Creamy Chicken, Bacon and Ranch Pasta
A decadent pasta dish made with tender chicken, crispy bacon, creamy ranch-seasoned sauce, and plenty of cheese. It’s like comfort food meets restaurant-style pasta, all made in one pot!
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Total time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4–6
Ingredients
300 g (10 oz) pasta (penne, rigatoni, or fusilli)
2 chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
5–6 slices bacon, chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for lighter)
1 cup chicken broth
½ cup milk
1 packet ranch seasoning mix
1 cup shredded mozzarella
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt & pepper, to taste
Fresh parsley or chives, for garnish
Instructions
Cook pasta:
Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
Cook bacon:
In a large skillet or pot, cook bacon until crispy. Remove and drain on paper towels. Leave about 1 tbsp bacon fat in the pan.
Cook chicken:
Add chicken pieces to the skillet with a drizzle of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
Make creamy sauce:
In the same pan, add butter/olive oil, onion, and garlic. Sauté until fragrant.
Stir in heavy cream, chicken broth, and milk. Bring to a gentle simmer.
Whisk in ranch seasoning until smooth.
Combine everything:
Add cooked pasta, chicken, and bacon into the sauce.
Stir in mozzarella and Parmesan until melted and creamy.
Serve:
Garnish with parsley or chives.
Serve warm with garlic bread or a fresh salad.
Notes & Tips
For extra flavor, add a pinch of red pepper flakes.
Use rotisserie chicken to make it quicker.
Swap heavy cream with cream cheese (4 oz) for a thicker, tangier sauce.
Works great as a baked pasta too — just top with extra cheese and bake until bubbly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes! Store in the fridge for 3 days. Reheat with a splash of milk to loosen the sauce.
Q: Can I freeze it?
Cream-based pastas don’t freeze well — best to eat fresh.
Q: Can I make it lighter?
Use turkey bacon, chicken breast, whole-wheat pasta, and half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
Nutritional Information
Calories: ~520
Protein: 34 g
Carbs: 42 g
Fat: 24 g
Fiber: 2 g