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Home » Recipes » Entrees

Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells with Bacon and Ranch

Published: Dec 5, 2022 · Modified: Feb 6, 2023 by Bowl Me Over · 10 Comments

Jump to Recipe

This easy Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells Recipe is filled with rotisserie chicken, bacon and flavored with ranch seasoning. All topped with an oozy, cheesy, Alfredo Sauce it's a great weeknight meal!

Looking for another tasty casserole? Next time try the Cheese Steak Pasta casserole. It's so easy to make and a real family favorite!

Casserole dish filled with Alfredo Stuffed Shells with spoon dishing up a serving.
Easy to make Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells with Bacon and Ranch
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe  
  • 🗒️ Ingredients
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 🙋‍♀️ FAQ's
  • 👍 Tips
  • 📓 Variations
  • Storage
  • Serving suggestions
  • Related recipes
  • 🤔 What I've learned
  • Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells with Bacon and Ranch

❤️ Why you'll love this recipe  

✔️ The best comfort food, this is easy to make, cheesy, and delicious! One of our favorite meals.

✔️ Leftover freeze great.

✔️ Vary the sauce so you're not eating the same meal several days in a row!

BTW I may not have emphasized the BACON enough! Yes - the more bacon the better for meaty, salty flavor and crunch!!

🗒️ Ingredients

Ingredients you'll need to make this easy recipe with print overlay.
Here are the simple ingredients you'll need to make stuffed shells.

For the exact measurements, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this post. 

  • Alfredo Sauce - use store-bought or make this extra special by making your own white wine Alfredo sauce, but you can also use Vodka sauce or Marinara as well - delicious!
  • I used a box of jumbo shells, but you can also use manicotti or cannelloni pasta tubes as well.
  • leftover chicken - cooked chicken breast or thighs. Rotisserie chicken works for this recipe.
  • mozzarella cheese - although I often use packaged pre-shredded cheese, freshly shredded mozzarella cheese will melt better and taste better too.
  • bacon cooked until crispy and crumbled - more bacon? Always a plus!
  • cottage cheese - or ricotta would be a terrific substitute.
  • cream cheese - you can substitute Neufchatel or mascarpone cheese, but I think I always have a brick of creamed cheese on hand.
  • powdered ranch dressing mix - want and Italian flavor? Try powdered Italian Salad Dressing instead or mix in a teaspoon of Italian seasoning!

🔪 Instructions

Step by step instructions to make recipe, with print overlay.
Easy to make step-by-step instructions to make this recipe.

This is an overview of the instructions. For the complete directions just scroll down to the bottom!

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Prepare casserole dish by greasing with butter or cooking spray, set aside.
  2. Cook the pasta shells in a large pot of boiling water to al dente, drain pasta shells well.
  3. Cook the bacon until it's super crispy, drain well and crumble. Dice the chicken.
  4. Combine the Alfredo Sauce with 5 ounces of cream cheese in a small sauce pan over medium heat.
  5. Next add the chicken mixture, ½ the mozzarella, 3 ounces of cream cheese, bacon and powdered ranch mix.
  6. Ladle a small amount of the pasta sauce onto the bottom of the casserole dish. Stuff cooked pasta shells and line them up in the pan.
  7. Pour the remaining Alfredo sauce on top of the pasta shells, sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the casserole dish and cover with aluminum foil. Place in the preheated oven and bake until hot & bubbly!

🙋‍♀️ FAQ's

Do you cook the pasta before stuffing?

Yes, the pasta needs to be cooked to al dente, before stuffing with the cheesy mixture.

How do you make pasta taste better?

Again cook it to al dente (because it's going to finish cooking in the oven). Also boil it with well salted water. Using plenty of sauce in the casserole is important as well because you don't want the dish to be dry.

Why do you cover the casserole?

Covering the pasta will help hold in the moisture and keep it from getting dry.

Casserole dish filled with Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells with serving spoon dishing out a serving.
I think everyone will be lining up for seconds for this easy casserole!

👍 Tips

  • Cook the pasta shells according to package directions to al dente. They will finish cooking in the oven.
  • To soften the cream cheese and make it easy to incorporate, place in a small bowl and microwave in 10 second intervals until it's soft and mixable.
  • Sauce it up! Use plenty of sauce to top the shells and make them extra cheesy!
  • If your sauce isn't "saucy" enough, added some milk, heavy cream or even evaporated milk. It will thicken up while baking.
  • Finish with fresh cracked black pepper.
  • If you're wondering how many shells per person - plan on 3-4 shells for a generous serving.

📓 Variations

This recipe makes a BIG casserole dish and servings for 6-8. However here at the house, it's just Dan and I. And just like you, I don't like eating the same meal night after night.

So to eliminate the redundancy I split the shells in half. I actually put half in one casserole dish topped with Alfredo Sauce.

The second half in another dish and topped it with marinara sauce and froze it. Two separate dish, one day of cooking - love that!

Oh... and extra cheese? That's something the entire family will appreciate!

Make your own Homemade Alfredo Sauce - this recipe is excellent!

Casserole dish filled with pasta dish. One serving has been removed with a spoon.
This is over-the-top cheesy and delicious!

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container, or cover casserole with plastic wrap, store in the refrigerator up to three days. Freezes well up to three months.

Serving suggestions

My goodness this is a yummy, rich meal! If you're looking for an easy side dish, serving it with a bagged Caesar salad mix. (I swear this is my go-to lately!).

  • If you want a bright fresh garden salad this recipe is perfect!
  • For sides, I've served Stuffed Shells Chicken Alfredo with Steamed Brussels sprouts, roasted broccoli, steamed greens beans and asparagus - all are delicious.
  • Air Fryer Garlic Bread - delicious! We love this amazlying easy recipe.
  • I think keeping it simple with a steamed, roasted or grilled vegetable is perfect because this meal is so rich!
  • Of course a loaf of garlic stuffed cheesy bread is a must with this meal!

Still looking for the perfect side dish? Check out what to serve with pasta bake here!

Related recipes

Oh my goodness, I'm all about the pasta! Like this Taco Stuffed Shells, yum! Here are more of my favorite recipes for yummy pasta casseroles.

  • This recipe for Copycat Cheesecake Factory Chicken Broccoli Pasta is a must make if you love this meal. It's a quick skillet meal and it's so cheesy and delicious!
  • Creamy Pasta Primavera is a great baked pasta casserole. Stuffed with vegetables, it's a great way to enjoy summer veggies!
  • Creamy, cheesy and delicious Chicken Spaghetti with Rotel is one of the most popular casseroles on the blog!
  • I have not met a person who doesn't love the Ultimate Chicken Casserole Recipe! It is so creamy and delicious. It's easy to make too and leftovers freeze great!
  • Be sure to try this easy recipe for Chicken Casserole with Stuffing - it's so flavorful and delicious!

🤔 What I've learned

Here's one of the best tips for making the BEST casserole.

Here it is... you can never have too much sauce! Pasta absorbs sauce, so make sure there's plenty! It's always better to have too much risk than a dry casserole!

Don't forget to check out my Amazon storefront for some of my favorite products! 🛍️

When you make this please comment below and let me know what you think! I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @bowl_me_over or #bowlmeover - so I can see your photos! 

If you love this recipe please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating! 

Don't forget to check out my Amazon storefront for some of my favorite products! 🛍️

When you make this please comment below and let me know what you think! I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @bowl_me_over or #bowlmeover - so I can see your photos! 

If you love this recipe please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating! 

Casserole dish filled with Alfredo Stuffed Shells with spoon dishing up a serving.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
5 from 13 votes

Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells with Bacon and Ranch

Stuffed shells filled with diced chicken, bacon and alfredo ranch sauce! An easy dinner recipe the whole family will love!
Prevent your screen from going dark
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time20 minutes mins
Total Time30 minutes mins
Course: Lunch or Dinner
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 582kcal
Author: Deb Clark
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients

  • 22 ounces Alfredo Sauce That's about a jar and a half.
  • 12 ounce jumbo pasta shells
  • 1 ½ cups cooked chicken breasts leftover rotisserie chicken works great for this recipe
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 6 slices bacon cooked until crispy and crumbled
  • 1 cup cottage cheese ricotta cheese is a great substitute
  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • 1 tablespoon ranch dressing mix

I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  • Cook the pasta shells to al dente, drain well.
  • Cook the bacon until it's super crispy, drain well and crumble.
  • Dice the chicken.
  • In a medium bowl, combine the jar of Alfredo Sauce with 5 ounces of melted cream cheese. Whisk until you have a creamy sauce, set aside.
  • In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, ½ the mozzarella cheese, 3 ounces of cream cheese, cottage cheese, bacon and powdered ranch mix.
  • Ladle a small amount of sauce onto the bottom of the casserole dish. Stuff the shells with the chicken cheese mixture and line them up in the baking dish.
  • Pour the remaining creamy Alfredo sauce over top of the pasta shells, sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the casserole dish and cover with aluminum foil.
  • Place in preheated oven and bake until hot and bubbly!
  • To brown the top of your casserole, remove the foil and place under the broiler for 3-5 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Garnish with fresh parsley and enjoy!

Notes

  • Cook the pasta shells to al dente because they will finish cooking in the oven.
  • To soften the cheese and make it easy to incorporate, place in a small bowl and microwave in 10 second intervals until it's soft and mixable.
  • Sauce it up! Use plenty of sauce to make them extra cheesy! Adding parmesan cheese on top of the sauce is a nice touch as well.
  • If you're wondering how many shells per person - plan on 3-4 shells for a generous serving.
A sprinkle of parmesan cheese over the top of the casserole before baking would add great flavor and result in an even cheesier golden crust!
This is a great freezer meal recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 582kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 129mg | Sodium: 1055mg | Potassium: 270mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 524IU | Calcium: 134mg | Iron: 1mg
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About Bowl Me Over

Welcome to Bowl Me Over! My name is Debra and I send warm greetings from sunny California. I am a serious foodie – I’ve been known as the go-to girl in our family for years, catering weddings and anniversary parties. In the summer I help cook mountains of food for our family reunions. Often times things I create end up in a bowl, hence the name Bowl Me Over! Let's stay connected, you can email me at [email protected] and find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. 'Cindi

    January 14, 2023 at 8:40 am

    5 stars
    You say it’s good with marinara too. How do I adjust the recipe to make a marinara version without compromising the delishiousness?

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over

      January 14, 2023 at 10:21 am

      I poured marinara over the casserole instead alfredo sauce, then topped with cheese and baked.

      Reply
  2. Cindy

    December 20, 2022 at 6:33 pm

    Can’t find jumbo shells anywhere can I use manicotti shells instead? Also must I cook the shells first or can I stuff them without precooking shells then bake?
    Thank you

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over

      December 22, 2022 at 5:36 am

      I'm so sorry you can't find the jumbo shells Cindy, argh! Yes - you can use manicotti shells. You will need to precook the shells prior to stuffing. Enjoy the recipe and happy holidays!

      Reply
  3. Jessica

    January 02, 2022 at 2:01 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious! Doubled the recipe to make an extra pan for the freezer. Used 1/2 cottage cheese and 1/2 ricotta. Added a little extra cottage cheese to make it less dry. Will make this again!

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over

      January 02, 2022 at 6:57 pm

      Wonderful! I'm so glad you enjoyed this meal. Making two batches is super smart!! Thanks for swinging back and posting your review, I appreciate it.

      Reply
  4. Brady

    July 06, 2021 at 3:25 pm

    Where do you put the cottage cheese? I guess in the shell mixture?

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over

      July 06, 2021 at 4:40 pm

      Yes, that's correct Brady the cottage cheese goes into the cheese mixture for stuffing.

      Reply
    • Amy

      July 06, 2021 at 5:15 pm

      Can you use ricotta cheese in place of cottage cheese?

      Reply
      • Bowl Me Over

        July 07, 2021 at 6:16 am

        Absolutely Amy - ricotta would be delicious!

        Reply

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