Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is a dreamy dish that effortlessly brings together all your favorite flavors. With creamy ranch, smoky bacon, and hearty chicken mixed with perfectly cooked pasta, this recipe feels like a cozy hug with every bite. It’s perfect for family dinners or casual entertaining, promising a flavor explosion that’ll have everyone lining up for seconds.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings

Calories 542kcal

Author Wendy Polisi

Ingredients

8 ounces bacon
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon sea salt
16 ounces short pasta penne, cavatelli, bow ties, etc
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 ½ cups half and half
8 ounce cream cheese cubed
3 ½ tablespoons dry ranch seasoning 1-package
½ cup shredded parmesan cheese

Instructions

Heat a large skillet to medium-low. Add the bacon, and cook until crisp. Remove the bacon from the skillet and cool on a paper towel lined plate. When it is cool enough to handle, crumble and then set aside.
While the bacon is cooking, season both sides of the chicken with Italian seasoning and salt.
Increase the heat of the skillet to medium-high. Add the chicken to the bacon grease and cook for 4 to 5 minutes per side or until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through. Remove to a plate and diced.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the pasta water
While the pasta cooks, melt the butter over medium heat in the same skillet that the chicken and bacon cooked in. Sprinkle with the flour and whisk for 2 minutes.
Stir in the half and half and ⅓ cup of the reserved pasta water and cook for 4 minutes. Add the cream cheese and ranch seasoning and cook for another 3 minutes.
Reduce the heat to medium low, and add the parmesan cheese cook for another 2 minutes, until the cheese melts. Add more of the reserved pasta water as needed to achieve the desired consistency.
Stir in the chicken and pasta and cook for another 2 minutes. Sprinkle with the bacon and serve warm.

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