This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is an easy and delicious recipe that can be made in no time at all with only a little bit of effort. It’s perfect for a busy weeknight dinner, and it’s sure to please the whole family.
If you love Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole then this is the recipe for you. It’s full of tender pasta, flavorful chicken, and a creamy tangy sauce.
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Crack Chicken Pasta
This crack chicken pasta recipe is creamy, tangy, and full of chicken. One of the best things about this easy recipe is that while it tastes amazing, it’s all high in protein because chicken is full of nutrients such as iron and zinc.
Why I Love This Recipe
If you’re looking for an easy, midweek dinner that the whole family will love then look no further than this delicious recipe. It only takes a little bit of effort and is perfect as part of your weekly meal plan when things get hectic at work!
- Easy to make
- Perfect for picky eaters
- Fills the house with a delicious aroma
If you love chicken and ranch recipes you may also enjoy these Chicken Bacon Ranch Foil Packets.
Ingredients
You only need a handful of simple ingredients to help you make this recipe. All of these ingredients are easy to find at your local grocery store. You can find the full list of ingredients and amounts that you need in the recipe card below.
Bacon – I prefer to use hickory-flavored pork bacon for this recipe.
Chicken – I prefect to use boneless skinless chicken breasts for this recipe.
Dry Pasta – I used bowtie pasta, however you can use any shape that you have on hand for this recipe.
Substitutions
Chicken Thighs: Instead of chicken breasts, you can use boneless skinless chicken thighs.
Bacon: Turkey bacon can be used instead of regular bacon if you prefer.
Variations / Options / Add-Ins
This recipe is perfect as is, but if you are looking for something different, you can try one of these variations:
Spicy: If you are looking for a little bit of a kick, you can try adding some crushed red pepper flakes to this recipe.
Cheese: Add extra shredded pepper jack cheese on top of this pasta dish for an extra creamy and cheesy flavor.
Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools
You only need a couple of kitchen tools to help you make this crack chicken pasta recipe. You should already have these tools on hand.
- large skillet – preferably cast iron
How to Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
Making this chicken pasta recipe is simple. Just follow the instructions below and you will have a creamy and cheesy pasta recipe that your whole family will love.
Step 1: Cook the bacon until done
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon to your preferred level of doneness. Remove the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate.
Step 2: Season the chicken and brown it
Season the chopped chicken with salt and pepper, then add to the hot bacon grease and cook until browned all over and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F (approximately 6-8 minutes).
Step 3: Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package.
Meanwhile, prepare the pasta according to the package directions. Drain but do not rinse.
Step 4: Place the chicken on a clean plate
Remove the chicken to a clean plate as you prepare the ranch sauce.
Step 5: Make the ranch sauce in a skillet
Wipe out the skillet and add the chicken broth. Bring to a simmer, then add the sour cream and cream cheese and stir as the cream cheese melts. Add a bit more broth or milk to achieve a smooth consistency that coats the back of a spoon.
Step 6: Add the ranch seasoning mix
Season with ranch dressing mix, to taste.
Step 7: Chop the bacon
Chop the bacon and add all but a couple of tablespoons to the skillet, along with 3/4 cup of the cheddar cheese and chicken. Stir to combine.
Step 8: Add in the pasta
Add the pasta and stir to coat.
Step 9: Sprinkle with cheese, bacon, and green onions
Sprinkle on the remaining cheese, bacon, and green onions before serving.
Serving Suggestions
This cheesy pasta recipe is simple to make and is delicious when served on its own. But, you can also serve it with this Instant Pot French Bread or these Air Fryer Roasted Vegetables for a healthy side dish.
Pro Tips
Here are a few tips to help you make the best Chicken Ranch Pasta.
- If you find that the sauce is too thick, add a little more milk or chicken broth until it reaches the desired consistency.
- I like to use hickory-flavored bacon in this recipe, but you can use any type of bacon that you have on hand.
- You can use any type of pasta for this recipe. I used bowtie pasta, but rotini or penne pasta would also be good.
- Don’t forget to add a little bit of salt to the pasta water to help flavor the pasta.
- Make sure that the chicken is completely cooked all the way through before you serve this pasta recipe.
- If you have leftover chicken or a rotisserie chicken on hand you can use it for this recipe instead.
- Add more flavor to the chicken by seasoning it with garlic and onion powder.
- You can also add steamed vegetables such as peas, spinach, and broccoli to make this a full meal.
FAQs
Do you have questions about this chicken pasta recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions for this recipe.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up three days.
Reheat in the microwave on 50% power in 1-minute increments until warmed through.
You can cook the chicken and bacon ahead of time and then assemble the pasta dish when you are ready to eat.
More Chicken Recipes
If you like chicken, give these recipes a try:
Ready to get cooking? Print off the recipe card below or toggle on Cook Mode to keep your screen from going dark while you follow along on your phone or tablet.
📋 Recipe
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
Equipment
- Large skillet
- Large pot
Ingredients
- 5 slices Bacon Cooked and Chopped
- 3 cups Chicken chopped
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 3 cups Dry Pasta we used Bowtie/Farfalle
- 1 Tablespoon Ranch Seasoning
- 8 ounces Cream Cheese softened (as desired)
- 1 cup Sour Cream
- 1/2 cup Milk as desired (optional)
- 1-2 cups Chicken Broth as needed
- 1 cup Cheddar Cheese
- 1 Green Onion sliced thin
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon to your preferred level of doneness.
- Remove the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate.
- Season the chopped chicken with salt and pepper, then add to the hot bacon grease and cook until browned all over and chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F (approximately 6-8 minutes).
- Meanwhile, prepare the pasta according to package directions. Drain but do not rinse.
- Remove the chicken to a clean plate as you prepare the ranch sauce.
- Wipe out the skillet and add the chicken broth. Bring to a simmer, then add the sour cream and cream cheese and stir as the cream cheese melts. Add a bit more broth or milk to achieve a smooth consistency that coats the back of a spoon.
- Season with ranch seasoning, to taste.
- Chop the bacon and add all but a couple tablespoons to the skillet, along with 3/4 cup of the cheddar cheese and chicken. Stir to combine.
- Add the pasta and stir to coat.
- Sprinkle on remaining cheese, bacon and the green onions before serving.
Video
Notes
- If you find that the sauce is too thick, add a little more milk or chicken broth until it reaches the desired consistency.
- I like to use hickory-flavored bacon in this recipe, but you can use any type of bacon that you have on hand. You can use any type of pasta for this recipe.
- I used bowtie pasta, but rotini or penne pasta would also be good. Don’t forget to add a little bit of salt to the pasta water to help flavor the pasta.
- Make sure that the chicken is completely cooked all the way through before you serve this pasta recipe.
- If you have leftover chicken or a rotisserie chicken on hand you can use it for this recipe instead.
- Add more flavor to the chicken by seasoning it with garlic and onion powder.
- You can also add steamed vegetables such as peas, spinach, and broccoli to make this a full meal.