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Crack Chicken Macaroni and Cheese

Crack Chicken Macaroni and Cheese combines creamy, cheesy macaroni with tender chicken, crispy turkey bacon, and a savory ranch dressing mix. It’s the perfect comfort food for any occasion.

  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 6-8 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 16 oz elbow macaroni
  • 1 (8-oz) package cream cheese, softened
  • 1 (10.75-oz) can cream of chicken soup
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 (1-oz) packet ranch dressing mix
  • 1½ cups cooked, chopped chicken
  • ½ cup cooked, crumbled turkey bacon
  • 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup milk

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray to avoid sticking later on.
  2. Cook the macaroni according to package instructions. Once tender, drain and set aside while preparing the rest of the ingredients.
  3. In a large bowl, mix together the softened cream cheese, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, shredded cheddar, shredded mozzarella, and ranch dressing mix. This creates the rich and creamy base of your dish.
  4. Fold in the cooked chicken and turkey bacon. Stir until the meat is evenly distributed throughout the cheesy mixture.
  5. Add the cooked macaroni into the bowl and stir well. Then, pour in the milk and combine everything thoroughly to ensure the pasta is coated in the creamy sauce.
  6. Pour the macaroni and chicken mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top with the shredded sharp cheddar cheese for that perfect cheesy crust.
  7. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the cheese on top is bubbly and golden brown.
  8. Serve hot, and watch as your family and friends come running for seconds!

Notes

  • Customizing the Chicken: You can use any type of cooked chicken for this recipe, such as rotisserie, grilled, or even leftover chicken from last night’s dinner. The important thing is that it’s cooked and chopped into bite-sized pieces.
  • Turkey Bacon: If you prefer regular bacon, feel free to substitute it in. Just make sure it’s cooked and crumbled before adding it to the mix.
  • Make-Ahead Tip: You can assemble the dish ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake it. Just remember to add a few extra minutes to the baking time if it’s coming straight out of the fridge.
  • Adding Veggies: Want to sneak in some veggies? Consider adding broccoli or peas into the mix for an extra nutritional boost!
  • Author: Elina
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cup
  • Calories: 620kcal
  • Sugar: 3g
  • Sodium: 1180mg
  • Fat: 42g
  • Saturated Fat: 21g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 15g
  • Trans Fat: 1g
  • Carbohydrates: 42g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Protein: 28g
  • Cholesterol: 130mg

Keywords: Creamy chicken mac and cheese, Ranch chicken mac and cheese, Cheesy baked chicken pasta