Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole Recipe
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Made with minimal ingredients and maximum flavor this creamy Chicken Ranch Casserole is a simple dinner that the whole family will enjoy. Serve with some Butter Rice and Maple Glazed Carrots for the perfect meal!
Chicken Options
An essential part of this recipe, obviously by the title. I love using chicken tenders because they cook much faster than an actual chicken breast. Be aware that your cooking time will increase if you’re using whole chicken breasts. Chicken cutlets would work well and have the same cooking time as listed below. If you only have the thicker chicken breast, feel free to cube it up and throw it in the bottom of the 9×13 dish.
The Ranch Sauce
The creamy sauce for this casserole is made up of cream of chicken soup, sour cream, ranch seasoning, and cheese. All four of these ingredients are mixed together to make the most delicious slather for chicken that there ever was.
Feel free to use light sour cream and a homemade version of cream of chicken soup for a healthier option.
Crunchy Topping Options
I tend to gravitate towards crushed Ritz crackers for any casserole topping because they create a perfectly crunchy and buttery top, but feel free to use club crackers, soda crackers, french fried onions, or even corn flakes (a la funeral potatoes).
Can I add bacon into this recipe?
You can absolutely add bacon to this recipe! You’ll be going from a chicken casserole to a *fancier* chicken bacon ranch casserole. Simply precook the bacon, crumble, and sprinkle it on top with the ritz crackers. I prefer cooking bacon in the oven but you could always use store-bought crumbled bacon.
How to Make Chicken Ranch Casserole
You only need about 10 minutes of prep to get this casserole ready for the oven! Don’t forget the exact measurements and directions are listed in the recipe card below.
Preheat and Prep
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Make Sauce
Stir cream of chicken soup, sour cream, ranch seasoning, and cheese together in a large bowl.
Layer Ingredients
Spread the chicken pieces into the bottom of the pan.
Spread the creamy mixture over the chicken evenly. It doesn’t look good now but trust me, when it comes out of the oven it will look like heaven.
Crush Ritz Crackers and top casserole. You’re looking for medium to small pieces.
Bake and Serve!
Bake 25-35 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked. Enjoy on its own or with rice.
Can I Make This in Advance?
Yes! Simply make according to recipe directions and store covered in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. If you are planning on storing it longer than that, I’d recommend adding the crushed crackers right before baking.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
This chicken ranch casserole recipe can last 3-4 days, stored in the refrigerator covered.
To reheat, bake at 325-350 degrees F for 20-30 minutes. Or for individual portions, you can nuke it in the good ol’ microwave. Either way, be careful because the contents WILL be hot.
Can you Freeze Chicken Ranch Casserole?
Yes, you absolutely can! Put together the whole casserole, minus the topping, seal in an airtight container and then freeze, unbaked. When ready to bake, thaw, then add the Ritz topping and bake.
Thaw it out in the fridge the day before baking or reheating.
If you want to freeze a baked casserole, follow the directions, let cool completely, and then freeze.
What to Serve with Chicken Ranch Casserole
If you’ve got some time on your hands while the casserole is baking consider making these side dishes:
- Roasted Green Beans
- Roasted Cauliflower
- Famous Butter Rice
- Homemade Crescent Rolls (No-Knead Recipe)
- Strawberry Salad
- Pear Salad
More Chicken Casseroles to Try!
- Chicken Wild Rice Casserole
- Swiss Chicken Casserole
- Southwest Chicken Pasta Casserole
- Pesto Chicken and Rice Casserole
- Southwest Crockpot Egg Noodle Casserole
Be sure to pin, save, email, bookmark or share this recipe because it’s one you’re going to keep coming back to again and again! Have a great day, friends!
Creamy Chicken Ranch Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken tenderloins
- 10 1/2 oz cream of chicken soup 1 can
- 1 1/2 cups sour cream
- 1 oz ranch seasoning packet
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese grated
- 40 Ritz crackers crushed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a bowl, stir cream of chicken soup together with sour cream, ranch seasoning, and cheese.
- Spread chicken into the bottom of the pan.
- Spread the creamy mixture over the chicken evenly.
- Top with crushed crackers and bake 25-30 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked. Enjoy on its own or with rice.
I see under several comments the question was asked do you cover it with foil while baking it and I never saw an
answer. Do you cover it?
I don’t. If you notice the cracker crumbs getting to dark in the process though, then cover part of the way through.
Really good. I didn’t have any Ritz crackers so I used bread crumbs instead and used cream of bacon soup. I also added some bacon bits to the cheese. Everyone loved it. Will be making it again.
[…] Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole is probably one of the most comforting chicken recipes from my friend Lauren. Get cozy, and make this casserole…it’s easy, flavor packed and definitely family friendly! […]
Made this for dinner and it was a hit. All 3 of my kids loved it. Especially my 2 year old who is very picky.
Can I half this recipe?? I only have a 1.5lb bag of chicken tenders and didn’t want to use the whole thing on one recipe. Also, only two of us will be eating this!
Yes! Definitely can halve.
Oh gosh! Another must make recipe! So many of your creations are the perfect change for making at an assisted living facility where I work. Easy prep, basic ingredients and they look so tasty!
Thank you for sharing!
[…] Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole is probably one of the most comforting chicken recipes from my friend Lauren. Get cozy, and make this casserole…it’s easy, flavor packed and definitely family friendly! […]
Can you use shredded cheddar instead of grated? Will it taste different?
Yup, totally fine!
Can I use cooked/ shredded chicken instead of raw? What would the cooking time be?
If everything is cooked, you could probably have this ready to eat in 20 minutes.
Can you put a layer of leftover already cooked rice in the bottom of the dish before putting in the chicken so it’s all cooked in one dish?
Yes, I think that would be fine!
Can’t wait to try this..making it right now..it looks so good…
Can I use chicken thighs instead of the chicken tenders and if so would you recommend the boneless skinless or could I use the bone in thighs?
In the video it shows something being drizzled on top of the chicken. Is that gravy?? I want to make this soon! Thanks
That’s just the liquid/gravy from the pan.
[…] Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole is probably one of the most comforting chicken recipes from my friend Lauren. Get cozy, and make this casserole…it’s easy, flavor packed and definitely family friendly! […]
[…] Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole is probably one of the most comforting chicken recipes from my friend Lauren. Get cozy, and make this casserole…it’s easy, flavor packed and definitely family friendly! […]
[…] Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole is probably one of the most comforting chicken recipes from my friend Lauren. Get cozy, and make this casserole…it’s easy, flavor packed and definitely family friendly! […]
[…] Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole is probably one of the most comforting chicken recipes from my friend Lauren. Get cozy, and make this casserole…it’s easy, flavor packed and definitely family friendly! […]
This dish really hit the spot on a cold winter night. I added small potatoes cut up in with it. the sauce with cheese made them taste so good. This is a keeper.
So I have made this a fee times. So good. The first time I did it exactly how it says. Then the second time I forgot Ritz and didn’t have anything else to to use and I mean nothing, but it still came out better than I thought. My boys had anything chicken like this unless it’s nuggets but man they loved it. I’m actually gonna make this again tonight the kids voted on it.
Do you thaw your chicken tenderloins first?
yes!
[…] Tuna Noodle Casserole is not your thing, try my Crockpot Italian Chicken Pasta, Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole or Crockpot Smoked Sausage Hash Brown […]
Do you cover the dish with foil or bake it uncovered?
[…] Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole is probably one of the most comforting chicken recipes from my friend Lauren. Get cozy, and make this casserole…it’s easy, flavor packed and definitely family friendly! […]
[…] Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole is probably one of the most comforting chicken recipes from my friend Lauren. Get cozy, and make this casserole…it’s easy, flavor packed and definitely family friendly! […]
[…] Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole is probably one of the most comforting chicken recipes from my friend Lauren. Get cozy, and make this casserole…it’s easy, flavor packed and definitely family friendly! […]
[…] Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole is probably one of the most comforting chicken recipes from my friend Lauren. Get cozy, and make this casserole…it’s easy, flavor packed and definitely family friendly! […]
[…] Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole is probably one of the most comforting chicken recipes from my friend Lauren. Get cozy, and make this casserole…it’s easy, flavor packed and definitely family friendly! […]
[…] Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole is probably one of the most comforting chicken recipes from my friend Lauren. Get cozy, and make this casserole…it’s easy, flavor packed and definitely family friendly! […]
[…] Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole is probably one of the most comforting chicken recipes from my friend Lauren. Get cozy, and make this casserole…it’s easy, flavor packed and definitely family friendly! […]
[…] Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole is probably one of the most comforting chicken recipes from my friend Lauren. Get cozy, and make this casserole…it’s easy, flavor packed and definitely family friendly! […]
[…] Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole is probably one of the most comforting chicken recipes from my friend Lauren. Get cozy, and make this casserole…it’s easy, flavor packed and definitely family friendly! […]
[…] Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole is probably one of the most comforting chicken recipes from my friend Lauren. Get cozy, and make this casserole…it’s easy, flavor packed and definitely family friendly! […]
[…] Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole is probably one of the most comforting chicken recipes from my friend Lauren. Get cozy, and make this casserole…it’s easy, flavor packed and definitely family friendly! […]
[…] Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole is probably one of the most comforting chicken recipes from my friend Lauren. Get cozy, and make this casserole…it’s easy, flavor packed and definitely family friendly! […]
[…] Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole is probably one of the most comforting chicken recipes from my friend Lauren. Get cozy, and make this casserole…it’s easy, flavor packed and definitely family friendly! […]
[…] Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole is probably one of the most comforting chicken recipes from my friend Lauren. Get cozy, and make this casserole…it’s easy, flavor packed and definitely family friendly! […]
[…] Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole is probably one of the most comforting chicken recipes from my friend Lauren. Get cozy, and make this casserole…it’s easy, flavor packed and definitely family friendly! […]
[…] Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole is probably one of the most comforting chicken recipes from my friend Lauren. Get cozy, and make this casserole…it’s easy, flavor packed and definitely family friendly! […]
[…] Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole is probably one of the most comforting chicken recipes from my friend Lauren. Get cozy, and make this casserole…it’s easy, flavor packed and definitely family friendly! […]
[…] day for Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole that people were pretty excited about trying. I followed the link and noticed the recipe called for several highly processed […]
[…] day for Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole that people were pretty excited about trying. I followed the link and noticed the recipe called for several highly processed […]
[…] day for Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole that people were pretty excited about trying. I followed the link and noticed the recipe called for several highly processed […]
[…] day for Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole that people were pretty excited about trying. I followed the link and noticed the recipe called for several highly processed […]
[…] day for Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole that people were pretty excited about trying. I followed the link and noticed the recipe called for several highly processed […]
[…] day for Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole that people were pretty excited about trying. I followed the link and noticed the recipe called for several highly processed […]
[…] day for Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole that people were pretty excited about trying. I followed the link and noticed the recipe called for several highly processed […]
[…] day for Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole that people were pretty excited about trying. I followed the link and noticed the recipe called for several highly processed […]
This looks like something my super fussy eater son might like. He really only likes chicken and Italian food, but will tolerate other meats. He hates most veggies, and fruits. He is 26 years old, but was a 1lb. 23 week premie twin when he was born and spent 41/2 months in the hospital, so he had quite a bit of things to overcome. Thanks for making these simple recipes that especially appeal to fussy eaters!!
I made this recipe for my daughter who LOVES everything ranch and chicken. She is now OBSESSED and requests this recipe all the time. I love using a rotisserie chicken, so easy and flavorful.
Tried this and found the sour cream to be a little overwhelming. I do like sour cream normally. I was thinking of swapping that it with cream of celery soup. What are your thoughts?