Million Dollar Chicken Ranch Casserole

If you’re looking for a hearty chicken pasta dish, one that’s packed full of flavor, look no further! This delicious chicken ranch casserole won’t cost you a million dollars but it’ll sure taste like you spent that much! 

Chicken with Ranch Dressing? 

You betcha! There are so many recipes out there featuring chicken and ranch. That flavor combination is very popular! But, what is ranch dressing, anyway? 

Ranch Dip is made up of a variety of herbs that we use in everyday life. Garlic. Onion. Salt. And a variety of other spices. It’s also got a buttermilk base. The dry packet has powdered buttermilk. 

Adding ranch dressing is a terrific way to get a lot of bang for your buck. Toss in a packet and you’ll feel like singing! 

Many chicken and ranch dishes also call for bacon. I’ve added it as an optional ingredient in this recipe. Feel free to add it if you like. 

Million Dollar Chicken Casserole Ingredients

You will find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post but here’s a peek at what you’ll need. These are simple ingredients you might already have on hand. 

• 32 ounce chicken broth 
• 2 large shredded chicken breasts (or 3-4 cups shredded rotisserie chicken)
• 1 12-ounce package bowtie pasta
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 block cream cheese room temperature
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 1 packet ranch dressing
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 32 ritz crackers
• 1 cup butter, melted
• Optional: 1 cup cooked, crumbled bacon

Note: I didn’t have bacon on hand but plan to add it next time, which is why I’ve added it to the lineup of ingredients! 

How to Make Million Dollar Chicken Casserole

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Prep a 9x13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray. Set aside. 

Crush crackers and set aside. 

Melt butter in a separate small bowl and set aside. 

In a large bowl combine cream cheese, cream, sour cream, pepper, and ranch packet.

Stir until fully combined. Set aside. 

If you’re adding bacon, cook and crumble it, then set it aside. 

In a large sauce pan or instant pot combine broth, cooked/shredded chicken, ¼ cup melted butter, and pasta. Cook until the pasta is al dente. 

Stir in cream cheese mixture. If you're adding bacon this is the time to add it, as well.

Stir until well combined.

Pour the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. 

Pour remaining melted butter into the crushed Ritz crackers and stir well. Sprinkle crackers on top of casserole. 

Place in preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes or until crust is golden brown. 

Remove and place on wire rack to cool. 

Serve while warm. 

Store leftovers tightly covered in refrigerator. I don’t recommend freezing this dish. 

Variations to this Recipe

This is delicious just as it is but you know me. I love to change things up. Here are some fun ideas: 

• Panko: If you don’t have ritz crackers, simply substitute panko. Delicious! 
• Puff pastry: Want a different topping? No problem! Add a sheet of puff pastry on top. 
• Canadian bacon: If you prefer, you can use Canadian bacon or ham in place of bacon in this recipe. 
• Shredded cheddar (or Velveeta) in place of cream cheese: This will give you a slightly different flavor profile. 

Other Savory Baked Dishes from Out of the Box Baking

• Simple Breakfast Sausage Casserole
• Cheeseburger Bread Pudding
• Cheesy Cornbread Sausage Casserole
• Savory Scones

That’s it for this post, friends! I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe. 

If you make this recipe and love it, don’t forget to leave a review and a comment below. And while you're at it, go ahead and pin some photos to your Pinterest boards!

About the Author

Janice Thompson is an author, baker, and all-around mischief maker! She has overcome a host of baking catastrophes, including a toppled wedding cake, to learn more about the baking process. Janice has published over 165 books for the Christian market but particularly enjoys writing recipes and baking devotions. To learn more about Janice or to drop her a note, visit her About the Author page.