What person doesn’t enjoy a good, filling pasta dish? This recipe for Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is ideal if you’re craving something savory, creamy, and flavorful. This meal has wonderfully cooked pasta encased with tender chicken, crispy bacon, and a rich ranch-flavored sauce. It’s a quick and simple recipe that’s a family favorite and perfect for weeknight dinners or any time you’re in need of comfort food.
Ingredients Bacon Ranch Pasta
- Ranch Dressing: 1 cup
- Heavy Cream: 1 cup
- Garlic: 3 cloves, minced
- Olive Oil: 2 tablespoons
- Butter: 2 tablespoons
- Salt and Pepper: to taste
- Pasta: 12 ounces, penne or fusilli
- Bacon: 6 slices, thick-cut preferred
- Parmesan Cheese: 1 cup, freshly grated
- Chicken Breasts: 2 large, boneless, skinless
Preparation Steps
Cooking the Chicken
- Add salt and pepper to the chicken breasts for seasoning.
- In a big skillet over medium heat, warm up the olive oil.
- Cook the chicken for 6–7 minutes on each side, or until it is cooked through and golden brown.
- Before slicing the chicken into bite-sized pieces, remove it from the skillet and give it some time to rest.
Cooking the Bacon
- Place the bacon slices in the same skillet.
- Cook, stirring periodically, until crispy.
- After removing the bacon, spread the leftover grease on paper towels.
- After the bacon has cooled, break it up into little bits.
Preparing the Pasta
- Heat a big saucepan of salted water till it boils.
- When the pasta is al dente, add it and cook it as directed on the package.
- After draining, set the pasta aside.
Making the Sauce
Ingredients for the Sauce
- Butter: 2 tablespoons
- Heavy Cream: 1 cup
- Ranch Dressing: 1 cup
- Parmesan Cheese: 1 cup
- Garlic: 3 cloves, minced
Steps to Make the Sauce
- Melt the butter in the same skillet over medium heat.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for one minute, or until fragrant.
- After adding the ranch dressing and heavy cream, whisk everything together.
- Heat the mixture until it simmers gently.
- Once the Parmesan cheese has melted and the sauce has slightly thickened, stir it in.
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
Creamy chicken bacon ranch pasta fulfils every requirement on your delectable yet simple supper. This spaghetti recipe has an abundance of warm and delicious ingredients.
This meal, which combines creamy ranch sauce, chopped chicken, and bacon with rotini bacon ranch pasta, is so soothing that it will satisfy even the pickiest palates. This is quite similar to our ranch style chicken casserole, however it’s prepared directly on the stove.
This dish has a lot of versatility. You can use any type of medium-shaped noodle in its place, and you can even cut corners by using bacon pieces or rotisserie chicken. All the way down to the shredded cheese, I always advise using fresh for the finest flavour and texture in recipes named after the main ingredients!
Ingredients
- PASTA: Rotini, penne, ziti, bow tie, spaghetti, fusilli, or cavatappi can all be used to make this recipe.
- BACON: For the best flavor, use freshly cooked bacon, but in a pinch, you may instead use precooked bacon or bacon pieces.
- CHICKEN: If desired, you can expedite the procedure a little by using cubed or shredded rotisserie chicken.
- CHEESE: Grate your cheese right from the block, even though pre-bagged shredded varieties from the supermarket are more practical. Anti-caking chemicals included in prebagged shredded cheeses keep them from melting and give them a gritty texture.
Preparation Steps
- Cut the chicken breasts into three long pieces, then season both sides with salt and Italian spice.
- Put two tablespoons of butter in a big skillet and melt it. Depending on the size, cook the chicken for 4–5 minutes on each side. Put them aside so they can recuperate.
- While preparing your sauce, cook the pasta in a big pot of salted water. Cook for one to two minutes less than the suggested amount of time, saving at least a cup of pasta water.
- Melt the remaining quarter of the butter, sauté the garlic for one minute or until aromatic, then whisk in the flour until well combined.
- Slowly whisk in ¼ cup of heavy cream at a time, scraping down the pan to get all the brown pieces, until the cream is well absorbed. Turn down the heat as soon as it begins to boil.
- Stir in the ranch seasoning. Next, add the cheddar cheese and stir until it melts.
- Chop the chicken into the appropriate size pieces and combine it with the pasta and bacon in the skillet. Mix thoroughly and add pasta water as needed to achieve the appropriate consistency (I used ¾ cup).
- If preferred, sprinkle some more bacon crumbles and parmesan cheese over top.
Can I freeze it?
Because the dairy products split when frozen and the texture changes upon thawing, I would not suggest preserving this pasta dish.
FAQs
Is there another kind of pasta I can use?
Of course! You can use any type of pasta you like, including spaghetti, rigatoni, and fusilli.
How can I avoid using dairy in it?
Use a dairy-free ranch dressing and replace the heavy cream with a dairy-free substitute, such as coconut cream.
Can I have things ready in advance?
It is possible to prepare the ingredients in advance and combine them right before serving.
How should I reheat it the best?
To preserve the creamy texture of the sauce, reheat it slowly in a skillet over low heat while whisking in a little milk or cream.
How do I include additional veggies?
Use veggies for colour and nutrition, such as bell peppers, spinach, or peas in the sauce.
Conclusion
A delicious recipe that combines the cosy tastes of soft chicken, crunchy bacon, and a creamy ranch sauce is chicken bacon ranch pasta. It’s tasty, simple to create, and appropriate for any occasion. This recipe is sure to please, whether you’re feeding a hungry family or hosting visitors. So why not give it a shot this evening?