Well, I’ve had another one of those “my-child-is-growing-up-how-am-I-ever-going-to-be-able-to-handle-this” moments. Y’all bear with me while I whine a little. Last night, my child started calling me “Dad.” Now, I’ve had another one of these moments, but this one seems a little different. I figured I’d be “Daddy” at least until he was 10 or so. But when I questioned my new title, he simply replied, “Dad, I’m too old to call you ‘Daddy’.” Now we’ve certainly been going through one of those “babies do that, I’m a big boy not a baby” phases, but I never imagined it would result in this. My heart hurts thinking we’ve already outgrown that “Daddy” phase. Don’t get me wrong, I just adore watching his little personality grow and develop, I’m just wondering why it has to happen so fast. Surely I’m not the only parent like this. I think I need meds. 🙂
Speaking of my little guy, his favorite food in the whole world is mac and cheese. Here’s a jazzed up recipe that’s perfect as a main course. Your family will love this super easy, super tasty casserole. You might even win over those picky eaters with this one. With cheese, bacon, and ranch… how can you go wrong?!?!?
Recipe Card
Chicken Bacon Ranch Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 lb elbow or corkscrew macaroni, cooked per package instructions
- 4 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast
- 12 ounces bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 (10.75-ounce) can condensed cheddar cheese soup
- 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/4 cup prepared ranch dressing, divided
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly spray a 9x13-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. Combine cooked macaroni, chicken, crumbled bacon, cheese soup, cheese, garlic, salt and 1 cup ranch dressing in a very large bowl; mix well.
- Turn out into the prepared casserole dish. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until cheese is melted and casserole is heated through. Top with remaining 1/4 cup ranch dressing and serve immediately.
Please note:
If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
Great recipe! Seems like girls always call their father “Daddy” . I always did even into late adulthood.
🙂
Hi Stacey! This casserole has been a total hit, and I have directed my sister-in-law to your website so she could make it for my nephew. I encouraged her to browse around at your other recipes too! My question is, would this be a good freezer casserole? My brother-in-law and his family are moving back to our area next month and I would like to welcome them with a meal ready in the freezer since I will be away the week they are moving in. If you have any additional suggestions for freezer meals, they would be greatly appreciated as well. Thank you!
So great to hear, Sharon. And thank for sharing the site! To answer your question, yes, this would work perfectly as a freezer casserole. What a thoughtful idea!
Hi Love this site tnx 😉
Here in spain
Thanks, Therese!!
Stacey, after making this my boy (27 tears old) went through this like a mad man. He
ask me to set aside my mac and cheese recipe and put this on the dinner schedule for once
a week. He added a few shakes of hot sauce to his helping.
That is awesome, Ed! I love to hear it!! So glad he enjoyed it!
Awesome! Fixed it for dinner and all 3 of my kids loved it and said I need to fix it again. We had no left overs!
Awesome!! I’m so glad everyone liked it!
I made this tonight but also added franks red hot. Mmm so good thanks!
Sadly here in New Zealand we don’t have condensed cheddar cheese soup. Sounds amazing stuff! Have to make my mac-cheese using a cheese sauce. WARNING: I ended up having second degree burns on my foot from mac-cheese after I slopped the cheese topping on my foot getting it out of the oven.
A week off work and much pain.
I have my own version of mac and cheese that is similar. I lay a good quality hot dog, italian sausage or brat on top and let it roast while the mac and cheese bakes. I will have to try the ranch dressing, we usually use mustard.
have you ever tried cooking this in a slow cooker? I want to try this so bad but my oven is on the fritz. I am only cooking with a slow cooker for the next few weeks…lol
I haven’t tried it, but that’s not to say it can’t be done. If you try it, let me know.
Hey Stacey,
This looks wonderful! It is on the grocery list for this week’s menu.
I wanted to add, I’m 35 and my brother is 28 and we still call him Daddy. 🙂 Maybe he will bring the Daddy back. I hope so. Mom really hurt me too. I’ll always be mama no matter what my girls call me.
I hope you enjoy this, Kim! It’s certainly a hard pill to swallow. But I suppose the realization that your baby is growing is a hard pill to swallow for most parents. : )
Tried the recipe for dinner last night and my daughter said she now has a new favorite casserole … even the 3 year old granddaughter loved it. This will definitely stay in my recipe file.
Wonderful, Rita! I’m so glad y’all enjoyed it!!
Can a person have too many Mac & Cheese recipes? AbsoLUTEly NOT! LOL Thanks for another great post and recipe, Stacey!! Maybe your wife needs to consider doing what my Aunt Mac (Yup! we called her Aunt Mac as her maiden name was McCracken) used to to and referred to her hubby (our Uncle Chuck as ‘Daddy’! ;^D OK…I realize that’s not the same as your son calling you Daddy, but it’s a close second!
LOL! You are too funny!!