Loaded Baked Potato, Chicken and Bacon Casserole!

 

This "Loaded Baked Potato & Chicken Casserole" is new to the site and it got a two thumbs up from the family!  It's one of those one dish meals we all love!  This is a meal in itself, but you could add a vegetable or salad to make it complete!  If you are cooking for meat and potatoes people, they are going to love this one!  

Here is what you will need:  

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed in bite size pieces

6 medium size to large potatoes, peeled and cubed

1/3 cup olive oil

1 pkg. dry ranch dressing mix

1/2 tsp. seasoned salt

1/2 tsp. black pepper

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1 Tbs. soy sauce

1 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce

dash of hot sauce

3 cups shredded Monterrey Jack/Cheddar blend or shredded Cheddar cheese

10 slices of bacon cooked crisp and crumbled

4-5 green onions sliced 

sour cream for topping (optional)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  

In a large bowl, whisk the olive oil, ranch dressing mix, seasoned salt, black pepper, garlic powder, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and dash of hot sauce together.   Add the diced potatoes and with a large, slotted spoon toss them to coat with the oil mixture. 

 Remove with the slotted spoon, so that the excess oil mixture stays in the bowl to a 9"x13" baking dish or 3 quart casserole.

Put the cubed chicken in a the remain oil mixture and toss to coat.  Pour the chicken and remaining oil over the potatoes.  Evenly placing the chicken over the top in a single layer so it browns.  I like to keep the potatoes and chicken separated in two layers at the beginning to be sure the chicken cook evenly.   Place in a preheated 400 degree oven for 1 hour.  About halfway through toss everything to be sure it is all evenly browning the the potatoes aren't sticking.

Remove when it's all browned and the chicken is done and top with 3 cups of shredded cheese of whatever you chose to use and sprinkle with the crumbled bacon.  Place back in the oven for about 7-10 minutes or until the cheese is nice and melted!

When it comes out of the oven, sprinkle with the green onions!

Serve as is or...

With a little sour cream on top!  Either way this was fantastic!  We will definitely be having it again and it makes a pretty large casserole!