Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

A wooden spatula scooping chicken and pasta from a sauté pan.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is made in a single pan and ready in 30 minutes. Chicken, bacon, and penne pasta are coated in a creamy cheese sauce with tangy ranch seasoning.

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Servings servings

Author Heather

Ingredients

6 slices bacon chopped
16 ounces boneless, skinless, chicken breasts cubed
18 ounces water
8 ounces penne pasta uncooked
1 tablespoon ranch seasoning
4 ounces heavy cream
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese freshly grated
1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped

Instructions

In a sauté pan over medium heat, add chopped bacon and cook until crispy. Remove from pan and set aside. Drain all but 2 tablespoons of bacon grease. If needed, add olive oil to equal 2 tablespoons of total oil/grease in your pan.
Add cubed chicken and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes, or until cooked through. Remove from pan, set aside, and cover to keep warm.
Add water, penne pasta, and ranch seasoning to pan, stirring to combine. Bring to a simmer, cover, and reduce heat to low. Cook to al dente according to pasta's package directions. Most of the liquid should be absorbed. If pan starts to look dry, add another 1-2 ounces of water.
Add cooked chicken, bacon, heavy cream, and shredded cheese to pan. Stir until cheese has melted. Remove from heat and allow to set for 5 minutes, or until sauce has thickened. Top with fresh parsley and serve.

Video

Notes

Want to add vegetables? Stir in a cup of peas, cooked broccoli, or a handful of spinach before adding your heavy cream.
Heavy cream can be substituted with sour cream.
Cheese should be freshly grated. Bagged, pre-shredded cheese is coated in a powder to prevent clumping, which can cause your sauce to be grainy.
It is important to accurately measure your broth and pasta for this recipe. As written, you'll have just enough liquid to cook your pasta, without leaving excess liquid in the pan.

Nutrition