Crazy Good Chicken Bacon Noodle Casserole Recipe
This Crazy Good Casserole is a comforting baked dish combining tender shredded chicken, cheesy egg noodles, and a creamy sauce infused with subtle garlic and onion flavors. Topped with crispy bacon and melted cheddar cheese, it’s a perfect weeknight dinner that’s easy to assemble and full of delicious, hearty flavors.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked chicken, shredded (about 2 large chicken breasts)
- 2 cups egg noodles, uncooked
- 1 can (10.5 oz / 300 g) cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- ½ cup cooked and crumbled bacon (about 6 slices)
- ½ cup milk
Seasonings
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt, adjust to taste
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onions (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch (or similar size) baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Cook Noodles: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then add the egg noodles and cook until just al dente, as they will continue baking later. Drain the noodles and set them aside.
- Make Sauce: In a large bowl, whisk together the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the cooked noodles, shredded chicken, half of the shredded cheddar cheese, and half of the crumbled bacon into the sauce mixture. Stir everything together until all components are evenly coated with the sauce.
- Transfer to Baking Dish: Pour the combined mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese and bacon evenly over the top for a tasty crust.
- Bake Covered: Cover the dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes to heat through and allow flavors to meld.
- Finish Baking: Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10–15 minutes until the cheese topping is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped green onions if desired before serving to add a fresh, mild onion flavor.
Notes
- You can substitute cream of chicken soup with a homemade sauce or cream of mushroom soup for variation.
- Use rotisserie chicken for a quicker preparation.
- For a lighter version, use reduced-fat sour cream and cheese.
- If you prefer a crispier topping, broil the casserole for a couple of minutes after baking.
- Make sure not to overcook the noodles initially as they will cook further in the oven, preventing mushiness.
Keywords: chicken casserole, cheesy casserole, egg noodle casserole, comfort food, bacon casserole, easy dinner recipe
