Creamy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
This creamy chicken bacon ranch pasta is the ultimate comfort food, combining tender chicken, crispy bacon, and a tangy ranch-infused sauce tossed with pasta. It’s a quick, crowd-pleasing dinner that’s easy enough for weeknights and special enough for company.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces penne, rotini, or fusilli pasta
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast or thigh, diced or shredded
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning mix
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Chopped fresh parsley or chives, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until just al dente, 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until crispy (about 6-8 minutes). Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving about 2 tablespoons bacon fat in the pan.
- Add minced garlic to the bacon fat and cook for 30-60 seconds, just until fragrant.
- Add cream cheese to the pan and stir until it starts to melt, about 1-2 minutes. Pour in heavy cream and chicken broth, whisking to blend. Sprinkle in ranch seasoning mix and stir well. Simmer gently for 3-5 minutes, until sauce thickens slightly.
- Stir in cooked chicken and half the cooked bacon. Heat through for 2-3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add drained pasta to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce. Stir in 3/4 cup shredded cheddar and Parmesan until melted and smooth. If sauce is too thick, add a bit more chicken broth or reserved pasta water.
- Spoon pasta into bowls or a serving dish. Top with remaining bacon and extra cheddar if desired. Garnish with chopped parsley or chives. Serve hot.
Notes
For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free pasta and check your ranch seasoning. To lighten up, use turkey bacon or Greek yogurt instead of cream cheese. Add veggies like spinach or broccoli for extra nutrition. Reserve some pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Leftovers reheat well with a splash of milk or broth.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/6 of recipe (approx. 1 1/2 cups)
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 950
- Fat: 27
- Saturated Fat: 13
- Carbohydrates: 48
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 28
Keywords: chicken bacon ranch pasta, creamy pasta, easy dinner, comfort food, weeknight meal, ranch pasta, chicken pasta, bacon pasta, family dinner