Get ready to meet your new favorite weeknight dinner. This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is the ultimate comfort food mashup, combining crispy bacon, tender chicken, and chewy pasta in a rich and creamy ranch sauce. It’s a one-pan wonder that comes together in under 40 minutes, making it perfect for busy evenings when you’re craving something truly satisfying. Forget the store-bought packets; our homemade ranch sauce is what makes this dish a standout, delivering fresh, zesty flavor that the whole family will love. This is the recipe you’ll come back to again and again.
Why This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is a Weeknight Winner
When it comes to easy and delicious meals, this Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta recipe checks all the boxes. It’s a simple, straightforward dish that packs an incredible amount of flavor without requiring complex steps or hard-to-find ingredients. Here’s why you’ll fall in love with it:
- Quick & Easy: From start to finish, this entire meal is ready in less than 40 minutes, making it a perfect solution for hectic weeknights.
- Minimal Cleanup: We’ve designed this recipe to be made in one pot, which means less time washing dishes and more time enjoying your dinner.
- Incredibly Flavorful: The combination of salty bacon, savory chicken, and a tangy, homemade ranch sauce creates a perfectly balanced and addictive flavor profile.
- Family-Friendly: This is a certified crowd-pleaser! It’s a comforting, cheesy dish that appeals to both kids and adults alike. For another family favorite, try our easy tater tot casserole.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of this recipe is its simplicity. We’re skipping the ranch seasoning packet to build a fresher, more vibrant sauce from scratch using pantry staples.
For the Pasta:
- Pasta: 12 ounces of a short pasta like rotini, penne, or fusilli. The ridges are perfect for catching the creamy sauce.
- Chicken: 1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces.
- Bacon: 8 slices of thick-cut bacon, chopped.
- Cheese: 1 cup of shredded sharp cheddar and 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella for the ultimate cheesy melt.
For the Creamy Ranch Sauce:
- Garlic: 3 cloves, minced.
- Chicken Broth: 2 cups of low-sodium chicken broth.
- Milk: 1 cup of whole milk or heavy cream for extra richness.
- Cream Cheese: 4 ounces, softened to room temperature for a smooth, lump-free sauce.
- Herbs & Spices: 1 teaspoon each of dried parsley and dried dill, plus 1/2 teaspoon each of onion powder and garlic powder.
- For Garnish: Fresh chopped chives or parsley.
How to Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta (Step-by-Step)
Follow these simple steps to create the creamiest, most flavorful pasta dish you’ve ever had. It’s a straightforward process that delivers gourmet results.
Step 1: Cook the Bacon
In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the chopped bacon over medium heat until it’s golden and crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set it aside on a paper towel-lined plate, leaving about one tablespoon of bacon grease in the pot.
Step 2: Cook the Chicken
Add the bite-sized chicken pieces to the pot with the bacon grease. Season with salt and pepper and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pot and set it aside with the cooked bacon.
Step 3: Make the Creamy Ranch Sauce
Add the minced garlic to the pot and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Whisk in the chicken broth, making sure to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then add the uncooked pasta. Cook according to package directions until al dente. In the last few minutes of cooking, whisk in the milk, softened cream cheese, dried parsley, dried dill, onion powder, and garlic powder. Continue to whisk until the cream cheese has fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
Step 4: Combine and Serve
Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheese until melted and the sauce is thick and creamy. Return the cooked chicken and about three-quarters of the crispy bacon to the pot. Stir everything together until well combined. Serve your Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta immediately, garnished with the remaining bacon and fresh chives.
Pro Tips for the Best Pasta
Want to take your pasta to the next level? Here are a few expert tips:
- Don’t Overcook the Pasta: Cook the pasta just until al dente. It will continue to cook slightly in the hot sauce, and this prevents it from becoming mushy.
- Use Room Temperature Cream Cheese: Softened cream cheese melts seamlessly into the sauce, preventing any lumps.
- Shred Your Own Cheese: Pre-shredded cheese is often coated with anti-caking agents that can make your sauce gritty. For the smoothest, meltiest sauce, buy a block and shred it yourself. If you love cheesy chicken dishes, check out this Texas Roadhouse Smothered Chicken recipe.
Variations and Substitutions
This recipe is incredibly versatile. Feel free to customize it to your liking!
- Add Veggies: Stir in some steamed broccoli florets, frozen peas, or fresh spinach at the end for a boost of nutrients and color.
- Make it Spicy: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of your favorite hot sauce to the ranch sauce for a little kick.
- Change the Protein: This dish works wonderfully with leftover rotisserie chicken or even cooked shrimp. For a different but equally delicious bacon-wrapped meal, try these bacon jam cheeseburger sliders.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
This pasta makes fantastic leftovers, if you have any! Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, add a splash of milk or chicken broth to a saucepan and gently warm the pasta over low heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through. This will help restore the creamy consistency of the sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
While this dish is best served fresh, you can prep the components ahead of time. Cook the bacon and chicken and store them in the fridge. When you’re ready to eat, you just need to cook the pasta and make the sauce, which speeds up the process significantly.
Absolutely! Using leftover cooked chicken or a store-bought rotisserie chicken is a great way to save time. Simply shred or dice the chicken and stir it in at the end with the bacon to heat through.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, add a splash of milk or chicken broth to the pasta in a saucepan over low heat. Stir gently until the sauce is creamy and the pasta is warmed through.
This recipe is very versatile! You can add steamed broccoli, peas, corn, or fresh spinach for extra veggies. For a spicy kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of cayenne pepper to the sauce.
Short, sturdy pasta shapes with ridges or twists are best as they hold the creamy sauce well. We recommend using rotini, penne, fusilli, or cavatappi.
More Delicious Pasta Recipes To Try
If you loved this creamy pasta dish, explore some of our other favorites! From savory stuffed shells to zesty ramen, there’s always a new pasta night adventure waiting for you. Dive into our Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Manicotti for a classic Italian feast or spice things up with this Creamy Garlic Chicken Ramen.
The Best Creamy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Recipe
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta (The Ultimate Creamy Recipe)
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy (6-8 minutes). Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon, leaving about 1 tablespoon of grease in the pot.
- Add the chicken pieces to the pot, season with salt and pepper, and cook until golden and cooked through (5-7 minutes). Remove and set aside with the bacon.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Whisk in the chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the pot. Bring to a simmer.
- Stir in the uncooked pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente.
- In the final minutes of cooking, whisk in the milk, softened cream cheese, and all dried seasonings (parsley, dill, onion powder, garlic powder) until the sauce is smooth.
- Reduce heat to low and stir in the shredded cheeses until melted. Return the cooked chicken and most of the bacon to the pot. Stir to combine.
- Serve immediately, garnished with the remaining bacon and fresh chives.
Notes
Tip 2: Shred your own cheese from a block for a smoother melt.
Tip 3: Don't be afraid to add a splash more milk or broth when reheating to bring the sauce back to life.
Share Your Creation!
We are certain this Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta will become a staple in your dinner rotation. It’s the perfect blend of creamy, cheesy, and savory flavors that everyone will crave. If you make this recipe, don’t forget to leave a comment below and let us know what you think! And for more amazing recipes, be sure to follow us on Pinterest and share your creations.
