Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta (The Ultimate Creamy Recipe)

Get ready to meet your new favorite weeknight dinner. This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is the ultimate comfort food, combining tender chicken, crispy bacon, and perfectly cooked pasta in a rich and creamy ranch sauce. It’s a simple, family-friendly meal that comes together in under 30 minutes, making it a guaranteed winner for busy evenings. If you’re looking for a dish that’s packed with flavor and incredibly satisfying, this is the one.

Why This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Recipe Works

Unlike other recipes that can be bland or have a thin sauce, this version focuses on building deep, savory flavors at every step. We use a simple homemade ranch seasoning blend that elevates the dish far beyond what you’d get from a bottle. The secret to our ultra-creamy sauce is a combination of heavy cream and Parmesan cheese, finished at the end to ensure it never breaks. It’s a reliable, restaurant-quality meal you can easily make at home.

The Key Ingredients for Success

The magic of this dish lies in its simple, high-impact ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Pasta: We love using penne or rotini because their shapes are perfect for catching the creamy sauce, but any short pasta will work.
• Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces for quick and even cooking.
• Bacon: Use thick-cut bacon for the best crispy texture and savory flavor.
• For the Creamy Ranch Sauce: A base of butter, garlic, chicken broth, and heavy cream creates a luxurious sauce.
• Homemade Ranch Seasoning: A simple mix of dried parsley, dill, chives, garlic powder, and onion powder provides the signature ranch flavor.
• Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan cheese melts beautifully into the sauce, making it thick and velvety. We top it all off with sharp cheddar for extra cheesy goodness.

How to Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta (Step-by-Step)

Making this cheesy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is incredibly straightforward. Follow these simple steps for a perfect result every time.

1. Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook your pasta according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water.
2. Cook the Bacon and Chicken: While the pasta cooks, place the chopped bacon in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook until crispy, then remove with a slotted spoon and set aside on a paper towel-lined plate. Drain all but one tablespoon of the bacon grease from the skillet. Add the chicken pieces, season with salt and pepper, and cook until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken and set it aside with the bacon.
3. Make the Creamy Ranch Sauce: Melt the butter in the same skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Stir in the heavy cream and the homemade ranch seasoning. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.
4. Combine Everything: Reduce the heat to low and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until smooth. Return the cooked chicken and bacon to the skillet. Add the drained pasta and toss everything together until the pasta is fully coated in the creamy sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
5. Serve: Top with shredded cheddar cheese and fresh parsley before serving hot. For another cheesy and easy dinner idea, you should try this delicious creamy chicken penne recipe.

Pro Tips for the Creamiest Ranch Pasta

For a flawless Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta every single time, keep these simple tips in mind.

• Don’t Overcook the Pasta: Cook it just until al dente. It will continue to cook slightly when you add it to the hot sauce.
• Use Freshly Grated Cheese: Pre-shredded cheese is often coated with anti-caking agents that can make your sauce gritty. Grating your own Parmesan and cheddar will result in a much smoother sauce.
• Reserve Pasta Water: This starchy water is liquid gold! It helps to emulsify the sauce and thin it out to the perfect consistency without making it watery.
• Don’t Boil the Sauce After Adding Cheese: To prevent the sauce from breaking or becoming oily, keep the heat on low once you stir in the Parmesan and cream.

Fun Variations to Try

While this recipe is fantastic as is, it’s also incredibly versatile. Feel free to customize it to your liking!

• Add Veggies: Stir in some steamed broccoli florets, peas, or spinach at the end for a nutritional boost.
• Make it Spicy: Add 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes along with the garlic for a little kick. For a real spice kick, check out our creamy cajun chicken pasta.
• Change the Protein: This dish is also delicious with cooked shrimp or leftover shredded rotisserie chicken.
• For a different format: Try these incredible chicken bacon ranch wraps. They have the same great flavor in a convenient wrap!

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta makes for fantastic leftovers. Store any extra in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

To reheat, you can gently warm it in a skillet over low heat. Add a splash of milk or chicken broth to loosen the sauce and restore its creamy texture. You can also microwave it in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until heated through.

Frequently Asked Questions

Enjoy This Recipe? Share It!

We hope you love this creamy and delicious Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta as much as we do! It’s the perfect meal for any occasion, from a quick weeknight dinner to a comforting weekend treat. If you make it, don’t forget to leave a comment below and share it on Pinterest!

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

FL Recipes

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta (The Ultimate Creamy Recipe)

This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is the ultimate 30-minute meal. Tender chicken, crispy bacon, and pasta are tossed in an ultra-creamy homemade ranch sauce for a family-friendly dinner you'll make again and again.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe WhatsApp

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings: 6 servings

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Calories: 750

Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

For the Pasta

• 1 lb Penne Pasta or other short pasta
• 1 lb Boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch cubes
• 8 slices Thick-cut bacon chopped
• 2 tbsp Butter
• 3 cloves Garlic minced
• 1/2 cup Chicken broth
• 1 1/2 cups Heavy cream
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
• 1/2 cup Shredded cheddar cheese for topping
• 2 tbsp Fresh parsley chopped, for garnish

For the Homemade Ranch Seasoning

• 1 tbsp Dried Parsley
• 1 tsp Dried Dill
• 1 tsp Dried Chives
• 1 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp Onion Powder
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1/4 tsp Black Pepper

Equipment

• 1 Large Pot
• 1 Large Skillet

Method

 

1. Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain.
2. Cook Bacon and Chicken: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook chopped bacon until crispy. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon, leaving 1 tbsp of grease. Add cubed chicken, season, and cook until golden brown. Set aside with bacon.
3. Mix Ranch Seasoning: In a small bowl, combine all ingredients for the homemade ranch seasoning.
4. Make the Sauce: In the same skillet, melt butter. Sauté minced garlic for 30 seconds. Deglaze with chicken broth. Stir in heavy cream and the ranch seasoning mix. Bring to a simmer.
5. Combine: Reduce heat to low. Stir in Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth. Return chicken and bacon to the skillet. Add the drained pasta and toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water if needed to reach desired consistency.
6. Serve: Top with shredded cheddar cheese and fresh parsley. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 750kcalProtein: 35gFat: 45gFiber: 3g

Notes

Use Freshly Grated Cheese: For the smoothest sauce, avoid pre-shredded cheeses which can contain anti-caking agents.
Reserve Pasta Water: Don't forget to save some starchy pasta water! It's the key to adjusting your sauce to the perfect consistency.

Keyword 30 minute meal,chicken bacon ranch pasta,creamy pasta

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!

Pin Recipe