Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
This creamy chicken bacon ranch pasta is a comforting, beginner-friendly dish packed with juicy chicken, crispy bacon, and ranch-seasoned cheese sauce. It’s a fast, delicious way to upgrade your weeknight dinner routine.
Ingredients
Protein & Pasta
- 2 small boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 6 strips bacon
- 2 cups uncooked rotini pasta
Seasonings
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons dry ranch dressing seasoning mix
Sauce Base
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 2 cups half and half
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Cook bacon in a skillet over low heat until crispy. Set aside and reserve drippings.
- Slice chicken thinly, season with salt, pepper, onion powder, and Italian seasoning.
- In the skillet, heat 2 tbsp bacon drippings and sear chicken 3–4 minutes per side. Let rest, then chop.
- Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In the skillet, melt butter and sauté garlic for 1 minute. Stir in flour and cook 1 more minute.
- Slowly add warmed half and half, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle bubble.
- Stir in ranch seasoning and cheese until sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Mix in pasta, chicken, and bacon. Serve warm and enjoy your chicken bacon ranch pasta!
Notes
To make your chicken bacon ranch pasta even creamier, reserve some pasta water to adjust the sauce texture. For a veggie twist, stir in spinach or broccoli before serving.
Nutrition (Estimated per serving)
Calories: 670
Protein: 38g
Carbohydrates: 42g
Fat: 38g
Saturated Fat: 19g
Cholesterol: 110mg
Sodium: 840mg
Fiber: 2g
Sugar: 3g
Calories: 670
Protein: 38g
Carbohydrates: 42g
Fat: 38g
Saturated Fat: 19g
Cholesterol: 110mg
Sodium: 840mg
Fiber: 2g
Sugar: 3g