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–+ servings
Chicken bacon ranch pasta served on a white plate, with creamy ranch cheese sauce coating penne, topped with bacon pieces, black pepper, and sliced green onions on a white marble kitchen countertop.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

This chicken bacon ranch pasta is creamy, tangy, and loaded with crisp bacon in every bite. The sauce stays velvety because it’s built to cling to the pasta, not slide off.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings: 6
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 12 oz pasta penne or rotini
  • 6 slices bacon
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb chicken breast diced small
  • 1 tsp kosher salt divided
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups milk whole or 2%
  • 4 oz cream cheese cubed
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
  • 1/3 cup ranch dressing
  • 2 tbsp green onions optional
  • 1 cup pasta water reserved

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it well.
  2. Cook the pasta until just tender.
  3. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
  4. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
  5. Cook the bacon until crisp.
  6. Remove the bacon from the pan and chop it.
  7. Heat the butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
  8. Add the diced chicken to the skillet.
  9. Season the chicken with 1/2 tsp kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
  10. Cook the chicken until it is cooked through.
  11. Sprinkle the flour over the chicken.
  12. Stir for 60 seconds.
  13. Whisk the milk in slowly until the sauce turns smooth and thick.
  14. Stir in the cubed cream cheese until fully melted.
  15. Add the shredded cheddar and shredded mozzarella.
  16. Stir on low heat until the cheese melts and the sauce looks glossy.
  17. Mix in the ranch dressing.
  18. Taste the sauce and add the remaining kosher salt if needed.
  19. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet.
  20. Add the chopped bacon to the skillet.
  21. Toss until everything is evenly coated.
  22. Add reserved pasta water a splash at a time until the sauce turns silky.

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