Comforting Crack Chicken Pasta (Printable Version)
Tender chicken and crispy bacon in a rich, creamy ranch cheese sauce over penne pasta.
# What You'll 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 tablespoon 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 packet ranch seasoning mix (1 oz)
→ 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
# Directions:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped bacon and cook until crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels, reserving 1 tablespoon bacon fat in the skillet.
03 - Add butter to the skillet with reserved bacon fat. Once melted, add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn.
04 - Reduce heat to medium-low. Add softened cream cheese and stir until melted. Pour in chicken broth, heavy cream, and ranch seasoning. Whisk constantly until mixture is smooth and fully combined, about 3-4 minutes.
05 - Stir in shredded cheddar and grated parmesan cheese. Continue stirring until completely melted and sauce has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon.
06 - Add cooked chicken and half the crispy bacon to the sauce. Stir gently to combine and heat through, about 2-3 minutes.
07 - Add the cooked, drained pasta to the skillet. Toss thoroughly until every piece of pasta is evenly coated with the creamy sauce.
08 - Divide pasta among serving plates. Top evenly with remaining crispy bacon, sliced green onions, and freshly ground black pepper. Serve immediately while hot.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The ranch and bacon combination creates an addictive flavor that keeps everyone coming back for seconds
- It comes together in under 45 minutes but tastes like it simmered all day
02 -
- The sauce will thicken as it stands, so if it looks too loose give it two minutes off the heat
- Room temperature cream cheese prevents those tiny lumps that never quite dissolve no matter how much you whisk
03 -
- Cook your bacon in the oven on a baking sheet for perfectly crispy pieces with zero mess
- Salt your pasta water until it tastes like the ocean because that is your only chance to season the noodles themselves