What the heck is this?
If you’re looking for a creamy, dreamy, comfort food masterpiece that combines the best of all worlds—chicken, bacon, ranch, and pasta—then you’ve just found your new favorite recipe. Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is the ultimate weeknight dinner that’s indulgent, full of flavor, and ridiculously easy to make. Picture this: juicy chunks of chicken, crispy bacon, and pasta coated in a creamy ranch sauce. It’s all tied together with melty cheese for a dish that’s cozy, satisfying, and sure to have everyone asking for seconds. Trust me, this is the kind of meal that’ll make your family think you spent hours in the kitchen, but it’s really done in under 40 minutes. Yep, that’s right—weeknight dinner goals!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Creamy, cheesy, bacon-loaded goodness in every bite.
A one-pan meal (because who wants to do extra dishes, right?).
Super easy to make and cooks in less than 40 minutes.
You can add veggies to sneak in some extra nutrition (but you don’t have to).
The bacon and ranch combo is basically a flavor dream come true.
The Good Stuff You’ll Need
For the Pasta:
12 oz penne or rotini (or any short pasta shape you love)
Salt for boiling pasta
For the Chicken and Bacon:
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
6 slices of bacon, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp olive oil
For the Creamy Ranch Sauce:
1 cup ranch dressing (store-bought or homemade)
1/2 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for a lighter version)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp dried parsley
Optional: 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (for a little heat)
For Garnishing:
Fresh parsley, chopped (for a little color and freshness)
Extra crumbled bacon (because bacon never hurts)
Let’s Do This!
Step 1: Cook the Pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, but be sure to save about 1/2 cup of pasta water—just in case you need to thin out the sauce later.
Step 2: Cook the Bacon
While the pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped bacon and cook until crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the bacon from the skillet and set it aside on a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Leave a little bit of bacon grease in the skillet for flavor (because bacon fat is basically magic).
Step 3: Cook the Chicken
In the same skillet, add 1 tbsp olive oil and heat over medium-high. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper, then cook them in the skillet until browned and cooked through, about 7-8 minutes. Once the chicken is done, remove it from the skillet and set it aside with the bacon.
Step 4: Make the Creamy Ranch Sauce
In the same skillet, reduce the heat to medium. Add the ranch dressing, heavy cream, garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, and crushed red pepper flakes (if using). Stir everything together until it’s well combined and the sauce starts to heat up.
Step 5: Add the Cheese
Add the grated Parmesan cheese and shredded cheddar cheese to the skillet. Stir constantly until the cheese melts into the sauce and the sauce is creamy and smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to thin it out to your desired consistency.
Step 6: Combine It All
Add the cooked pasta, chicken, and bacon to the skillet with the creamy ranch sauce. Toss everything together to coat the pasta in that cheesy, bacon-y goodness. Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt, pepper, or ranch dressing if needed.
Step 7: Serve and Enjoy!
Serve your Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta hot, garnished with fresh parsley and extra crumbled bacon (because, why not?). This dish is comfort food at its finest and will have you coming back for more!
Serving Suggestions
Serve it with a simple side salad to add a little freshness to balance out the rich, creamy pasta.
Add some steamed broccoli or sautéed spinach to sneak in some greens.
If you want to go full indulgent, serve it with garlic bread for that ultimate cozy dinner vibe.
Switch It Up
Add Veggies: Toss in some sautéed mushrooms, spinach, or sun-dried tomatoes for extra flavor.
Go Spicy: Add some diced jalapeños to the sauce for a spicy kick.
Make It Lighter: Swap the heavy cream for a lighter milk or even Greek yogurt for a creamy, lower-fat version.
Make-Ahead Tips
You can cook the chicken and bacon ahead of time and store them in the fridge for up to 2 days.
The creamy ranch sauce can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for 1-2 days. Reheat it on low heat and add a splash of cream or milk to loosen it up before mixing with the pasta.
Questions People Actually Ask
Q: Can I use rotisserie chicken instead of cooking chicken breasts?
A: Yep! Shredded rotisserie chicken works perfectly in this recipe. Just toss it in with the sauce and pasta when you’re ready.
Q: Can I freeze this?
A: You can freeze the pasta and sauce together, but the pasta texture might change slightly when reheating. For best results, store the pasta and sauce separately, and freeze the sauce for up to 3 months.
Q: Can I use a different type of pasta?
A: Absolutely! Any short pasta shape like fusilli, farfalle, or shells will work great in this recipe.
Q: Can I make this dairy-free?
A: You can try substituting the heavy cream and cheeses with dairy-free alternatives, like coconut milk or cashew cream, and dairy-free cheese.
Best Recipe for Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
If you’re looking for a creamy, dreamy, comfort food masterpiece that combines the best of all worlds—chicken, bacon, ranch, and pasta—then you’ve just found your new favorite recipe. Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is the ultimate weeknight dinner that’s indulgent, full of flavor, and ridiculously easy to make. Picture this: juicy chunks of chicken, crispy bacon, and pasta coated in a creamy ranch sauce. It’s all tied together with melty cheese for a dish that’s cozy, satisfying, and sure to have everyone asking for seconds. Trust me, this is the kind of meal that’ll make your family think you spent hours in the kitchen, but it’s really done in under 40 minutes. Yep, that’s right—weeknight dinner goals!
Ingredients
For the Pasta:
12 oz penne or rotini (or any short pasta shape you love)
Salt for boiling pasta
For the Chicken and Bacon:
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
6 slices of bacon, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp olive oil
For the Creamy Ranch Sauce:
1 cup ranch dressing (store-bought or homemade)
1/2 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for a lighter version)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp dried parsley
Optional: 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (for a little heat)
For Garnishing:
Fresh parsley, chopped (for a little color and freshness)
Extra crumbled bacon (because bacon never hurts)
Instructions
Step 1: Cook the Pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, but be sure to save about 1/2 cup of pasta water—just in case you need to thin out the sauce later.
Step 2: Cook the Bacon
While the pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped bacon and cook until crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the bacon from the skillet and set it aside on a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Leave a little bit of bacon grease in the skillet for flavor (because bacon fat is basically magic).
Step 3: Cook the Chicken
In the same skillet, add 1 tbsp olive oil and heat over medium-high. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper, then cook them in the skillet until browned and cooked through, about 7-8 minutes. Once the chicken is done, remove it from the skillet and set it aside with the bacon.
Step 4: Make the Creamy Ranch Sauce
In the same skillet, reduce the heat to medium. Add the ranch dressing, heavy cream, garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, and crushed red pepper flakes (if using). Stir everything together until it’s well combined and the sauce starts to heat up.
Step 5: Add the Cheese
Add the grated Parmesan cheese and shredded cheddar cheese to the skillet. Stir constantly until the cheese melts into the sauce and the sauce is creamy and smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to thin it out to your desired consistency.
Step 6: Combine It All
Add the cooked pasta, chicken, and bacon to the skillet with the creamy ranch sauce. Toss everything together to coat the pasta in that cheesy, bacon-y goodness. Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt, pepper, or ranch dressing if needed.
Step 7: Serve and Enjoy!
Serve your Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta hot, garnished with fresh parsley and extra crumbled bacon (because, why not?). This dish is comfort food at its finest and will have you coming back for more!
Notes
Serve it with a simple side salad to add a little freshness to balance out the rich, creamy pasta.
Add some steamed broccoli or sautéed spinach to sneak in some greens.
If you want to go full indulgent, serve it with garlic bread for that ultimate cozy dinner vibe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: ~600 kcal per serving
- Fat: ~35g
- Carbohydrates: ~35g
- Protein: ~40g