Chicken Bacon Ranch Mac and Cheese Casserole

CJ proposed to Shanice last weekend. He told me Sunday, before the family knew, before his father knew—he called me first, which is right and proper and which I accept as the compliment it is. He said he proposed at the condo in Huntsville, at the kitchen table, with a ring from a jeweler in Decatur (Shanice's hometown, which was intentional and correct, the kind of thoughtfulness that a woman carrying her family's history will notice and appreciate). He said she cried. He said he cried a little. He said the only thing he could think of when she said yes was that he wished Marcus were there to hear it, and he started to cry telling me this part and I said, "Baby, Marcus is there. He's been there the whole time. He is in every good thing that happens in this family. Don't you forget it."

CJ cried. I cried. Calvin came in from the den to see what was happening and when I told him he sat down at the kitchen table and said, "My son is engaged," in the tone of a man for whom this represents the continuation of something he was afraid might not continue. He called CJ back and said, "Calvin Junior, you did right," and CJ said, "Yes, sir," and Calvin said, "Bring her for Sunday dinner soon," and CJ said, "Daddy, she's already been to Sunday dinner," and Calvin said, "Well. Bring her again." That is the Simms family welcome: bring her again. Come back to the table. Keep coming back.

I made CJ's engagement celebration dinner for Sunday, even though he wasn't here: the full Sunday spread, with the mac and cheese at the center, and I said a prayer over it for CJ and Shanice and the life they are beginning, and Calvin ate three helpings and said amen. Amen. More cheese. More life. Amen.

Mac and cheese has always been the center of my Sunday table — not because it’s the fanciest thing I make, but because it is the thing everyone reaches for first, the thing that means home in this family. When I cooked for CJ’s engagement Sunday, I wanted something that felt like a celebration and a hug at the same time, something Calvin would eat three helpings of and say amen over, and this Chicken Bacon Ranch Mac and Cheese Casserole is exactly that — it’s layered and warm and generous the way a good family welcome should be. If you’re setting a table for something that matters, this is the dish you put at the center of it.

Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 35 minutes | Total Time: 55 minutes | Servings: 8

Ingredients

1 lb elbow macaroni
2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
6 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 packet (1 oz) ranch seasoning mix
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup sour cream
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Salt to taste
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives or parsley, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Preheat and prep. Preheat your oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish and set aside. Cook elbow macaroni according to package directions until just al dente; drain and set aside.
Make the cheese sauce. In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until lightly golden. Slowly pour in milk, whisking constantly, and cook until the sauce thickens, about 4 to 5 minutes.
Season and melt. Stir in ranch seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream, 1 1/2 cups of the cheddar, and all of the Monterey Jack until smooth and fully melted. Taste and adjust salt as needed.
Combine the filling. Add the cooked macaroni, shredded chicken, and half of the crumbled bacon to the cheese sauce. Stir until everything is evenly coated.
Assemble and top. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup cheddar and the rest of the bacon over the top.
Bake. Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, until the top is bubbly and lightly golden at the edges. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chives or parsley if desired.

Nutrition (per serving)

Chicken Bacon Ranch Mac and Cheese Casserole — The Sunday Table That Holds Everything