Creamy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
Creamy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta with crispy bacon, tender chicken, and a rich, cheesy ranch sauce. A quick and easy comfort food favorite!
Equipment
- Large Skillet
- Saucepan
- Mixing Spoon
Ingredients
Pasta
- 12 oz Rotini or Penne pasta Cooked al dente
Chicken and Bacon
- 2 cups chicken breast Diced, cooked
- 6 slices bacon Cooked and crumbled
Sauce
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 cloves garlic Minced
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup milk
- 1 package ranch seasoning mix
- 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese Shredded
- ½ cup parmesan cheese Shredded
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp salt Adjust to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove, crumble, and set aside.
- In the same pan, cook diced chicken with salt, pepper, and a little bacon grease until golden brown. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté minced garlic for 1 minute.
- Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute, then slowly add milk and heavy cream while whisking to create a smooth sauce.
- Add ranch seasoning and stir well. Gradually add shredded cheddar and parmesan cheese, stirring until melted and smooth.
- Return cooked pasta, chicken, and bacon to the skillet. Toss everything together until evenly coated in the sauce.
- Simmer for 2 minutes, then serve hot, garnished with extra cheese or fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream and substitute turkey bacon. You can also add veggies like broccoli or spinach for extra nutrition!