Free: 5 Secrets To Fast Healthy Dinners

This post may contain affiliate links, which help keep this content free. (Full disclosure)

Table Of Contents show

This baked ranch chicken recipe is sure to become a family favorite. Easy ranch chicken breast is topped with ranch dressing, mozzarella cheese, and crispy bacon. What’s not to love about that?

Ranch flavors are definitely reader favorites here at Wholesome Yum (who doesn’t like chicken bacon ranch casserole, slow cooker crack chicken, and cheesy ranch dip?!), so this cheesy bacon ranch chicken fits right in. With only 4 common ingredients that you probably have in your fridge and a such a popular flavor profile, the whole family is going to love this dish.

This is one of the few chicken breast recipes where I don’t find it necessary to brine the chicken first. Smothering it with ranch, cheese and bacon is more than sufficient to keep it moist. But, if you’re curious or want to try my brine technique prior to cooking, it never hurts. You can learn about it in my basic baked chicken breast recipe.

How To Make Baked Ranch Chicken

You’ll love this baked chicken with ranch dressing! Here’s how to make it:

Season chicken. Place chicken breasts into a stoneware baking dish, and season with salt and pepper.
Add ranch. Spread ranch dressing all over the chicken breasts.

Add cheese. Top the chicken evenly with fresh mozzarella.

TIP: Feel free to experiment with any cheese you like! Cheddar or jack cheeses would also be delicious.

Bake chicken. Cover the baking dish with foil, making sure it’s not touching the cheese, and bake. Take it out to remove the foil about halfway through – see below.
Add bacon and finish baking. Remove the foil, sprinkle with chopped cooked bacon, and bake uncovered, until cooked through.

FYI: Wondering why we only add bacon halfway through? It’s so that it doesn’t slide off. I tested this ranch chicken recipe with the bacon on there from the start, and much of it ended up off the chicken. You can definitely put it back on after if you want, but by placing it closer to the end, it stays on and stays crispy.

Rest and garnish. Let the chicken rest, then drizzle with more ranch and a sprinkle of parsley, if you like.

Ranch Chicken Breast FAQs

Can you bake chicken with ranch dressing?

Of course! This keto cheesy bacon ranch chicken will show you that you can, and that it’s delicious!

Is cheesy bacon ranch chicken keto?

Yes, since this is baked ranch chicken without breadcrumbs, it’s naturally low carb. In fact, this cheesy chicken dinner has just 2.2 grams net carbs per serving.

But if that’s not important, don’t even think about it: everyone would enjoy it, even without any special requirements.

Can you use chicken thighs?

Yes, you can! You may need to adjust the cooking time depending on their thickness, and whether you use bone-in chicken thighs or boneless. You’ll want to keep the foil on until 10-15 minutes before they are done.

How to tell when ranch chicken is done?

The most reliable way is to use an instant read meat thermometer, or a probe thermometer (this will beep when it reaches the right temperature!).

Cheesy Bacon Ranch Chicken Storage Instructions

Can you make it ahead?

This baked ranch chicken without breadcrumbs is best made fresh, but you can prep this dish ahead to make it come together quickly:

Make ranch dressing. Use my ranch dressing recipe.
Cook bacon and chop. The quickest way is bacon in the oven.

How to store baked ranch chicken breast

Store this ranch chicken in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.

Can you freeze it?

You can try freezing this ranch chicken, but the texture of the ranch might change a bit, so it’s not recommended. It’s so quick anyway, you might as well make it fresh!

Reheating instructions for oven baked ranch chicken

If you have leftover baked ranch chicken breast, reheat it in a 350 degree F oven for best results, but the microwave works fine, too.

What To Serve With Ranch Chicken

In my opinion, creamy ranch chicken breast pairs perfectly with simple vegetable side dishes. Try it with:

Zucchini Noodles or Spaghetti Squash – For a healthier low carb pasta and chicken dish.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts – These take about the same amount of time as oven baked ranch chicken, so they are perfect to place in the oven side-by-side.
Sauteed Broccoli or Sauteed Zucchini – You can make either of these sides in parallel, while you have the ranch chicken in the oven.
Classic Wedge Salad – You can never have too much bacon, am I right?
Cauliflower Mac And Cheese – If you’re really a cheese lover (like me!), pair your cheesy baked chicken with an equally gooey side.
Broccoli Salad With Bacon – This crisp salad has double the bacon for double the flavor!

More Cheesy Chicken Recipes

If you like this baked ranch chicken recipe, you might also like some of my other chicken dinner recipes:

Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole – If you like this bacon ranch chicken, you’ll love the same flavors in a casserole, with veggies added.
Prosciutto Wrapped Chicken – Crispy prosciutto on the outside; goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and herbs on the inside. So good.
Keto Chicken Parmesan – Crispy breading, a layer of cheese, and flavorful marinara make this simple chicken meal a family favorite.
Jalapeno Popper Hasselback Chicken – This dinner has so much flavor, it’s hard to believe it takes just 5 ingredients to make.
Chicken Bacon Ranch Wraps – You’ll be surprised what we’re using to wrap these!

Tools To Make Baked Ranch Chicken

Tap the links below to see the items used to make this recipe.

Stoneware Baking Dish – This baking dish can take this ranch dressing chicken recipe from oven to table and will last for years.
Instant Read Meat Thermometer – Easily tell if your chicken bacon ranch bake is cooked through. This is my favorite one, as it reads super quickly.

Cheesy Bacon Ranch Chicken Recipe

Pin It For Later!

Un-save Recipe Save Recipe

Go Ad-Free

Recipe Video

Tap on the image below to watch the video.

Review

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them. Please turn Safari reader mode OFF to view ingredients.

4 medium Chicken breasts ▢
1/2 tsp Sea salt ▢
1/4 tsp Black pepper ▢
6 tbsp Ranch dressing (divided into 1/4 cup and 2 tbsp) ▢
8 oz Fresh mozzarella cheese (sliced into 8 slices) ▢
6 slices Cooked bacon (chopped) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C).
Season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
Place the chicken into a stoneware baking dish, so that the pieces are just barely touching, but not crowded. Spread 1 tablespoon ranch dressing over each chicken breast. Top each with 2 slices of fresh mozzarella.
Cover the baking dish with foil, so that the foil is not touching the cheese. Bake for 20 minutes.
Remove the foil. Sprinkle chopped bacon on top of the chicken. Bake, uncovered, for 10-15 more minutes, until chicken is cooked through.
Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving. Drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons of ranch over the chicken.

Last Step: Leave A Rating!

Rate this recipe

Share your recipe picture by tagging @wholesomeyum and hashtag it #wholesomeyum on Instagram, or in our Facebook support group, too - I'd love to see it!

Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 ranch chicken breast

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories 516

Fat 35.6g

Protein 67.8g

Total Carbs 2.3g

Net Carbs 2.2g

Fiber 0.1g

Sugar 0.7g

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keywords: baked ranch chicken, cheesy bacon ranch chicken, ranch chicken breast, ranch chicken recipe

Calories: 516 kcal

Want to save this recipe?

Create a free account to save your favorite recipes!

Leave a Review or Question Cancel reply

26 Comments

Christine DeIasi
0 September 22, 2022Reply

Great Recipe. Quick and easy weeknight meal. I used shredded jack and cheddar and I felt it went great with the ranch and bacon. I only had bone-in chicken and it was so moist and delicious.
Susan
0 September 11, 2022Reply

Simply DELICIOUS!! The ranch dressing & foil makes this chicken SO moist and flavorful. Thanks Maya!
Joe
0 September 10, 2022Reply

This is a new favorite in my house I cut back on the cheese 2 slices were a little much thank you.
Mary
0 September 9, 2022Reply

Thank you for sharing. The recipe looks very delicious. I shall prepare this dish shortly once I have all the ingredients.
K wilson
0 July 21, 2022Reply

This was scrumptious! I made the homemade ranch dressing and it was easy and delicious. I used shredded mozzarella as didn’t have slices. Also added a little extra ranch on top of the raw chicken and after the chicken was cooked, I removed the pieces, added some pasta water and parmesan to the sauce left in the pan, stirred it up and mixed it with the pasta. I didn’t add extra ranch at the end as per the recipe. Next time might add some garlic to the pasta also. Keeper recipe!!
Elnora Harness
0 August 11, 2021Reply

this looked so good and the smell was wonderful, but when I served it the chicken was tough what did I do wrong? They were large breasts but all I could find, they were so large it took one for 2 people to get full I still have 3 left can they be frozen for next week? my star rating is for this one only taste is a 4 being able to eat 2 help me I am going to leave a 3 so sorry
- Wholesome Yum M
  0 August 12, 2021Reply
  
  Hi Elnora, Sorry this recipe didn’t turn out as expected. This recipe was developed using medium chicken breasts, they may have been lacking flavor using large. When using larger-sized breasts, I like to brine them first, which helps to tenderize the protein. The method I use for brining can be found in my tutorial on juicy baked chicken breast. I hope this helps!
Amanda G.
0 June 11, 2021Reply

Unfortunately, this recipe did not work out for me. The chicken was still raw, even after following cooking times, and the cheese slid off in the oven. Hoping I can get it right on my next try!
- Wholesome Yum M
  0 June 12, 2021Reply
  
  Hi Amanda, Sounds like you used larger chicken breasts for your meal. I used medium-sized breasts, which are about 5-6 ounces. If you used larger breasts, then you will need to increase the cook time.
A. Runnels
0 June 8, 2021Reply

This one didn’t work out for me. I was excited to try it but the chicken came out raw even following cooking times, and the cheese fell off during cooking.
- Wholesome Yum M
  0 June 11, 2021Reply
  
  Hi A. Runnels, Sounds like you used larger chicken breasts for your meal. I used medium-sized breasts, which are about 5-6 ounces. If you used larger breasts, then you will need to increase the cook time.
Melody
0 May 30, 2021Reply

This recipe satisfies the whole family. No need to make something different if you are the only one low carbing.This chicken melts in your mouth. I would order it at a restaurant it’s so good. My family loved it. They said a few times,”mmm this is good.” That’s always nice to hear. Thanks Maya for easy quick dinners even those picky eaters may love.
ann
0 May 25, 2021Reply

Would this recipe work in a crock pot and could it be made with cut up cooked chicken leftovers?’
Looks amazing!
- Wholesome Yum M
  0 May 25, 2021Reply
  
  Hi Ann, I have not tried this in a crock pot. It may work, but you will probably want to reserve the mozzarella to add in the last hour or so of cooking. Please share how it turns out if you decide to try it!
Melody
0 May 20, 2021Reply

I made this for the first time tonight for my family. They really enjoyed it. I’m trying to transition all of us over into eating a keto type of diet. Your wisdom, recipes, and we have teaching is going to make that much easier. Thank you for the fantastic recipe.
Angel
0 April 22, 2021Reply

My whole family loves this didlsh. Even my mother, who dislikes chicken!
Jane
0 March 2, 2021Reply

This is the first recipe I’ve made from your website. It was fabulous! I look forward to telling you that again, and again, and again. I especially appreciated your side dish suggestions and how to handle leftovers.
Lynda Pedersen
0 January 15, 2021Reply

This was amazing!! Even hubby raved about it. I made mashed potatoes for him and your zucchini french fries for me as side dishes, along with a side salad. I did make your ranch dressing which was so good, will leave a separate review for that.
Judy Banas
0 January 1, 2021Reply

This recipe was easy to make, mouth-watering to look at and even better tasting. The ranch dressing was amazing.
Corrie
0 December 15, 2020Reply

This was delicious. Really easy to make. At the end I added more ranch, more cheese and some bacon and let it rest in the oven. A new staple in our house. My husband and I really enjoyed it.

I have gotten so many recipes from this site!
Robin Skulina
0 December 14, 2020Reply

This dish is AMAZING!! My husband loved it too. So easy to make and I shredded the leftovers into a tasty chicken salad.
DAwn
0 November 17, 2020Reply

This was very good. I highly recommend making the ranch from scratch. I used organic bottled ranch in a pinch and it was good, but the recipe for ranch is so much better. And don’t be shy with the salt and pepper on both sides. Will definitely make this again, but with smaller chicken breasts – I only had large.
Jen
0 October 16, 2020Reply

This was DELICIOUS!
wilhelmina
0 October 16, 2020Reply

This was an instant family favorite! So very delicious and easy to put together!
Sandi
0 October 15, 2020Reply

My kids love anything ranch and they absolutely loved this chicken.
Lauren Kleiman
0 October 15, 2020Reply

I love that this only has 4 ingredients, making this a perfect recipe for a busy weekday.