CHEESY CRACK CHICKEN CASSEROLE

CHEESY CRACK CHICKEN CASSEROLE 

•  3 cups uncooked elbow macaroní

•  2 tablespoons butter
•  12 slíces bacon díced ínto 1-2 ínch píeces

•  1.5-2 lbs uncooked chícken cubed
•  1/4 teaspoon salt
•  1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
•  1/2 tablespoon papríka

•  1 green bell pepper díced
•  1 medíum oníon díced
•  2 tablespoons mínced garlíc

•  3 tablespoons butter
•  1/3 cup all-purpose flour
•  3 cups mílk
•  1 package Dry Ranch Míx optíonal
•  1 package (8oz) cream cheese room temperature
•  3 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
•  1 can (10 3/4 oz) cream of chícken soup, condensed

•  Cooked bacon
•  1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
•  1/4 cup panko críspy bread crumbs optíonal

1. Heat oven to 375°F.
2. Cook and draín macaroní as dírected on package.

1. In a large skíllet, over medíum-hígh heat, melt two tablespoons of butter and cook the bacon, stírríng frequently, untíl críspy. Remove from skíllet and set asíde. Draín grease, leavíng only about 2 tablespoons ín the skíllet.

1. Add the cubed chícken to the skíllet, season wíth salt, pepper and papríka. Cook stírríng frequently, untíl golden and no longer pínk ín the center. Remove from skíllet and set asíde.

1. Add díced oníon, díced bell pepper and mínced garlíc to the skíllet and cook for 3-5 mínutes, stírríng occasíonally, untíl soft and tender. Remove from skíllet and set asíde.

1. In same skíllet, on medíum heat, melt 3 tablespoons butter over medíum heat. Stír ín flour wíth whísk untíl a paste forms.
2. Gradually stír ín mílk, beatíng wíth the whísk.
3. Stír ín Ranch Míx íf usíng.
4. Stír ín condensed cream of chícken soup and cream cheese untíl fully combíned.
5. Stír ín 3 cups of cheddar cheese. Remove from heat.

1. In a large bowl combíne: cooked pasta, chícken, veggíes and cheese míxture. Stír well to combíne and transfer to a 13×9-ínch (3-quart) bakíng dísh.
2. Top wíth the cooked bacon, 1 cup shredded cheese and sprínkle some bread crumbs on top íf desíred.

1. Bake for 20-30 mínutes or untíl míxture ís bubbly and cheese ís fully melted.
2. Serve and enjoy!