CHICKEN RANCH MAC & CHEESE

Chicken Ranch Mac & Cheese image

Prep once and feed the family twice when you double this chicken mac and cheese and freeze half of it. I created it for the people I love most, using ingredients they love most. -Angela Spengler, Tampa, Florida

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Dinner

Time 1h20m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 16

Ingredients

3 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup 2% milk
1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese
3/4 cup ranch salad dressing
1 cup coarsely chopped cooked chicken
TOPPING:
1/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs
2 tablespoons butter, melted
10 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350°. In a 6-qt. stockpot, cook macaroni according to package directions for al dente; drain and return to pot., Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour, salt and pepper until smooth; gradually whisk in milk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir until thickened, 1-2 minutes. Stir in cheeses until blended. Stir in dressing., Add chicken and sauce to macaroni, tossing to combine. Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish., Toss bread crumbs with melted butter; sprinkle over macaroni. Top with bacon. Bake, uncovered, 30-35 minutes or until topping is golden brown. Sprinkle with parsley. Freeze option: Prepare recipe as directed, increasing milk to 1-1/3 cups. Cool unbaked casserole; cover and freeze. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Cover casserole with foil; bake 30 minutes. Uncover; continue baking as directed or until heated through and a thermometer inserted in center reads 165°.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 586 calories, Fat 37g fat (15g saturated fat), Cholesterol 84mg cholesterol, Sodium 889mg sodium, Carbohydrate 40g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 25g protein.