Yes, it really is insane just how tasty the Crazy Good Casserole is! But at the same time, it isn’t really that crazy, because it simply combines all the best parts of casseroles together: crunchy salty bacon, juicy chicken, tender bouncy pasta, and melty Monterey Jack cheese all in a creamy sauce. What might be crazy is how all these simple, homespun ingredients can come together to make something greater than the sum of its parts: a casserole guaranteed to make people bonkers for more! Crazy Good Casserole is just that, and then some!
Ingredients
- 6 strips bacon
- 4 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, and chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 1 (16-ounce) box spiral pasta
- 2 (10.5-ounce) cans cream of chicken soup
- 2 cups Monterrey Jack cheese, shredded and divided
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Step 2 –Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with non-stick spray.
Step 3 –In a large skillet, cook the bacon until crispy, about 5-7 minutes.
Step 4 –Transfer the bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain.
Step 5 –Cook the chicken in the bacon drippings until cooked through at 165 degrees F, about 5 minutes.
Step 6 –Season the chicken with the garlic powder, the salt, and the pepper.
Step 7 –Prepare the pasta according to package directions.
Step 8 –Drain the pasta and return it to the pot.
Step 9 –Add the cooked chicken, the cream of chicken soup, and 1 cup of the cheese, stirring well to mix.
Step 10 –Pour the pasta into the prepared baking dish.
Step 11 –Crumble the bacon and sprinkle it over the top of casserole.
Step 12 –Top the casserole with the remaining Monterrey Jack cheese.
Step 13 –Bake the casserole until the cheese is melted and beginning to brown, about 20 minutes.
Step 14 –Serve.
