Get ready to meet your new weeknight obsession. This Crack Chicken Penne is the ultimate one-pot wonder, combining tender chicken, crispy bacon, and creamy, cheesy ranch sauce all tossed with perfectly cooked penne. It’s the kind of meal that has the whole family running to the dinner table. If you love rich, savory, and utterly addictive flavors, this recipe is a must-try.
We’re transforming the viral “crack chicken” flavor combination into a hearty pasta dish that’s ready in about 30 minutes. The best part? It all comes together in a single pot, which means minimal cleanup and maximum flavor. It’s a simple, straightforward recipe that delivers restaurant-quality results every single time.
Why You’ll Love This Crack Chicken Penne Recipe
One-Pot Meal: Everything, including the pasta, cooks in one pot. Say goodbye to a sink full of dishes!
Incredibly Flavorful: The combination of ranch, cheddar, cream cheese, and bacon is famously addictive for a reason.
Quick & Easy: This dish is perfect for busy weeknights, going from pantry to table in just over 30 minutes.
Family-Approved: It’s a cheesy, creamy pasta dish that’s a guaranteed hit with both kids and adults. For a similar dish with a twist, you might also love this easy crack chicken gnocchi recipe.
What is Crack Chicken?
“Crack chicken” is a popular flavor profile, not a specific dish. It gets its name from its downright addictive combination of ingredients. The core components are typically chicken, cream cheese, ranch seasoning, cheddar cheese, and crispy bacon. This trio creates a creamy, savory, and tangy sauce that’s simply irresistible. It started as a slow-cooker shredded chicken recipe but has since been adapted into countless delicious forms, like this amazing Crack Chicken Penne.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients to create its signature flavor.
The perfect bite of cheesy, savory goodness.
Chicken Breast: Boneless, skinless chicken breast works best. You’ll cook and shred it for the perfect texture.
Penne Pasta: The ridges and tubes of penne are perfect for holding onto the creamy sauce.
Bacon: Use a good quality thick-cut bacon for the best flavor and texture.
Cream Cheese: This is the secret to an ultra-creamy, luscious sauce.
Ranch Seasoning: A dry packet of ranch seasoning provides all the zesty, herby flavor.
Cheddar Cheese: Sharp cheddar adds a nice bite that cuts through the richness. Freshly shredded is always best!
Chicken Broth: This is our cooking liquid for the pasta and the base of the sauce.
Garlic & Onion: The aromatic foundation that builds a savory base.
Green Onions: For a fresh, mild oniony bite as a garnish.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Making this creamy bacon ranch chicken pasta is incredibly simple. Just follow these steps for a perfect result.
Cook the Bacon: In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set it aside, leaving about one tablespoon of bacon grease in the pot.
Cook the Chicken: Add the chicken breasts and chicken broth to the pot. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat, cover, and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
Shred the Chicken: Remove the chicken from the pot and shred it using two forks. While you do this, bring the broth in the pot back to a boil.
Cook the Pasta: Add the penne pasta to the boiling broth. Cook according to package directions, stirring occasionally, until al dente.
Create the Sauce: Once the pasta is cooked, reduce the heat to low. Stir in the cream cheese until it has completely melted into a smooth sauce.
Combine & Serve: Add the shredded chicken, shredded cheddar cheese, ranch seasoning, and half of the cooked bacon back to the pot. Stir until the cheese is melted and everything is well combined. Serve immediately, garnished with the remaining bacon and sliced green onions. For a perfect side, consider these amazing butter swim biscuits.
Everything cooks together in one pot for maximum flavor and minimum cleanup.
Pro Tips for the Best Creamy Chicken Pasta
Shred Cheese Yourself: Pre-shredded cheese is coated in starches that can make your sauce gritty. For the smoothest, creamiest sauce, always shred your own block of cheddar.
Use Full-Fat Cream Cheese: Full-fat cream cheese will melt better and create a much richer sauce than its low-fat counterpart.
Don’t Overcook the Pasta: The pasta will continue to absorb liquid as it sits, so cook it just until al dente to avoid a mushy texture.
Temper the Cream Cheese: For an extra-smooth sauce, you can whisk a small amount of the hot broth into the cream cheese in a separate bowl before adding it to the pot. This prevents it from clumping.
Variations and Substitutions for Crack Chicken Penne
One of the best things about this recipe is how easy it is to customize. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Add Veggies: Stir in a cup of frozen peas or steamed broccoli at the end for a pop of color and extra nutrients.
Make it Spicy: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a diced jalapeño with the onion for a little kick of heat.
Different Pasta: No penne? No problem! This recipe works great with other short pasta shapes like rotini, rigatoni, or shells.
Try a Different Protein: For a twist on the classic chicken flavor, check out this recipe for Cowboy Butter Chicken.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
This Crack Chicken Penne makes for fantastic leftovers, if you have any!
To Store: Let the pasta cool completely, then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To Reheat: Reheat gently in a saucepan over low heat. You may need to add a splash of milk or chicken broth to loosen the sauce and restore its creamy texture. You can also reheat it in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between.
Crack chicken is a popular flavor profile known for its addictive combination of chicken, cream cheese, ranch seasoning, cheddar cheese, and bacon. It’s beloved for its creamy, savory, and tangy taste.
While this dish is best served fresh, you can prepare components in advance. Cook and shred the chicken and cook the bacon ahead of time. When you’re ready to eat, cook the pasta and combine everything as instructed. This will ensure the sauce is fresh and creamy.
Store leftover Crack Chicken Penne in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, add a splash of milk or chicken broth and gently warm it in a saucepan over low heat or in the microwave.
This is a rich, hearty dish that pairs well with simple sides. A fresh green salad with a light vinaigrette, steamed broccoli, or garlic bread are all excellent choices to complete the meal.
Absolutely! While penne is a great choice, any short pasta with ridges or tubes to hold the sauce will work well. Try using rotini, rigatoni, fusilli, or shells.
Share Your Creation!
I hope you and your family love this creamy, cheesy Crack Chicken Penne recipe as much as mine does! It’s a true comfort food champion that’s perfect for any night of the week. If you make it, I’d love to see it! Please leave a comment below or share a photo on Pinterest. Your feedback helps so much!
This creamy, cheesy Crack Chicken Penne is the ultimate one-pot comfort food!
Crack Chicken Penne Recipe
FL Recipes
Crack Chicken Penne: The Ultimate One-Pot Comfort Meal
This one-pot Crack Chicken Penne is an easy weeknight dinner game-changer! Tender chicken, penne pasta, and crispy bacon are tossed in an addictively creamy, cheesy ranch sauce. It's a family-friendly meal ready in about 30 minutes!
In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set it aside, leaving about one tablespoon of bacon grease in the pot.
Add the diced onion to the pot and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
Add the chicken breasts and chicken broth to the pot. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat, cover, and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
Remove the chicken from the pot and shred it using two forks. While you do this, bring the broth in the pot back to a boil.
Add the penne pasta to the boiling broth. Cook according to package directions, stirring occasionally, until al dente.
Once the pasta is cooked, reduce the heat to low. Stir in the cream cheese until it has completely melted into a smooth sauce.
Add the shredded chicken, shredded cheddar cheese, ranch seasoning, and half of the cooked bacon back to the pot. Stir until the cheese is melted and everything is well combined. Serve immediately, garnished with the remaining bacon and sliced green onions.
Nutrition
Calories: 650kcalProtein: 38gFat: 35gFiber: 2g
Notes
Tip 1: For the creamiest sauce, use freshly shredded cheddar cheese. Pre-shredded varieties contain anti-caking agents that can make the sauce grainy. Tip 2: Feel free to add a cup of steamed broccoli or frozen peas at the end for extra veggies and color.
Keyword bacon ranch chicken pasta,crack chicken penne,creamy chicken pasta
Hi, I’m Emily Carter, and welcome to FL Recipes! I share simple, healthy recipes that make cooking easy, fun, and delicious for everyone. more about me »
