Kitchen notes · a little help before you start
Cheesy Bacon Ranch Chicken with Broccoli
Bacon and melted Colby Jack make this chicken-and-broccoli bake especially appealing to a hungry appetite. Ranch gives the chicken a familiar tang beneath the cheese, and small broccoli pieces tuck into each serving. Scoop up some of the cheesy topping with a slice of the tender chicken.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 40 min
- Total
- 50 min
- Original yield
- Serves 4
- Ingredients
- 8 listed
Make it part of your week
Recipe categories & planning details
- Meal type
- Dinner
- Primary protein
- Chicken · Pork
- Cuisine
- American
- Cooking method
- Baking · Baked & roasted
- Preparation & total time
- Prep: 15 minutes or less · Total: 31–60 minutes
A few quick notes
1. Season both sides
Combine salt, pepper and garlic powder before seasoning both sides of the thin chicken pieces.
2. Keep broccoli small
Use very small bite-sized broccoli florets so the pieces sit neatly beneath the cheese topping.
3. Check the chicken center
Bake until the chicken reaches the specified internal temperature, checking the meat beneath its broccoli and cheese layer.
Get to know the ingredients
Thin chicken breasts
Cut or pound the boneless, skinless breasts thin before arranging them in the casserole dish.
Ranch dressing
Spread ranch dressing over each seasoned breast before adding broccoli, cheese and the bacon topping.
Colby Jack
Cover the broccoli with shredded Colby Jack, or use cheddar in its place.
Let’s make it
Choose your servings, then check things off as you go.
Original recipe: Serves 4. Original quantities shown.
Check ingredients as you prepare them. These checks stay on this page.
How to make it
0 of 5 steps completeMake room for Cheesy Bacon Ranch Chicken with Broccoli
Review ingredients in your pantry before anything is added. Meal plans use your household size; grocery-only additions use the servings selected above.
The last little job
Serve after baking
Remove the casserole once the chicken is cooked through and serve immediately with its cheesy broccoli topping.
A little more help as you go
Cauliflower option
You can replace broccoli with cauliflower and use boneless, skinless thighs as an alternative chicken cut.
Refrigerated leftovers
After the bake, keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
A few questions you might have
Does the bacon go on before baking?
Yes, add bacon bits over the cheese after topping each ranch-coated chicken breast with broccoli.
Can I use cheddar?
Yes. You can use cheddar in place of Colby Jack for the shredded cheese layer.
Does the broccoli need precooking?
No separate cooking step is given; very small chopped florets go over the ranch-coated chicken before baking.
What temperature confirms the chicken is done?
The directions specify an internal temperature of 165 degrees F before removing the casserole and serving.
Can I use chicken thighs?
Yes, the substitution notes state that boneless, skinless chicken thighs will work in place of the breasts.
Any more cooking tips?
Boneless, skinless thighs can replace the breasts, cauliflower can replace broccoli, and cheddar can replace Colby jack. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. The bake can be frozen before or after cooking. Reheat it in the microwave in 30 second increments, or cover with foil and warm in the oven. Double it for a crowd or halve it for a smaller meal.
Storage & reheating safety
For cooked, perishable leftovers, refrigerate within 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F), using shallow containers for prompt cooling. Keep the refrigerator at 40°F or below, use refrigerated leftovers within 3–4 days, and reheat hot leftovers to 165°F, checked with a food thermometer. Follow any shorter package limit.
These are general safety limits, not a tested storage or freezing recommendation for this particular dish. USDA leftovers guidance · Safe cooking temperatures
Recipe source: easyfamilyrecipes.com. Ingredient names and quantities may be adapted for the pantry.
Preparation notes follow the recipe shown here.