This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is the ultimate comfort food. Creamy, rich, and savory, it makes a delicious dinner that the whole family will enjoy.
For some more pasta inspiration, try our creamy Tuscan chicken pasta with this scrumptious garlic cheese bread.
Chicken bacon ranch pasta
Pasta is such a crowd-pleaser and this Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is the ultimate. Savory bacon, cheesy sauce, and bite-sized noodles, you’ll love the tasty flavors and creamy texture of this pasta dish. Enjoy it for dinner or as a hearty lunch. It’s also versatile so you can make it to your preference and even prep it ahead of time. The entire family is going to love this amazing pasta! And if you love creamy chicken pastas, you should definitely try these chicken alfredo lasagna and creamy chicken scampi (Olive Garden copycat) recipes, too.
Ingredients for this recipe
Main ingredients- Rotini pasta, bacon, rotisserie chicken, and garlic.
Sauce ingredients- Heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, medium cheddar cheese, ranch seasoning mix, and salt. If you prefer to make your own seasoning you can find a recipe for it here.
Time-saving tips
- Partially freeze the bacon- To save time, freeze the bacon part-way so that it is stiff enough to cut easily. This will also keep the pieces a uniform size for more even cooking.
- Prep the bacon- Cut the bacon in advance so you have it ready to go instead of needing to freeze and cut it when you’re ready to cook.
- Use a rotisserie chicken- Instead of cooking your own chicken, use a rotisserie chicken. It not only has a great flavor, but will save you lots of time.
How to make chicken bacon pasta
- Cook the bacon. Chop the bacon into small pieces and cook them in a skillet over medium-high heat until crisp.
- Add the chicken and garlic. To the skillet, add the cooked chicken and minced garlic, and stir for about 1 minute.
- Add the heavy cream. Pour the heavy cream in and bring it to a simmer.
- Mix in the cheeses and seasoning. Add the ranch seasoning, salt, Parmesan, mozzarella, and cheddar cheese to the skillet and stir.
- Cook the pasta. Cook the pasta and add it to the sauce. Mix everything together with a wooden spoon.
- Serve. Serve as is or add some more mozzarella on top and broil it in the oven for a few minutes until it’s melted and slightly browned.
Other delicious pasta recipes to try
Substitutions and additions
- Substitute the chicken for turkey- With similar flavor profiles, you can sub with turkey if you have no chicken on hand.
- Make it lighter with half & half- If you want to cut down on some of the calories and fat for a lighter version, use half & half in place of the heavy cream. Even with this substitution, your chicken bacon pasta will still be creamy.
- Add in vegetables- Make this a well-rounded meal by adding in some of your favorite vegetables, like broccoli, spinach, or asparagus.
- Make it spicy- Adding some spicy buffalo sauce to the chicken or a dash of cayenne pepper can make this delicious meal even better with some heat.
How long will it keep?
You can store this Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta in the refrigerator for about 3-5 days in an airtight container. To reheat it, just place it in the microwave for a few minutes, or in a skillet with a touch of cream to reincorporate the sauce.
Serving Suggestions
To make this pasta dish into a complete meal you will love enjoying it with our spinach strawberry salad along with homemade rustic bread and our restaurant-style bread dipping oil. And why not serve some chocolate cheesecake bars or a decadent berry chantilly cake for dessert too?
Watch How to Make it HERE
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 slices bacon
- 1 lb rotini pasta (or any other bite size pasta)
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 3 cups cooked rotisserie chicken
- 4 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded medium cheddar
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 Tbsp ranch seasoning mix
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
Cook the bacon bits and chicken
- Chop the bacon into small pieces. Then cook them in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once they’re cooked to a crisp, add in cooked shredded chicken and minced garlic. Stir for about 1 minute.
Make the sauce
- Now pour in the heavy cream and let it come to a simmer.
- Then add the ranch seasoning, salt, Parmesan, mozzarella, and cheddar cheese.
Add the cooked pasta
- Cook the pasta according to the package and add it to the sauce. Using a wooden spoon combine everything together.
- You can serve it as is or add some extra mozzarella cheese on top. Then broil it in the oven for a few minutes. Just make sure that your skillet is oven safe.
Notes
- Partially freeze the bacon- To save time, freeze the bacon part-way so that it is stiff enough to cut easily. This will also keep the pieces a uniform size for more even cooking.
- Prep the bacon- Cut the bacon in advance so you have it ready to go instead of needing to freeze and cut it when you're ready to cook.
- Use a rotisserie chicken- Instead of cooking your own chicken, use a rotisserie chicken. It not only has a great flavor, but will save you lots of time.
Nutrition
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