Crack Chicken Macaroni and Cheese

Crack Chicken Macaroni and Cheese Recipe – THE BEST macaroni and cheese EVER! Campanelle pasta, butter, flour, ranch seasoning, heavy cream, milk, salt, pepper, cheddar cheese, chicken and bacon. Can make in advance and refrigerate or freeze for later. Comfort food at its best!

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Cheddar Bacon Ranch Macaroni and Cheese

This Crack Chicken Macaroni and Cheese is dangerously delicious. It’s a creamy, comforting dish that’s a true crowd-pleaser. Tender pasta coated in a velvety sauce made with a hint of ranch dressing mix, heavy cream, and sharp cheddar cheese and loaded with chicken and bacon. This is the ultimate comfort food! It’s the kind of dish that’ll have you coming back for seconds! It’s impossible to resist!

How to Make Crack Chicken Mac & Cheese

This pasta is super easy to make with only a few simple ingredients. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add pasta and cook according to the package directions for al dente pasta. Drain and set aside. 

In a large saucepan, melt unsalted butter over medium heat. Add all-purpose flour and whisk until smooth. Cook for a few minutes until the roux turns golden brown. Slowly whisk in heavy cream to the flour mixture. Add milk and ranch seasoning. Cook over medium-high heat until thickened. Remove the pan from the heat and add shredded sharp cheddar cheese. Stir until the cheese has melted. Add the cooked pasta and crumbled bacon to the cheese sauce and toss to coat. Pour the pasta mixture into a large baking dish sprayed with non-stick spray. Sprinkle the top of the pasta with a few tablespoons of panko bread crumbs. Bake in a preheated oven until bubbly. Garnish with fresh parsley.

Helpful Tips & Frequently Asked Questions

• I use rotisserie chicken in this recipe. You can use any cooked chopped chicken.
  • Chicken breasts, chicken thighs, chicken tenderloins, or canned chicken.
• You can use any shape of pasta that you prefer. Elbow macaroni, cavatappi pasta, rigatoni, penne, bowtie pasta – anything goes!
• Here is our recipe for Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix made with buttermilk powder, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, chives, dill, salt, and pepper: https://www.plainchicken.com/homemade-ranch-dressing-mix/
• If you are sensitive to ranch seasoning, adjust the amount to your personal taste.
• Variations/Additions:
  • onions
  • peppers
  • hot sauce
  • spinach
  • broccoli
• Can Chicken Mac & Cheese be made in advance? Yes! You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and refrigerate it until you are ready to bake. You will need to add 5 or 10 minutes to the cooking time.
• Can Chicken Macaroni & Cheese be frozen? Yes! Assemble the casserole and cool completely. Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and aluminum foil and freeze. When ready to bake, thaw and cook as directed.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

What to Serve with Crack Chicken Macaroni and Cheese

This baked pasta is a family favorite! We absolutely love the flavor combination. When it comes to what to serve with this cheesy pasta, I’ve got some delicious options for you. 

No matter what you choose, one bite and this is sure to earn a spot in your dinner rotation! Looking for more side dish ideas? Here are some popular recipes from the website:

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Crack Chicken Macaroni and Cheese

Yield: 6 people

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Crack Chicken Macaroni and Cheese Recipe – THE BEST macaroni and cheese EVER! Campanelle pasta, butter, flour, ranch seasoning, heavy cream, milk, salt, pepper, cheddar cheese, chicken and bacon. Can make in advance and refrigerate or freeze for later. Comfort food at its best!

• Preheat oven to 350ºF.

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

• Melt butter in a large sauce pot over medium heat. Add flour and cook 1 – 2 minutes, but do not brown. Add cream, milk, and ranch seasoning.

• Bring the pot to a simmer. Cook until sauce is thick, about 5 – 6 minutes. Blend cheese into the sauce. Add cooked pasta, chicken, and bacon. Stir well.

• Pour the pasta mixture into a 9-inch square baking dish. Sprinkle panko breadcrumbs on top.

• Bake uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes, until bubbly.

• You can use any shape of pasta that you prefer. Elbow macaroni, cavatappi pasta, rigatoni, penne, bowtie pasta – anything goes!
• Here is our recipe for Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix made with buttermilk powder, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, chives, dill, salt, and pepper: https://www.plainchicken.com/homemade-ranch-dressing-mix/
• If you are sensitive to ranch seasoning, adjust the amount to your personal taste.
• Variations/Additions:
  • onions
  • peppers
  • hot sauce
  • spinach
  • broccoli
• Can Chicken Mac & Cheese be made in advance? Yes! You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and refrigerate it until you are ready to bake. You will need to add 5 or 10 minutes to the cooking time.
• Can Chicken Macaroni & Cheese be frozen? Yes! Assemble the casserole and cool completely. Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and aluminum foil and freeze. When ready to bake, thaw and cook as directed.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Steph