Crack Chicken Hash Brown Casserole Recipe – creamy, cheesy, and loaded with chicken, bacon, ranch, and hash browns! Topped with buttery Ritz crackers for the perfect crunch. Great for lunch, dinner, game day, or potlucks. Easy to make and always a hit!
Plain Chicken participates in affiliate advertising programs. We may earn a small commission when you make purchases through links on our site.
Remember this recipe.
Pin this recipe to your favorite board now to remember it later!
Pin This Recipe
Chicken Bacon Ranch Hash Brown Casserole
Crack Chicken Hash Brown Casserole is pure comfort food magic! It’s creamy, cheesy, and loaded with all the good stuff—tender chicken, crispy bacon, ranch seasoning, and melty cheddar all mixed together with hash browns. Then it gets topped with buttery crushed Ritz crackers for that perfect crunchy finish. Every bite is packed with flavor and totally satisfying. It’s the kind of dish that disappears fast at potlucks, makes an awesome make-ahead dinner, and has you going back for “just one more scoop” every single time.
What does CRACK mean?
If a recipe has “crack” in the title it means that the recipe has cheddar, bacon, and ranch in the ingredients. It all started with my Crack Dip way back in 2007. I made the dip for a Titans football game. Everyone went crazy over it. We couldn’t stop eating it and said it was like crack. The name stuck.
According to the dictionary, the definition of crack is “of superior excellence or ability”. We think the flavor combination of cheddar, bacon, and ranch fits this definition! This recipe is most definitely of superior excellence!
How to Make Crack Chicken Hash Brown Casserole
This casserole is super easy to make with only a few simple ingredients. Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside. In a large bowl, stir together cream of chicken soup, heavy cream, sour cream, and ranch seasoning. Add shredded chicken, bacon, shredded cheese, and frozen hash brown potatoes to the bowl and stir to combine. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Spread the chicken mixture into the prepared baking dish.
In a small bowl, combine melted butter and Ritz crackers. Spread the cracker crumbs over the top of the casserole. Bake in a preheated oven until bubbly and the crackers are golden brown. Sprinkle with fresh parsley.
Helpful Tips & Frequently Asked Questions
- I use rotisserie chicken in this dish. You can use any cooked chicken you have on hand, such as chicken breast, chicken thighs, or chicken tenderloins.
- To reduce the prep time, I use precooked bacon. I buy large bags of real bacon bits at Sam’s Club and Costco.
- If cooking your own bacon, you will need about a pound.
- Substitute turkey bacon for lower calories.
- I use shredded hashbrowns in this recipe. You can substitute diced potatoes if you prefer.
- I suggest using Unsalted Cream of Chicken & Mushroom Soups in this dish to control the sodium.
- Here is our recipe for Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix made with buttermilk powder, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, chives, dill, salt, and pepper: https://www.plainchicken.com/homemade-ranch-dressing-mix/
- Variations/Additions:
- spinach
- broccoli
- onions
- crushed cornflakes for the topping
Storage Tips
- Can I Make Hashbrown Casserole Recipe ahead of time? Yes! Assemble the casserole and cover the pan with plastic wrap. Store in the fridge for up to three days before baking as directed.
- Can I freeze Crack Chicken Hash Brown Casserole? Yes. Assemble the casserole and cover the pan with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Store in the freezer for up to four months.
- When ready to eat, thaw in the fridge overnight and bake as directed.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
What to Serve with Crack Chicken Hashbrown Casserole
This easy recipe has been on repeat at our house! The whole family raves about it. This casserole is rich, cheesy, and super filling, so it pairs best with simple sides that balance it out.
It’s a one-dish wonder, but a few easy sides make it feel like a complete spread.
Crack Chicken Hash Brown Casserole
Yield: 8 people
Crack Chicken Hash Brown Casserole Recipe – creamy, cheesy, and loaded with chicken, bacon, ranch, and hash browns! Topped with buttery Ritz crackers for the perfect crunch. Great for lunch, dinner, game day, or potlucks. Easy to make and always a hit!
-
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a 9×13-inch pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
-
In a large bowl, stir together cream of chicken soup, heavy cream, sour cream, and ranch seasoning. Add shredded chicken, bacon, shredded cheese, and frozen hash brown potatoes to the bowl and stir to combine. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Spread the chicken mixture into the prepared baking dish.
-
Combine cracker crumbs and melted butter in a small bowl. Spread over the top of the casserole.
-
Bake uncovered for 40-45 minutes, until bubbly.
- Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
- I suggest using Unsalted Cream of Chicken Soup in this dish to control the sodium.
- Here is our recipe for Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix made with buttermilk powder, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, chives, dill, salt, and pepper: https://www.plainchicken.com/homemade-ranch-dressing-mix/
Steph
Remember this recipe.
Pin this recipe to your favorite board now to remember it later!
Pin This Recipe
