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Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
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Creamy, comforting Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta combines tender chicken, crispy bacon, and a luscious ranch-inspired sauce for an easy and flavorful weeknight dinner that the whole family will love.

Ingredients

Scale

Protein

  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 6 bacon strips

Pasta

  • 12 ounces penne or rotini pasta

Sauce

  • 1 cup heavy cream (or milk)
  • ½ cup ranch dressing or 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning mix
  • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder

Garnish

  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Cook the bacon: Fry the bacon strips in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease, then chop into bite-sized pieces.
  2. Prepare the chicken: Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Using the same skillet, cook the chicken over medium heat until golden brown on both sides and cooked through. Remove from heat and slice or cube the chicken.
  3. Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving about ¼ cup of pasta water.
  4. Make the creamy ranch sauce: In the same skillet, add the heavy cream and ranch dressing or seasoning mix. Stir to combine and warm gently over low heat. Add the grated Parmesan cheese and stir continuously until the cheese melts and the sauce thickens slightly.
  5. Combine everything: Add the cooked chicken, bacon, and drained pasta to the sauce. Toss well to coat everything evenly. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen it.
  6. Garnish and serve: Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley on top. Serve immediately while warm for best flavor and texture.

Notes

  • Use room temperature ingredients to ensure the sauce comes together smoothly without curdling.
  • Don’t overcook the pasta; al dente texture holds up better when mixed with a creamy sauce.
  • Reserve some pasta water to naturally adjust the sauce consistency if needed.
  • Cook bacon separately to achieve maximum crispiness and avoid diluting sauce flavor.
  • Warm ranch dressing gently to fully blend flavors and prevent separation.

Nutrition

Keywords: Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta, creamy pasta, easy weeknight dinner, ranch pasta, comfort food, bacon pasta, creamy chicken pasta

Find it online: https://marybaking.com/chicken-bacon-ranch-pasta/