Chicken-Bacon Ranch Casserole Perfect For A Potluck

Hello friends!

I hope you’re enjoying the last days of October! But believe it or not, we’re approaching the end of this year much faster than we probably anticipate. This, of course means the beginning of the holiday gatherings at work, with friends, family, etc. I find that potluck-type events take place in more frequency around this time, so what will you be making this year?

Do you have a hit recipe that everyone looks forward to each year? A tried and true dish that never disappoints? Or…are you new to this and just don’t know where to start? No worries! We’ll be focusing on easy recipes that you can throw together for a potluck over the next few weeks!

Today we’ll be starting off with a casserole recipe: Chicken-Bacon Ranch casserole, to be specific.

This is a recipe posted on Southern Living and you can find it right -> here!

First Things First…Gluten-Free Modifiers

This recipe for chicken-bacon ranch casserole, as it is written, is not gluten-free, but it requires only a few adjustments in order to be safe to eat for those who cannot eat gluten. Making these changes will NOT alter the overall taste. I’m the only person in my household who is gluten-free and my husband LOVED this. I mean…it’s cheesy pasta with chicken and bacon. Can you go wrong with that? Nah.

So if you’re gluten-free or trying to cook for those who are, here is a quick list of what you’ll need to watch out for:

• Pasta – The recipe calls for penne, but I’d say any pasta of the smaller variety would work well. I used Barilla Gluten-Free Rotini and it ended up delightful!
• Ranch dressing and seasoning – Seasoning is often where you can find hidden gluten, so do try to find one that confirms no wheat or gluten-products are included.
• The Chicken – Same thing as above–if you’re buying a rotisserie chicken, just make sure that it is as plain as it can be. No added flavor or special seasonings–just to be safe.
• Bacon – Depending if there is any smoked flavor or other preparation, just keep it as simple as possible.

The rest of the ingredients should not contain any gluten content as it’s mainly dairy :). But the main point of this is…if you’re cooking for yourself or others, do be sure to read the ingredients on the food items you’re buying. It really stinks getting gluten-ed by food you thought was safe.

Serving Size Fit For A Potluck!

This dish is definitely on the heavier side. It’s quite a bit of cheese and chicken, and pasta, so if you were expecting a nice and light casserole to bring to a party, then this one will not be for you. The upside of a dish like this is that it can certainly yield more servings, because even a small bit of this casserole will satisfy the tastebuds.

But does this have to be made for a potluck? Not necessarily. I, of course, made this during the week when I wanted to try something new that would be easy to make. We just had leftovers ;).

Can this Be Made Ahead Of Time?

If you plan on bringing this to a potluck, then you can absolutely prep this up until the point of baking. Everything is basically cooked and ready, so baking time will simply warm and melt everything together into cheesy goodness! So, if you’re going somewhere where you have access to an oven, you can prep it prior to leaving and then finish the bake when you’ve arrived.

Honestly, casseroles are such a great option when you’re feeding a group of people and this will definitely be a crowd pleaser. Even in the instance where you’re not making this for a gathering–this reheats really well too, so if you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, you will enjoy this dish just as much as you did when you first made it fresh. Yum!

Grey’s Grade: 5/5

Honestly, when it comes to making something to feed more than just your household–this chicken-bacon ranch casserole gets the job done. It’s incredibly easy to make and it’s delicious! It’s well-seasoned, filling, and also leaves room for further customization. If you’re having a potluck, you may consider adding some additional toppings, like jalapeños to jazz up the flavor even more! As I write this, I think pickled jalapeños would go awesome with this casserole! After baking it, of course, not before!

I think this is a great recipe to have up your sleeve when you have some last minute visits or parties to attend that call for you contributing a dish. It’s also very simple to modify into being 100% gluten-free. That’s a win for me! So unless your party is very lactose intolerant…this will be a crowd-pleasure, for sure!

What are some of your favorite holiday/potluck dishes that you like to make around this time of year? Let me know in the comments below!

Check Out My Reviews!

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