Description
This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta achieves that goal by combining smoky, savory, and creamy flavors in one single bowl. Crispy bacon complements tender chicken and perfectly cooked noodles, with tangy ranch seasoning tying everything together.
Ingredients
Scale
1.5 lbs Chicken Breast
6–8 strips Baco
16 oz Short Pasta
3 tablespoons Ranch Seasoning
1.5 cups Heavy Cream
2 cups Cheddar Cheese
3 cloves Garlic
2 cups Spinach
Instructions
- Boil the Pasta: Fill a large pot with water and a generous pinch of salt. Bring it to a rolling boil and cook your chosen pasta according to the package directions until it reaches an al dente texture. Drain the pasta, but reserve half a cup of the starchy pasta water for the sauce
- Crisp the Bacon: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until it becomes perfectly crispy. Remove the bacon bits with a slotted spoon and let them drain on a paper towel, but leave about two tablespoons of the bacon fat in the pan for flavor
- Sear the Chicken: Add the cubed chicken breast to the skillet with the remaining bacon fat. Season the meat with a little bit of the ranch powder. Cook until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through, then remove it from the pan and set it aside
- Build the Sauce: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and cook for about thirty seconds until fragrant. Slowly pour in the heavy cream and the remaining ranch seasoning. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, whisking constantly to incorporate the flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the pa
- Combine and Melt: Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until the sauce becomes smooth and thickened. Return the cooked chicken and crispy bacon to the pan. Finally, toss in the cooked noodles and the reserved pasta water to help the sauce coat every piece of Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta perfectly
- Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley or chopped green onions and serve immediately while the cheese is gooey and the aromas are at their peak
Notes
Always shred your own cheese from a block for a smoother sauce.
Do not overcook your pasta.
Using pasta water helps the sauce adhere to the noodles.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 580 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg