Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
Creamy chicken bacon ranch pasta is the ultimate comfort food—easy, cheesy, and perfect for busy weeknights.
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Today, I’ve got a recipe that will take your entire family will absolutely enjoy. If you’re a fan of all things creamy, savory, and utterly delicious, you’re in for a treat with our Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta.
Picture this: perfectly cooked penne pasta tossed in a deliciously rich Alfredo sauce, with hints of zesty ranch seasoning. But that’s just the beginning. We’re taking this dish to the next level with tender, seasoned chicken breast, crispy crumbled bacon, and a blend of creamy cream cheese and cheddar cheese that’ll make you smile with every bite.
What You’ll Love About This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Recipe:
Ingredients Needed
How To Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
- Prep Your Chicken & Bacon. You can brown your chicken breasts in the same skillet you make your sauce. If you’re short on time, prep your chicken the night(s) before so that all you have to do is pull it out of the refrigerator! Once cooked, slice your chicken into bite sized pieces.
- Bacon: You’ll need about 1/2 cup of bacon, plan to use between 8 and 10 slices. I like to make bacon on the weekends when I have extra meal prep time and use it throughout the week as needed.
- Cook Your Pasta. Boil pasta according to its package directions and drain.
- Make The Cheesy Ranch Sauce. You’ll want to use a large skillet to whisk together your cream cheese, cheddar cheese, ranch seasonings, and alfredo sauce. Once the sauce is mixed well, add in your pasta and stir well. This will make sure everything is coated well. Lastly, mix in your chicken and bacon.
- Brown & Bake. If you’re serving a crowd that loves casseroles, pop this dish into an oven-safe dish. Top with plain breadcrumbs and shredded cheddar cheese for a crunchy topping and bake for 15-20 or until browned.
Find the measurements and full recipe below!
For even more delicious recipes, you will like these:
Bacon Ranch Chicken Pasta Substitutions
- If you don’t have penne pasta on hand, you can use any other sturdy pasta. Stay in the 16-ounce range/amounts. I would skip thin spaghetti or angelhair pasta styles.
- Need more protein? Slice a ring of kielbasa into bite-sized pieces and brown. Mix in with the chicken or in place of the chicken! Adjust your skillet size if adding more protein.
- Don’t have time to pre-make the chicken? Pick up a rotisserie chicken from Kroger, Safeway, or Costco. Shred and mix into the dish.
Recipe Pro-Tips
Make this into a casserole! Once you have mixed your chicken and bacon into your pasta, pour the pasta into an oven safe dish. Top with breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup of cheddar cheese, and bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden.
Making the Recipe Ahead of Time
If you are making several dinners at once for the week, this Chicken and bacon pasta is ideal for a Sunday meal prep! Make this recipe ahead of time and allow it to cool in a metal half pan. Over and store in the refrigerator until dinnertime. Bake at 350 degrees until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
Can I Double This Recipe?
Yes! It’s as straightforward as simply doubling the ingredients needed. If you choose to bake it in a casserole dish, I would adjust the cooking time by another 5- 10 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
This all-in-one cheesy chicken casserole makes for a one-and-done dinner. If you prefer to add another option, I would suggest a light green salad or warmed in the oven Italian | Sourdough bread!
Storage Directions
Once cooled, store in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.
Tools Needed to Make The Recipe
Similar Recipe Recommendations
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
This mouthwatering dish combines tender chicken breast, crispy bacon, and a rich ranch seasoning-infused Alfredo sauce, all beautifully mixed with cheddar cheese and cream cheese.
Ingredients
- 1 lb Chicken Breasts, Cooked and Diced
- 16 oz Penne Pasta
- 6 oz Cream Cheese, softened
- 15 oz Jarred Alfredo sauce
- 1 oz Packet Ranch Seasoning
- 2 cups Cheddar Cheese, Shredded
- 1/2 cup Cooked Bacon, Crumbled
If Making Into a Casserole
- 1/4 cup Plain Breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup Cheddar Cheese, Shredded
Instructions
- In a large skillet, brown chicken for approximately 4 minutes on either side, until cooked through at 165 degrees. Remove chicken from pan and set aside.
- While the chicken is cooking, cook your pasta per package directions. Drain and set aside.
- In the large skillet over medium heat, whisk together the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, ranch seasoning, and alfredo sauce.
- While the cheese and alfredo sauce are warming up together, chop the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces.
- Add pasta to the skillet. Stir to combine sauce and pauce. Then stir in chicken and bacon. Serve immediately.
Notes
Make this into a casserole! Once you have mixed your chicken and bacon into your pasta, pour the pasta into an oven-safe dish. Top with 1/4 cup of breadcrumbs, an additional 1/4 cup of cheddar cheese, and bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden.
