Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole for Eight

Ingredients

• 12 ounces dry penne pasta (340 g)
• 3 cups pulled cooked chicken (510 g)
• 8 bacon slices, chopped (224 g)
• 3 cups small broccoli florets (270 g)
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (42 g)
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (30 g)
• 3 cups whole milk (720 g)
• 1 teaspoon dried dill
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon fine salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups pulled cheddar, divided (226 g)

Instructions

1. Cook pasta and broccoli. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9-by-13-inch dish. Boil penne for 2 minutes less than the package's tender time. Add broccoli during the final 2 minutes, then drain both thoroughly. Spread.
2. Crisp the bacon. Cook chopped bacon in a skillet over medium heat until browned and crisp, 7 to 9 minutes. Transfer it to a paper-lined plate. Reserve one-third for the topping. Pour off the rendered fat.
3. Thicken the herb sauce. Melt butter in a saucepan and whisk in flour for 1 minute. Add milk gradually. Cook until the sauce coats a spoon and a spatula leaves a clean 2-second path. Stir in dill.
4. Fold the filling. Combine pasta, broccoli, chicken, two-thirds of the bacon, and sauce in a wide bowl. Fold until the penne looks glossy and no dry tubes remain. Transfer to the dish without pressing down. The.
5. Finish the top. Scatter the remaining cheddar and reserved bacon unevenly over the casserole. Exposed pasta tips are acceptable and become lightly crisp. Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes, then uncover for another 10.
6. Set before serving. Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes within the cook time. The sauce thickens around the pasta during this pause. Divide into 8 servings with a broad spoon, reaching to the bottom so.

Notes

• Use the visual texture cues in the instructions instead of relying on the timer alone for every stage.
• Refrigerate leftovers for 4 days, and freeze only the suitable components for up to 2 months.
• Measure wet additions carefully because extra liquid changes how the finished filling, sauce, or coating holds.

Nutrition Facts