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Get It Now- Why You’ll Love Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
- What Is Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole?
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- How To Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
- How To Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole Ahead
- More Keto Chicken Casserole Recipes
- Tools I Use For This Recipe
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole (Fast & Easy)
In my world, cold weather means quick low carb meals and comfort food recipes. Especially low carb casseroles, like loaded cauliflower casserole, big mac casserole, and my personal favorite, this cheesy chicken bacon ranch casserole recipe. The beauty of it is that it doesn’t taste like health food at all (Cheese! Bacon! Ranch!)… the whole family will devour this easy dinner. But secretly? Yep, it’s actually a low carb keto chicken casserole.
Low carb chicken casserole recipes are one of the best easy low carb dinners. You can throw them together in advance or make them last minute. The prep time is typically minimal, especially if you have some basic staples in your fridge already. Besides, the ability to customize a basic chicken casserole recipe for various ingredients you might have is a huge advantage. That’s why I have two ways to make this one (and lots of substitution options) below.
Why You’ll Love Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
- Cheesy bacon and ranch flavor
- Creamy cheese, tender chicken
- Just 5 minutes to prep
- Cooks in 15 minutes
- Just 4.4 grams net carbohydrates per serving
What Is Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole?
Chicken bacon ranch casserole is a casserole made of yummy chicken, bacon, and ranch flavors. The base is made of chicken, bacon, ranch dressing, and cheese and then you can decide what vegetables you want to add.
So what makes this one of the best low carb chicken meals? The preparation is seriously the easiest thing ever. You cannot get it wrong.
If you have the chicken and bacon pre-cooked, and ranch dressing pre-made, then the prep time for this low carb chicken casserole literally takes just five minutes. You can even save more time by using rotisserie chicken, pre-cooked bacon bits, and store bought ranch.
Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for keto chicken bacon ranch casserole, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
Basic Ingredients For Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole:
The common, simple ingredients are the best part of this low carb casserole. I often have them on hand, and I’ll bet you do too. And like many easy keto recipes, there are some options for customizing this one.
Here is what you’ll need for virtually any healthy chicken bacon ranch casserole recipe, and some customization options:
- Chicken Breast – It needs to be cooked, and seasoned with at least salt and pepper, but otherwise any kind of chicken will do! I usually use baked chicken breast, Instant Pot shredded chicken, roasted chicken, or pan seared chicken breast. This recipe is also a great way to use up leftover ranch chicken you already have, or for a shortcut, buy a rotiserrie chicken… and (boom!) you get one of the easiest keto shredded chicken recipes ever.
- Bacon – Also needs to be pre-cooked until crispy, but there are several options here. I prefer to make bacon in the oven because it makes a large batch to use for multiple recipes, but you could also make air fryer bacon, stovetop bacon in a large skillet, or microwave bacon. And if you prefer a healthier alternative use baked turkey bacon instead. If you want convenience, buy pre-cooked bacon bits.
- Garlic – You can buy fresh garlic and mince it yourself, or use jarred garlic to save time.
- Ranch Dressing – If possible, choose a dressing that’s on the thicker side for best results. I was excited to share another use for homemade ranch dressing, so that’s what I used. Making your own only takes a few minutes to whisk together, and stores well in a jar in the fridge, so try it if you can! But if you prefer to buy dressing, you’ll love this store-bought ranch, made with natural ingredients. You can even add some extra homemade ranch seasoning mix to the casserole if you want a stronger ranch flavor. For a variation, try substituting alfredo sauce or caesar dressing instead of the ranch.
- Vegetables – They can be fresh or frozen, but there are so many options here that I decided to cover them in a separate section below.
- Shredded cheese – Choose your fave cheese! This easy low carb casserole works well with any kind. I had cheddar and mozzarella cheese around, as always. Feel free to use some fancy sharp cheeses if you like those (check out the cheese list for ideas!), but mozzarella and cheddar cheese are reliable options for the most family-friendly version.
Vegetable & Other Filling Options:
I originally made this keto chicken bacon ranch casserole using frozen spinach. For the most part, readers have been happy with it (you’ll love it if you like creamed spinach!), but I know some people don’t like spinach as much as I do. The most common variation I heard people making was a chicken bacon ranch casserole with broccoli, so I updated the recipe card with a 2nd version to show you how to do that.
Ultimately, this is your casserole, so make it yours, using vegetables you like. Here are some ideas:
Healthy Low Carb Options | Higher Carb Options |
---|---|
Asparagus | Carrots |
Bell Peppers | Corn |
Broccoli | Pasta (penne pasta is a popular choice) |
Brussels Sprouts | Potatoes |
Cauliflower (either as roasted cauliflower florets or cauliflower rice) | Rice |
Green Beans | Sweet Potatoes |
Mushrooms | |
Spinach | |
Veggie Medley |
No matter what veggies you use, there are three main things to know:
- Use the right amount. A good rule of thumb to use for this recipe is 4 cups of most vegetables, or 2 cups of cooked down greens (like spinach or kale). You can use the 4-cup rule as well if you are adding in pasta, roasted potatoes, or rice. If you want a more veggie-heavy casserole, increase the veggies to 6 cups and add an extra few tablespoons of ranch dressing.
- Precook your veggies. Vegetables will not cook through in the assembled casserole, and doing so can make the dish very watery, so avoid these issues by cooking your veggies before adding them to your chicken bacon casserole mixture. (The exception is frozen spinach, because this is already blanched and just needs to be drained.) When I make chicken bacon ranch casserole with broccoli, I simply cook the broccoli in boiling water and this works great. But if you prefer and have the time, you can also pan fry or roast your vegetables instead.
- Leftover vegetables work great. Low carb chicken casseroles are the perfect match for leftover veggies! If you have leftovers of sauteed or roasted vegetables, toss them into the casserole to use them up.
Below is an older photo of the version of this keto chicken casserole made with spinach, alongside a newer photo of the broccoli version. Both are delicious!
How To Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
This section shows how to make this chicken bacon ranch casserole recipe, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Cook veggies. This applies to broccoli and most other vegetables. If you’re using frozen spinach, you don’t even have to do that — just drain it and squeeze with paper towel.
- Mix. In a large bowl, combine cooked chicken, cooked bacon, cooked veggies, shredded cheeses, minced garlic, and ranch dressing.
TIP: If you like extra ranch flavor, add 1-3 teaspoons of ranch seasoning mix, in addition to the dressing.
- Assemble. Transfer your keto chicken casserole mixture to a baking dish (this one is a perfect size) and sprinkle with more cheese. (You can spray the pan with cooking spray or coat with butter, but I usually don’t find this necessary.)
- Bake. Baking time takes only about 15 minutes, just until the chicken bacon casserole is hot and bubbly. Voila! This will be one of your favorite low carb meals for a busy weeknight. (I added a bit more crumbled bacon on top at the end.)
How To Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole Ahead
Like many casserole recipes, you can make this one ahead or freeze it. This chicken bacon ranch casserole is great for meal prep! Here are your options for storing this easy meal:
- Assemble ahead of time: You can assemble the whole thing, cover with foil, and keep it in the fridge for a few days. Then, simply bake right before serving.
- Freeze: Assemble it the same way, and freeze right in the casserole dish. You can bake it from frozen, but it will cook more evenly if you let it thaw in the fridge first. You may need to give it a good stir after baking, or midway through.
- Meal prep: Assemble in individual containers and heat individually for lunch. Since all the ingredients are pre-cooked, you can even reheat in the microwave if needed.
- Store leftovers: If you already baked the keto chicken casserole and have leftovers, simply store them in the fridge for 3-5 days.
More Keto Chicken Casserole Recipes
If you like this keto chicken bacon ranch casserole, you might also like some of these other keto chicken casseroles:
- Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Casserole
- Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
- Chicken Zucchini Casserole
- Pesto Chicken Cauliflower Casserole
- Buffalo Chicken Casserole
If you prefer a simpler chicken dinner with a side dish on the side, try crispy air fryer chicken wings, warming coconut curry chicken, or easy slow cooker creamy chicken.
Tools I Use For This Recipe
- Baking Dish – Assemble and cook the keto chicken casserole right in this baking dish. It goes from oven to table beautifully, is an ideal size, and you can even freeze it if you want to prep the casserole ahead.
Video Showing How To Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole with Spinach:
Tap here to jump to the video for this recipe -- it's located directly above the ingredients list. It's the easiest way to learn how to make Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole with Spinach!
This video shows how to make chicken bacon ranch casserole with spinach. You can see the version with broccoli on the recipe card below.
Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole (Fast & Easy)
The whole family will love cheesy chicken bacon ranch casserole! This fast, easy low carb chicken casserole needs just 7 common ingredients.
Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them.
Main Ingredients for Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
Version 1 with Broccoli
Version 2 with Spinach
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (191 degrees C).
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If using frozen spinach, thaw and squeeze to drain first. If using broccoli, place it into a pot of water and bring to a boil. Simmer for 1-2 minutes until bright green.
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Combine the chicken, bacon, drained spinach or broccoli, garlic, ranch dressing, and half of the shredded cheeses in a large bowl. Stir until well incorporated. Transfer to a 9×13 in (23×33 cm) glass or stoneware casserole dish. (Alternatively, you can mix everything directly in the casserole dish.)
Optional tip: If you like extra ranch flavor, add 1-3 teaspoons of ranch seasoning mix, in addition to the dressing.
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Top with remaining shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheeses.
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Bake for about 15 minutes, until hot and bubbly.
Did You Like It?
Leave a rating to help other readers (this also helps me continue to provide free recipes on my site), or get the recipe sent to your inbox.
Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 cup
Nutrition info is based on this homemade ranch dressing, and version 1 with broccoli. Version 2 with spinach has similar nutrition info, but slightly different due to the spinach.
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. 🙂
648 Comments
Scott
2I really love this recipe, but the great thing about it that I use it as a base for a “Clean out the Fridge Casserole”! I’ve added leeks, kale, bell peppers, mushrooms… literally anything I have lying around that I need to get rid of. If you do that, you’ll want to up the amount of chicken, bacon, garlic, cheese, and ranch dressing, but it comes out fantastic!
Carolyn m Malkowski
0Sound wonderful. Making this tonight. Yummy.
Tracy Fluitt
1Needed a quick dinner and this recipe just popped up. I had everything I needed, and it was quick and easy, not to mention the hubs liked it! So did I and I’m adding it to my quick recipes. Thanks!
Honeybee5
1Making this right now! I added half a block of cream cheese to the ranch and garlic. Mixed well. Then followed the rest of the recipe. I’m sure it’s going to be delicious.
lbucha8150
0Very good Keto casserole! The whole family likes it!!
Hilda
0Love this very flavorful recipe, however when I took it out of oven there was an amount oil. I actually saturated a paper towel with it. In the ranch dressing I used one of the first ingredients was soybean oil. Next time I’m going to make my own. Also when I microwaved it few days later, there was more oil!
Janet
0I just made this today. Very good. As usual I always change the recipe a little. I added onion and I did not have the broccoli or spinach so I used frozen asparagus. My chicken was already baked with spices. I shredded it and added to the ingredients. Good thing my chicken was seasoned because it would have been bland, I think, without them. I used Volettis ranch dressing that is fat free and only 15cal for 2T. I try to keep my ingredients low fat as much as possible. My husband enjoyed it so that makes it a keeper. I am anxious to try some of your other recipes. Thank you
Carol
0I made this recipe yesterday for dinner. We all really liked it a lot. I made it with broccoli and used store bought ranch dressing. There will be a next time for this recipe and will try the homemade ranch dressing. Next will try the doughnut recipe.
Thank you
Walter G.
0Wife and I made this yesterday. We had so much fun! 7 cups of shredded chicken and a pack of bacon to start. Whole bunch of assorted veggies and 3 cans of Cream of Chicken soup made this fantastic. We’re thinking of Water Chestnuts and Pineapple Chunks to add to this next time. A Keeper for sure.
Lisa Latham
0This was delicious, and I’ll make it again. I didn’t find it quick and easy though. I was looking for something I could quickly throw together. You have to cook the chicken, bacon, and broccoli before you put it together.
Rosy
0Made this recipe last night. It was delicious and easy. I will make again for sure. Thank you.
Rosy
0What side dish can I serve this with? Thanks
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Rosy, I don’t usually serve a side dish with this because it’s a full meal.
Holister
0I am making now only with cauliflower rice, pre cooked the way you do to get the flavor out. I looked at the reviews and couldn’t find where anyone where use cauli rice so I went with it.
Marie
0Delicious! Will definitely make again.
Tom
0Made t his for the first time tonight. Just started a Keto diet with Intermittent Fasting. It was wonderful. My wife said, “Add it to the rotation”. Long story but I do all the cooking. We’re not big broccoli fans so I replaced that with 3 colored bell peppers. I microwaved them first, to start them cooking and to squeeze water out. Also added Fried onions to the top. It’s nice to find a use for them other than green bean casserole. One of my wife’s heritage recipes is Chicken Rice Pilaf. Obviously not Keto so it was great to find a similar dish without rice.
Teri
0I really liked this. And it was very filling. My husband thought it was a homer as well. I went a little crazy with the ranch because I really like ranch flavor. Also, forgive me if I’ve missed it, but was I supposed to cook the chicken before? I didn’t, and had to put it back in my oven a couple of times because it didn’t register the right temperature. But I also have an old oven. Please let me know. Thank you so much for this recipe!
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Teri, Yes, the chicken should be cooked before assembling the casserole.
Sandra
0This is one casserole that will be made in my kitchen!
Laura
0Looks so delicious! I’m in the middle of making it for the first time and now I’m wondering if you are supposed to cook it covered or uncovered? I’m assuming covered, putting foil on now… can’t wait!
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Laura, You can cook uncovered.
Stephani
0This was delicious! My entire family loved it. Thank you.
Melissa Olvera
0We love it! I make it alot!
Jay
0This is delicious. I made this for a pot-luck dinner so my spouse and I would have something other than the usual high carb fare brought to these suppers… Well, I had tripled the recipe (and used rotisserie chicken) so it would serve more and I’m glad I did! I put it out early, honestly, it was devoured before all of the other dishes had a chance. It got lots of compliments. I have made it several times since and played with the recipe. We prefer spinach. Using store bought rotisserie chicken saves a step if you choose. Tonight Im cooking my own chicken. This is a great recipe for leftover Thanksgiving turkey. So glad for your ideas!
Amy
0I made the broccoli version tonight and it was super yummy! I added more bacon than the recipe called for but next time, I think I will add even more. The bacon is the best part! Great recipe, thank you!
Heidi
0Yummiest low cab casserole I’ve ever made. I used bacon crumbles from Sam’s Club and turned out tasty. I’m definitely making this again!
Kristin
0Delicious!! I definitely measured more with my heart, and used frozen broccoli and frozen spinach that wasn’t in a big block, without steaming or defrosting. I ended up cooking it for 30ish minutes because of that but it was worth it not having two more dirty dishes.
Jamie
0Yum! We did this with broccoli, but I think next time we might try it with spinach and artichokes.
Karien
0It came out dry. I even added extra Ranch dressing. Not much flavor. I’m sorry but I won’t be making it again.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Sorry to hear that, Karien. I’ve never had this be dry and have served it for dozens of people over the years that have all liked it. It could be that you packed the chicken into the measuring cup too tightly?
Frances Wright
0Made this and it is a keeper. I did make the homemade dressing as well but used 1/2 and 1/2 instead of almond milk. I also added about 3/4-1 cup of leftover cooked rice. I put in steamed broccoli and diced steamed carrot (1carrot). I used all of the dressing, so maybe 1 1/2 cups. Since I baked it in a deep casserole dish instead of a 9 x13 pan, I put it in for about 20-22 minutes. Perfect. I also poured a little chicken broth over it before putting it into the oven. It probably would have been ok without that but it was not watery or soupy. It made a lot. Served 4 people dinner with seconds. Had 4 good sized servings left. I used microwave ready bacon which saved a lot of time and rotisserie chicken.
Dan
0I made this tonight for dinner, and it turned out great! I was surprised that it was filling.
It took longer then 15 minutes to make; had to cook the chicken, bacon, etc. But it was time well spent!
Sam
0This was super easy and really good! I even forgot to add the ranch (oops) and it was still delicious!
Dora
0Wow! What a hit with family this is! Thanks so much for your great keto recipes! I have yet to find a recipe of yours that’s not A++!
Sarah Jean
0Absolutely loved this recipe. It was such a huge hit in my house. I only used 1/2 c ranch dressing and added an 8 oz block of cream cheese and sprinkled in some ranch seasoning and it was just perfect!!
Tricia Morris
0I had some rotisserie chicken available, and this was a great recipe! Made with broccoli, mushrooms and red peppers for veggies. I chose to saute them in a large, oven safe pan, added the chicken and other ingredients, and just put the whole pan in the oven, making it a one-dish dish! Thanks for the recipe!
Sarah
0This recipe is a win! The Significant Other is a protein no-carb guy and this recipe delivered. We moved into a new house so I didn’t have garlic but I used the broccoli variation, substituted with chicken thighs, added 2-3x more of the chicken then the recipe called for which meant more ranch and more cheese but holy moly! Definitely making again.
Amy
0Hi. Can you freeze the already cooked casserole? Like, if I wanted to freeze single servings to save for later, will it keep well? Thank you!
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Amy, You can do that but this dish is best when you freeze the unbaked casserole.
Robin pasqualino
0This was a great recipe I put brussel sprouts and spinach in it and topped it with fried onions I like the way that you can switch it up thank you great recipe loved it
Robin pasqualino
0Love this recipe. I used Brussel sprouts instead of broccoli, so good.
Lori
0Thank you for making our keto journey easier, with all your amazing recipes. This one is one of my all time favorites. I ended up adding extra bacon and a little extra broccoli to the dish. I have been meal prepping for the past few weeks as work is getting busy. Hubby, hates casseroles. And when I put it on his plate he looked at me, with wide eyes. He said I’ll try it, but no promises. He ate it all! He said keep this recipe in the book, and I’ll take it for lunch tomorrow. That’s a huge win in my book! Thank you so much! We appreciate all the hard work you do!
Jessica
0This recipe was quick and easy, I used left over rotisserie chicken and pre-packaged real bacon bits to make it super quick. The flavors were amazing. I personally just had trouble eating leftovers again after the first meal, because the mushy texture was a bit of a turn off for me. Wish there was a way to add some low carb crunch or something! Thanks for the recipe!
Robin pasqualino
0I put fried onions on it to make a crunch and it was good.
Jackelope
0Made the broccoli version. Added noodles to the kids side of the dish and they loved it also. So good! Will definitely make again.
Melinda
0This casserole is absolutely delicious! It’s a bit time consuming but things can easily get prepped the day before. I made mine last night then warmed it tonight for 40 minutes.
Heather
0I made this recipe 5-24-23 and it was so good. I added more bacon and seasoned my chicken with the ranch seasoning packet. Thank you for this yummy recipe. We just went to the keto diet and this is the first recipe we’ve tried.
Alicia
0This is my husband’s favorite dinner I’ve ever made! The only thing I do differently is garlic powder rather than fresh because it was too strong a garlicy taste for me.
SHANNA
0I have made this both with spinach and with broccoli and it is a favorite at my house either way. Great recipe!