Comforting Crack Chicken Pasta (Print)
Creamy pasta loaded with chicken, bacon, and cheese in a savory ranch sauce
# What You Need:
→ Pasta & Chicken
01 - 12 oz penne or rotini pasta
02 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
03 - 5 slices bacon, chopped
→ Sauce
04 - 1 tbsp unsalted butter
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
07 - 3/4 cup chicken broth
08 - 1 cup heavy cream
09 - 1 oz ranch seasoning mix
→ Cheese
10 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
11 - 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
→ To Finish
12 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
13 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How to Make:
01 - Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions. Drain well and set aside.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped bacon and cook until crispy. Remove bacon and set aside, leaving about 1 tbsp bacon fat in the skillet.
03 - Add butter to the skillet with bacon fat. Once melted, sauté minced garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant.
04 - Lower heat to medium-low. Stir in cream cheese until softened, then add chicken broth, heavy cream, and ranch seasoning. Whisk continuously until smooth and creamy.
05 - Add shredded cheddar and grated parmesan cheese, stirring constantly until completely melted and sauce has thickened.
06 - Add cooked chicken and half the cooked bacon to the sauce. Stir gently to combine and heat through.
07 - Add cooked pasta to the skillet, tossing thoroughly to coat every piece evenly with the creamy sauce.
08 - Divide among serving plates. Top with remaining crispy bacon, sliced green onions, and freshly ground black pepper. Serve immediately while warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Everything comes together in one pan while the pasta boils
- The ranch and bacon combo makes even picky eaters ask for seconds
02 -
- Temper the cream cheese by letting it sit on the counter for an hour
- The sauce thickens as it stands, so dont overreduce in the pan
03 -
- Reserve a cup of pasta water before draining in case you need to thin the sauce
- Grate your own cheese for the smoothest melting