Welcome to your new favorite weeknight dinner! This **Cheesy BBQ Bacon Ranch Chicken and Potatoes** is more than just a meal; it’s a culinary experience packed into one convenient dish. Imagine succulent, ranch-BBQ marinated chicken breasts, nestled among perfectly seasoned baby potatoes and savory bacon, all topped with a generous layer of gooey, melted cheese. It’s comfort food perfected, designed to bring joy to your table with minimal effort.
Cheesy BBQ Bacon Ranch Chicken and Potatoes: Your Ultimate One-Pan Meal
Are you searching for a dish that offers incredible flavor, easy preparation, and satisfies everyone at the dinner table? Look no further! This Cheesy BBQ Bacon Ranch Chicken and Potatoes casserole effortlessly brings together a symphony of flavors and textures. The tangy zest of ranch, the sweet and smoky notes of BBQ sauce, the irresistible crunch of bacon, and the comforting heartiness of potatoes and chicken, all crowned with a golden blanket of cheese – it’s a harmonious blend that creates a truly unforgettable meal. Whether you’re a seasoned home cook or just starting your culinary journey, this recipe is designed for simplicity and maximum deliciousness.
A Whole Meal in One Delicious Dish
This remarkable recipe truly lives up to its name as a complete meal in a single pan. We often refer to it as a casserole, given its delightful layers and the way all the components bake together to infuse their flavors. Each forkful delivers tender chicken, perfectly cooked potatoes, and crisp bits of bacon, all coated in a light yet rich dressing of BBQ and ranch. The addition of melted cheese transforms this dish into an indulgent comfort food, making it an instant family favorite you’ll want to recreate time and time again. The beauty of this recipe lies in its balanced profile – you get your protein, carbohydrates, and even some vegetables, all cooked to perfection without needing a multitude of pots and pans. This means less cleanup and more time to enjoy your culinary creation with loved ones.
Your Questions Answered: Cheesy BBQ Bacon Ranch Chicken and Potatoes FAQ
Absolutely! While chicken breasts are specified, this recipe is quite flexible. You can certainly use boneless, skinless chicken tenderloins for a quicker cooking time, or opt for boneless, skinless chicken thighs for a richer flavor and more tender result. Keep in mind that dark meat, such as chicken thighs, generally takes a little longer to cook through than white meat like breasts or tenderloins. You’ll need to adjust your cooking time accordingly, ensuring the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) before serving to guarantee it’s fully cooked and safe to eat. Using a meat thermometer is always recommended for accuracy.
Yes, it is perfectly safe and often recommended to put raw chicken directly into casseroles like this one. The key to food safety is ensuring the chicken reaches the proper internal cooked temperature. Once the chicken, or any raw meat, reaches 165°F (74°C), any potential bacteria that might have been present will have been destroyed. Cooking raw chicken directly in the casserole allows it to absorb all the wonderful flavors of the marinade, potatoes, and bacon drippings, resulting in a more flavorful and moist outcome. Always use a reliable food thermometer to check the doneness of your chicken.
For convenience, yes, you can definitely use pre-cooked bacon bits or a packet of real bacon pieces to cut down on preparation time. If you opt for this shortcut, you’ll miss out on the flavorful bacon drippings that are used to sauté the potatoes. To compensate, you’ll need to add a tablespoon or two of a neutral oil, like olive oil or vegetable oil, to the skillet when you cook the potatoes. This will ensure the potatoes brown nicely and don’t stick to the pan. While it saves time, cooking fresh bacon does add a superior depth of flavor that’s hard to replicate.
Leftovers of this Cheesy BBQ Bacon Ranch Chicken and Potatoes can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. To reheat, you can use a microwave for individual portions, though the texture of the potatoes and bacon might be softer. For best results, especially to maintain some crispness in the bacon and avoid soggy potatoes, reheat larger portions in the oven at around 350°F (175°C) until thoroughly warmed through. We generally do not recommend freezing this dish. The potatoes can become mealy or mushy upon thawing and reheating, and the creamy sauce might separate, affecting the overall texture and appeal of the casserole.
Yes, absolutely! While baby potatoes are excellent for their convenience and quick cooking time, you can substitute them with other varieties. Small red potatoes or Yukon Golds, cut into quarters or 1-inch pieces, work beautifully. Russet potatoes can also be used, though they tend to be starchier and might require a slightly longer cooking time or pre-boiling to ensure they become fork-tender within the casserole’s baking time. Just ensure all potato pieces are cut to a similar, manageable size for even cooking.
The recipe calls for a triple cheddar or Mexican cheese blend, which is a fantastic choice for its meltability and robust flavor. However, feel free to experiment with your favorite cheeses! Monterey Jack offers a very smooth, creamy melt. Colby Jack is another excellent option for a mild, buttery flavor. For a sharper taste, extra sharp cheddar is wonderful. If you like a little kick, a pepper jack cheese could add a delightful spice. The key is to choose a cheese that melts well and complements the savory and tangy flavors of the chicken and potatoes.
Essential Ingredients for Cheesy BBQ Bacon Ranch Chicken and Potatoes:
Gathering your ingredients is the first step towards culinary success. Here’s what you’ll need, along with a few tips on why each component is crucial:
- Ranch Dressing: This provides the creamy, tangy foundation for our marinade, infusing the chicken with classic herbaceous flavor. Feel free to use your favorite store-bought brand or even a homemade version.
- BBQ Sauce: The sweet and smoky notes of BBQ sauce perfectly complement the ranch, creating a dynamic flavor profile that’s both comforting and exciting. Choose a sauce you love!
- Chicken Breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are lean and absorb marinades beautifully. Pounding them slightly to an even thickness (about 1 inch) ensures they cook uniformly.
- Bacon: More than just a topping, the bacon lends its incredible smoky, salty flavor to the entire dish. Its drippings are also essential for starting off the potatoes with an extra layer of taste.
- Baby Potatoes: These small, tender potatoes are ideal as they cook relatively quickly and absorb the delicious flavors from the bacon drippings and dressing. Cutting them into quarters helps them cook evenly and become fork-tender.
- Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder: The holy trinity of seasoning! These pantry staples are crucial for enhancing the natural flavors of the chicken and potatoes, providing a savory base.
- Triple Cheddar or Mexican Cheese Blend: A blend of cheeses melts beautifully, creating a rich, gooey topping that binds all the flavors together. These blends offer a good balance of flavor and meltability.
- Green Onions: Sliced green onions add a fresh, mild oniony bite and a pop of color as a garnish, brightening the rich flavors of the casserole.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Cheesy BBQ Bacon Ranch Chicken and Potatoes
Creating this flavorful one-pan meal is surprisingly straightforward. Follow these steps for a delicious and satisfying dinner:
Prepare the Flavorful Marinade: In a medium bowl, combine the ranch dressing and BBQ sauce. Whisk them together until you have a smooth, well-integrated sauce. This blend forms the heart of our dish’s unique flavor profile. Set this mixture aside for now.
Season and Marinate the Chicken: Pat your chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Place the seasoned chicken breasts into a gallon-size resealable plastic bag. Pour about half of the prepared ranch-BBQ dressing mixture over the chicken. Seal the bag, ensuring to press out as much air as possible, and gently massage the chicken to ensure it’s thoroughly coated. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to penetrate the chicken and tenderize it. You can marinate for up to 2 hours for even deeper flavor.
Prepare Your Baking Dish: While the chicken marinates, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly spray an 11 x 7-inch or 9 x 13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. The larger 9×13 dish is ideal if you prefer more space for your ingredients or are making a slightly larger batch. This step prevents sticking and aids in easy cleanup.
Cook the Bacon: In a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat until it’s nearly fully cooked but not yet crisp. We’re looking for it to be rendered but still pliable, as it will continue to cook in the oven. Remove the bacon from the skillet and transfer it to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Crucially, reserve about 1 tablespoon of the flavorful bacon drippings in the skillet. This golden liquid will be used to start our potatoes and impart an incredible smoky depth.
Pre-Cook the Potatoes: Add your quartered baby potatoes to the skillet with the reserved bacon drippings. Season them with a pinch of salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Sauté the potatoes for approximately 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they start to soften slightly and develop a light golden crust. This step jumpstarts their cooking and infuses them with delicious bacon flavor. Remove the skillet from the heat.
Assemble the Base Layers: Roughly chop the cooked bacon into bite-sized pieces. Add the chopped bacon to the potato mixture in the skillet and mix lightly to combine. Spoon this potato and bacon mixture evenly into your prepared 13×9-inch baking dish, forming the delicious base of your casserole. Next, pour the remaining half of the prepared ranch-BBQ dressing over the potatoes and bacon, stirring gently to ensure everything is well coated with the flavorful sauce.
Add the Chicken: Carefully remove the chicken breasts from their marinade bag. Discard any remaining marinade in the bag. Arrange the marinated chicken breasts evenly over the potato and bacon mixture in the baking dish. Spreading them out ensures even cooking and allows each piece to interact with the flavorful base.
Initial Bake (Covered): Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. This helps to trap steam, ensuring the chicken stays moist and the potatoes become tender without drying out. Bake in the preheated 400°F (200°C) oven for 45 minutes. During this time, the flavors will meld beautifully, and the main components will begin to cook through.
Add the Cheese Topping: After 45 minutes, carefully remove the baking dish from the oven and remove the aluminum foil. Evenly sprinkle the shredded triple cheddar or Mexican cheese blend over the chicken breasts and the exposed potato mixture. Be generous – the cheese is key to that irresistible golden, bubbly topping!
Final Bake (Covered Again): Cover the dish again with the aluminum foil. Return it to the oven for an additional 8-10 minutes. This final covered bake allows the cheese to melt perfectly into a gooey layer while ensuring the chicken is thoroughly cooked (reaching an internal temperature of 165°F or 74°C) and the potatoes are completely fork-tender. The foil helps prevent the cheese from browning too quickly.
Garnish and Serve: Once removed from the oven, let the casserole rest for a few minutes. Before serving, sprinkle generously with freshly sliced green onions. The vibrant green not only adds a beautiful visual appeal but also provides a fresh, mild oniony crunch that perfectly balances the rich, savory flavors of the dish. Serve hot and enjoy your incredible one-pan meal!
Serving Suggestions
This Cheesy BBQ Bacon Ranch Chicken and Potatoes is a hearty, all-in-one meal, but it pairs wonderfully with a few simple sides to round out your dinner. A large, crisp green salad is always a fantastic choice, offering a fresh contrast to the rich casserole. Consider a pre-bagged salad mix for ultimate convenience, or whip up a simple garden salad with your favorite vinaigrette. Other great options include steamed green beans, roasted asparagus, or sweet corn on the cob. For those who enjoy a little extra, a side of warm garlic bread or dinner rolls would be perfect for soaking up any leftover delicious sauce. Enjoy creating a balanced and flavorful spread that your family and friends will rave about!
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
If you loved this Cheesy BBQ Bacon Ranch Chicken and Potatoes, you’re in for a treat! We have a wide array of delicious, easy-to-make recipes that feature similar comforting flavors and simple preparation. Explore these other fantastic dishes that are perfect for any occasion, from quick weeknight meals to crowd-pleasing gatherings:
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
- Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix
- Cheesy Bacon Ranch Pull-Apart Bread
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
- Crock Pot Chicken and Ranch
- Crock Pot Monterey Chicken
- Crock Pot Cheddar Bacon Ranch Potato Soup
- King Ranch Chicken Casserole
- Poppy Seed Chicken
- Polish Casserole for Two
Cheesy Bacon Chicken and Potatoes
This Cheesy BBQ Bacon Ranch Chicken and Potatoes is a whole meal in one! Ranch BBQ marinated chicken with melted cheese and bacon!
Print Recipe |
Pin Recipe
25 minutes
45 minutes
1 hour 10 minutes
5
Brandie Skibinski
Ingredients
- ½ cup ranch dressing
- ¼ cup BBQ sauce
- 1.5 pounds chicken breasts (about 4-5)
- ½ pound bacon
- 1.5 pounds little (baby) potatoes, cut in quarters
- salt, pepper, garlic powder, to taste
- 2 cups triple cheddar or Mexican cheese blend
- 3 green onions, sliced
Instructions
- Mix together the ranch dressing and BBQ sauce in a bowl. Set aside.
- Season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and garlic powder and place in a ziploc bag.
- Into the bag, pour half the prepared dressing over chicken breasts. Squish it around to evenly coat. Refrigerate 30 minutes to marinate.
- When ready, preheat oven to 400ºF (200°C). Spray an 11 x 7 (or 9×13) baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Cook bacon in large skillet on medium heat until bacon is almost fully cooked (not crisp). Remove bacon from skillet, reserving 1 Tablespoon of drippings in skillet. Set aside bacon on paper towels.
- Add potatoes to reserved drippings; season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Cook about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.
- Cut up bacon. Add to potato mixture; mix lightly. Spoon potatoes and bacon into a 13×9-inch baking dish. Pour remaining prepared dressing over potatoes and stir to coat.
- Remove chicken from marinade; discard marinade. Place chicken evenly over potato mixture in baking dish.
- Cover with aluminum foil. Bake 45 minutes.
- Remove foil and top with shredded cheese.
- Cover again and place back into oven for an additional 8-10 minutes until cheese is melted and chicken is thoroughly cooked (165°F / 74°C) and potatoes are fork-tender.
- Top with sliced green onions before serving.
Video
Main Course
American
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 32g |
Protein: 20g |
Fat: 45g |
Sodium: 999mg |
Fiber: 3g |
Sugar: 6g
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
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