A Deliciously Cheesy Chicken Casserole with Bacon and Vegetables
Are you craving a hearty, comforting dish that combines all the flavors you love in one bite? Look no further than this cheesy chicken casserole, featuring crispy bacon, tender rotisserie chicken, sautéed mushrooms, fresh spinach, and a creamy, flavorful sauce. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or looking to make a satisfying meal for your family, this recipe is sure to impress. Let’s dive into the steps and ingredients that make this dish the ultimate comfort food!
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Bacon Casserole
This casserole is packed with flavor and texture, thanks to the perfect combination of crispy bacon, savory rotisserie chicken, and a rich, cheesy sauce. The addition of sautéed mushrooms and spinach adds a lovely freshness, while the creamy base keeps everything moist and delicious. The blend of cheeses, including Parmesan, cheddar, and mozzarella, creates the ultimate cheesy experience, and a dash of hot sauce and dry mustard adds just the right amount of zing to the sauce. Whether you’re serving it for a weeknight dinner or bringing it to a potluck, this dish is bound to be a crowd-pleaser.
Key Ingredients for a Flavorful Casserole
Before we jump into the cooking process, let’s take a look at the key ingredients that make this dish so special:
- Bacon: The crispiness of the bacon is essential in adding a smoky, savory flavor to the casserole. Be sure to cook the bacon until it’s crisp, as this will enhance its texture and flavor.
- Cream Cheese: This provides the base for the creamy sauce that holds the casserole together, creating a rich and velvety texture.
- Parmesan and Cheddar Cheese: These cheeses bring depth of flavor to the dish. Parmesan adds a nutty, salty taste, while sharp cheddar gives the casserole its classic cheesy appeal.
- Avocado Mayonnaise: A healthier alternative to regular mayonnaise, avocado mayo helps add creaminess without the extra calories. It’s also rich in heart-healthy fats.
- Heavy Cream: For an extra creamy texture, heavy cream is added to the sauce, enriching the overall flavor.
- Hot Sauce and Mustard: These ingredients lend a little heat and tang to the casserole, elevating the flavor profile.
- Chicken: Using a store-bought rotisserie chicken saves time while still providing tender, flavorful meat that’s perfect for casseroles.
- Vegetables: Red onions, mushrooms, and spinach not only add a variety of textures but also balance out the richness of the dish with their natural flavors.
- Mozzarella Cheese: Topping the casserole with shredded mozzarella cheese gives it that golden, gooey finish, making it perfect for serving.
The Perfect Cheesy Casserole for Any Occasion
This chicken bacon casserole is incredibly versatile. You can serve it as a main dish for dinner, or pair it with a simple salad for a complete meal. It’s also perfect for meal prepping ahead of time, as the flavors meld together beautifully and can be enjoyed as leftovers for several days. The creamy sauce and tender chicken make it an incredibly comforting meal, perfect for cold evenings or when you’re craving something indulgent.
How to Prepare This Chicken Bacon Casserole
Now that we’ve covered the ingredients, let’s walk through the simple steps to create this mouthwatering casserole. The best part about this recipe is how easy it is to make, despite its complex flavors.
Step 1: Cook the Bacon
Start by cooking the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat. The goal is to get the bacon nice and crispy. Once cooked, transfer it to paper towels to drain and reserve three tablespoons of bacon fat. The bacon fat will add extra flavor to the casserole, so don’t throw it out just yet!
Step 2: Prepare the Creamy Sauce
While the bacon is cooking, take a medium saucepan and add the cream cheese, Parmesan, cheddar cheese, avocado mayo, heavy cream, hot sauce, mustard, and spices (onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and white pepper). Cook this mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until it becomes creamy and smooth. This rich, cheesy sauce will form the base of your casserole.
Step 3: Sauté the Vegetables
In the same skillet that you used for the bacon, add two tablespoons of bacon fat and sauté the diced red onions for about three minutes until softened. Add the mushrooms and continue sautéing for about five minutes, until they are cooked down. Finally, toss in the garlic and spinach, cooking until the spinach is wilted—this should only take about two minutes.
Step 4: Combine All the Ingredients
Now it’s time to bring everything together! Add the cooked chicken and the creamy sauce to the vegetables, mixing everything to combine. Pour the entire mixture into a lightly greased 8×12 inch casserole dish. Top it with shredded mozzarella cheese for that melty, golden finish.
Step 5: Bake and Finish
Bake the casserole at 375°F for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and the casserole is hot throughout. For an extra crispy top, place the casserole under the broiler for 1-2 minutes until the cheese turns golden brown.
Step 6: Serve and Enjoy
Let the casserole rest for about 10 minutes to set. Once cooled slightly, serve it up and enjoy! This casserole will make about 10 servings, so it’s perfect for sharing with family and friends.
Quick and Easy Chicken Bacon Casserole Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 10
Calories: 541 per serving
Ingredients
- 1 pound bacon
- 8 oz cream cheese
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- ⅓ cup avocado mayonnaise
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ tsp hot sauce (Cholula works great)
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- ½ tsp white pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- 1 rotisserie chicken, shredded
- 1 ½ cups red onion, diced
- 8 oz baby bella mushrooms, sliced
- 1 tbsp fresh garlic, minced
- 8 oz baby spinach
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Cook Bacon: Fry the bacon in a skillet until crisp. Reserve 3 tbsp of bacon fat and crumble the bacon.
- Make Sauce: In a saucepan, combine the cream cheese, Parmesan, cheddar, avocado mayo, heavy cream, hot sauce, mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, white pepper, and paprika. Cook until smooth and creamy.
- Sauté Vegetables: In the same skillet, sauté the onions in bacon fat for 3 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and spinach, cooking until wilted.
- Combine: Add the shredded chicken and creamy sauce to the vegetable mixture. Stir to combine.
- Bake: Transfer the mixture to a casserole dish, top with mozzarella cheese, and bake at 375°F for 20 minutes. Broil for 1-2 minutes to brown the top.
- Rest and Serve: Let the casserole sit for 10 minutes, then serve and enjoy!
This chicken bacon casserole is a creamy, cheesy delight perfect for any occasion, combining rich flavors in every bite.
Nutrition per serving
Calories: 541
Total Fat: 43.9g
Saturated Fat: 20.4g
Cholesterol: 129.3mg
Sodium: 753.8mg
Carbs: 7.7g
Fiber: 1.5g
Sugar: 3.8g
Protein: 29.6g
Source: Original Recipe.
