and can go watery if overdone.
- Let the skillet sauce — butter, bacon, cream cheese, heavy cream, ranch seasoning, and chicken broth — simmer gently for about 5 minutes until it thickens before folding in the chicken and broccoli.
- For a perfectly golden, crispy top, switch the oven to a high broil for the last 2-3 minutes and keep a close eye on it so the cheese doesn't burn.
- Feel free to add other low-carb veggies like cauliflower, mushrooms, or spinach to the mix for extra nutrients and flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this casserole keto-friendly?
Yes — each of the 6 servings has about 2.3 g of net carbs with 31.3 g of protein and 33.5 g of fat. The sauce uses chicken broth and cream rather than any flour-thickened base.
Can I use rotisserie chicken in this recipe?
That's the recommended shortcut. Shred the breast meat from a store-bought rotisserie chicken and stir it into the sauce with the steamed broccoli.
How do I store and reheat leftovers?
Cool the casserole, cover it, and refrigerate for 3-4 days. Rewarm portions at 350°F / 177°C until the cheese is melted and the center is hot.
What vegetables can I add to the casserole?
Cauliflower, mushrooms, and spinach all work well stirred in with the broccoli. Steam any firmer veggies to tender-crisp first so they don't water down the sauce.
Recipe card below.
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The Ultimate Comfort Food Casserole!
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350°F / 177°C. Lightly grease a 9x9 inch or similar-sized casserole dish. 2.
- In a large skillet over medium-low heat, melt the butter.
- Whisk in the crumbled bacon, ½ cup of the cheddar cheese, softened cream cheese, heavy cream, ranch seasoning, and chicken broth until the sauce is smooth and fully combined. 3.
- Let the sauce simmer gently for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it begins to thicken. 4.
- While the sauce simmers, lightly steam the broccoli florets in the microwave or on the stovetop until just tender-crisp. Be careful not to overcook. 5.
- Remove the sauce from the heat.
- Stir in the shredded chicken and steamed broccoli until everything is evenly coated in the creamy sauce. 6.
- Pour the mixture into your prepared casserole dish and spread it into an even layer.
- Sprinkle the remaining 2 cups (480 ml) of cheddar cheese over the top. 7.
- Bake for 25 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted and the edges are bubbling. 8. For a perfectly golden, crispy top, switch the oven to a high broil and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Keep a close eye on it to prevent burning! 9.
- Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving. This helps it set up for easier serving.
