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Crazy Good Cheesy Chicken and Bacon Pasta Bake

Recipe by Evelyn Marcella Rivera

This cheesy chicken and bacon pasta bake is the ultimate comfort food casserole — tender chicken cooked in smoky bacon drippings, creamy soup, spiral pasta, and a golden Monterrey Jack cheese topping. Ready in 50 minutes and guaranteed to become a family favorite.

  • Total Time50 minutes
  • Yield6 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 6 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 2 cans (10.5 oz each) cream of chicken soup
  • 2 cups shredded Monterrey Jack cheese (divided)
  • 12 oz spiral pasta (rotini or fusilli)
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Get That Bacon Sizzling: Lay bacon slices into a cold skillet and turn heat to medium. Cook until deep golden and crispy. Remove, crumble, and set aside. Reserve all bacon drippings in the pan.
  2. Cook the Chicken: Add bite-sized chicken pieces to the bacon drippings over medium heat. Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cook until no longer pink, about 6–7 minutes, getting a light golden sear on each piece.
  3. Boil the Pasta: Cook spiral pasta in salted boiling water for one minute less than package directions. Drain and set aside in the same pot.
  4. Preheat and Prep: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  5. The Big Mix: In the pasta pot, combine cooked pasta, chicken, both cans of cream of chicken soup, and 1 cup of shredded Monterrey Jack cheese. Stir until everything is evenly coated.
  6. Assemble the Bake: Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top evenly with crumbled bacon and the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese.
  7. Bake Until Golden: Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted and golden brown. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Cook pasta one minute less than package directions — it finishes cooking in the oven. Do not discard bacon drippings; they add incredible flavor to the chicken. Leftovers reheat well with a splash of milk to restore creaminess.

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Category: Dinner, Main Course
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Calories: 520
  • Sodium: 980
  • Saturated Fat: 10
  • Protein: 32
  • Cholesterol: 95

Find it online: https://blesseddish.com/crazy-good-cheesy-chicken-and-bacon-pasta-bake-youll-make-on-repeat/