Barbecue Ranch Chicken Casserole Recipe - An Easy Weeknight Dinner (2024)

Barbecue Ranch Chicken Casserole has become a favorite weeknight recipe in our house. Not only is it easy to make, the entire family loves it!

Chicken and pasta mixed with diced tomatoes and green chiles and then tossed in your favorite barbecue sauce and ranch dressing. Add in a little bacon crumbles and shredded cheddar cheese and let it bake until hot and bubbly.

The combination of flavors is absolutely delicious. Not to mention that it is a hearty and satisfying meal that is simple to prepare.

In fact, with the help of leftover rotisserie chicken and a few store bought ingredients, this dish is made and ready for the oven in less than 15 minutes! However, if you do a little planning and meal prep this dish can be on the table even quicker!

Why You Will Love This Recipe

1. Prepared in less than 15 minutes. The most time consuming step is cooking the pasta. Otherwise, the Barbecue Ranch Chicken Casserole could be made and in the oven in literally 5 minutes.

Therefore, if you want to save even more time, cook the pasta in the morning. Then assemble the casserole and refrigerate it until you are ready for dinner.

All that you have to do is preheat the oven and let the casserole bake. Once it is hot and bubbly you are ready for dinner!

2. 30 Minute Meal. Even if you don’t do any meal prep, with the ingredients listed dinner will be on the table in under 30 minutes. It makes for the perfect weeknight dinner recipe when you don’t have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen.

3. Easy To Adapt. The ingredients are very easy to adapt to your preference. Although this recipe calls for Rotini pasta you can use any short pasta such as penne, farfalle, or elbow macaroni. And feel free to add in some diced onions, peppers or even mushrooms to get a few vegetables in the mix.

4. Family Favorite. When you come across a meal that your family loves, like this Barbecue Ranch Chicken Casserole, it becomes a regular on the dinner menu rotation. I have yet to meet someone that doesn’t like this meal.

Even my husband, who doesn’t like Ranch dressing, loves this recipe. And who wouldn’t love the combination of your favorite Barbecue sauce mixed with Ranch dressing and bacon? Add that over pasta and toss it with chicken and you have yourself a meal that will be requested frequently.

Ingredients Required

Pasta – Rotini is the pasta of choice as the spiral noodles capture the other ingredients perfectly. However, as mentioned above you can use any variety of short pasta that is suited for casseroles.

Cooked diced or shredded chicken – You can cook chicken breasts or chicken thighs and use them in this recipe. Although just like when I make my Chicken and Potato Casserole I find it easiest to use the meat from a store-bought rotisserie chicken. When I purchase it at a wholesale club it is actually more budget friendly than buying raw chicken and cooking it myself.

Bacon – Standard bacon crumbles are used to flavor the Barbecue Ranch Chicken Casserole. Although I tend to cut raw bacon into strips and cook it while the pasta is boiling, you can also purchase Real Bacon Bits at the grocery.

Just be sure to steer away from the red color imitation bacon bits. And for those who are trying to be a little more healthy you can use turkey or chicken bacon instead.

Shredded cheddar cheese – It is best to use fine shredded cheese in this recipe, especially if you are using pre-packaged shredded cheese. It will melt better than coarse shredded cheese.

Rotel tomatoes – Diced tomatoes with green chiles is used to help flavor the dish. Use the entire can, including the liquid.

Diced green chiles – Green chiles provide a ton of flavor without the heat. The mild green chile flavor will be balanced out by the cool Ranch dressing and cheddar cheese. However, if you like a little spice to your food, use a medium or hotter variety.

The Sauce

Prepared ranch dressing – Standard ranch salad dressing is used to help flavor the casserole.

Barbecue sauce – Use your favorite barbecue sauce. I prefer Sweet Baby Rays Sweet and Spicy No Added Sugar, but you can use any brand and flavor that you like. (Affiliate Link: Sweet Baby Rays Barbecue Sauce)

Dry minced onion – Instead of dicing an onion, use dry minced onion. However, if you have fresh onion on hand you can certainly add it to this recipe.

Barbecue Ranch Chicken Casserole Recipe

*Specific measurements and complete recipe instructions are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to continue to read the tips and tricks to making this recipe below.

INGREDIENTS

• 12 ounces rotini pasta
• 3 cups shredded cooked chicken
• ½ cup cooked and crumbled bacon
• 2½ cups cheese fine shredded cheddar cheese
• 10 ounces Rotel tomatoes
• 7 ounces diced green chiles
• 1 cup prepared ranch dressing
• ¾ cup barbecue sauce
• 1 Tbsp. dry minced onion

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Spray a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with non stick cooking spray. Set aside.

Cook the pasta per package directions for al dente consistency. Drain and transfer the cooked pasta to a large mixing bowl.

Add the cooked and shredded chicken, chopped bacon, shredded cheese, Rotel tomatoes (undrained), diced green chiles (undrained), ranch dressing, barbecue sauce, and minced onions to the bowl and toss to combine.

Transfer the mixture to a casserole dish and top with additional cheese if desired. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the casserole is bubbly around the edges and the cheese is melted.

Remove the dish from the oven and let it sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Storing & Reheating Barbecue Ranch Chicken Casserole

If you have leftovers let the casserole cool until it is at or near room temperature. Then cover and place in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Reheating – The pasta will absorb some of the sauce. Therefore you will need to add a few drops of water to your plate of leftovers before reheating. Reheat in the microwave in individual portions for 60-90 seconds. Stir and reheat again for 30 seconds.

Enjoy! Mary

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