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    Home » Chicken & Poultry » Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

    Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

    Published November 19, 2020 / Updated December 19, 2020 / 14 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my affiliate disclosure for more details.

    This chicken bacon ranch pasta is total comfort food! The creamy sauce is addictive, and it's ready in only 30 minutes.

    close-up of chicken bacon ranch pasta in a white bowl

    Chicken, bacon, and ranch is a well-loved combo, and I am happy to deliver another recipe with these flavors (you may also like my Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad). This recipe is perfect for busy weeknights and fussy eaters! 

    chicken bacon ranch pasta collage (crispy bacon in a skillet and Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning on a marble background)

    How to make chicken bacon ranch pasta

    This pasta dish is fairly straightforward. You start by frying the bacon, and once it's cooked you take it out of the skillet and fry the chicken in the remaining bacon fat (this makes it extra flavorful). You then take the chicken out of the pan and make the sauce by adding the cream cheese, ranch seasoning, and some chicken broth. It'll thicken up fairly quickly. Toss the sauce with the drained pasta (I like to stir in some bacon and keep the rest for garnishing each bowl). Dish it up and top each bowl with the chicken, and dinner is done. (Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below)

    seared chicken in a skillet

    Recipe notes & tips:

    • It's easy to overcook or undercook chicken when you're searing it in the pan, so I like to use an instant read meat thermometer so chicken is never overcooked (or undercooked). Chicken is safe to eat at 165F. 
    • This isn't the type of recipe that makes great leftovers. The sauce tends to dry out and can separate easily (especially if you're warming it up on high in a microwave). I recommend warming it up on a low heat. 
    • Can't find packaged ranch seasoning? You could try adding some bottled ranch dressing (I haven't tested this, but try a tablespoon or two to start with and add more if needed) or a homemade ranch seasoning. 
    • Use whatever shape of pasta you prefer, but I would say that the shorter shapes (penne etc.) are probably best for this particular recipe.

    You may also like my Easy Ranch Chicken, Homemade Ranch Dressing or these Bacon Ranch Mashed Potatoes.

    pasta being tossed with the creamy ranch sauce (in a skillet)

    What to serve with chicken bacon ranch pasta:

    Try a side salad (this recipe is quite decadent so something lighter goes well) or go all-out with some garlic bread. The portions for this recipe aren't huge, but it is filling. If you're not serving it with anything else and are feeding people with large appetites, I recommend keeping the chicken quantity the same but doubling the pasta and sauce. 

    You may also like:

    • Chicken Bacon Gnocchi Soup
    • Creamy Bacon Chicken
    • Chicken Bacon Spinach Pasta
    • Chicken Bacon Gnocchi

    chicken bacon ranch pasta in a white bowl

    Questions about this chicken bacon ranch pasta? Made this recipe? Let me know in the comments below. Tag me #saltandlavender on Instagram so I can see your creations!

    close-up of chicken bacon ranch pasta in a white bowl

    Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

     This chicken bacon ranch pasta is total comfort food! The creamy sauce is addictive, and it's ready in only 30 minutes.
    4.67 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 644 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    • 8 ounces uncooked pasta
    • 2 chicken breasts cut in half lengthwise
    • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
    • Salt & pepper to taste
    • 4 strips bacon cut into small pieces
    • 3/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
    • 8 ounces cream cheese (a block of Philly) softened
    • 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning
    • Freshly grated parmesan cheese optional, to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Boil a salted pot of water and cook the pasta al dente according to package directions. If you haven't had time to let the cream cheese soften on the counter prior to starting the recipe, microwave it for 20-30 seconds or until it's very soft.
    • Meanwhile, cut the bacon into small pieces (kitchen shears make the job easy), and cook it over medium-high heat until crispy. Once it's done, spoon the bacon onto a paper towel lined plate. Leave the bacon fat in the pan.
    • While the bacon is cooking, cut the chicken in half lengthwise so you've got 4 thinner pieces. Season the chicken with the garlic powder and some salt & pepper (but go easy on the salt since the ranch seasoning and bacon are fairly salty).
    • Add the chicken to the skillet and cook it in the remaining bacon grease for 5-6 minutes/side or until golden and cooked through. Transfer cooked chicken to a plate and keep warm (cover loosely with foil).
    • Add the chicken broth, cream cheese, and ranch seasoning to the skillet. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring until the cream cheese has melted in and the sauce thickens up a bit. Keep in mind that the sauce will thicken up quickly and thickens more after it cools a bit. You can always add a splash more chicken broth or hot pasta water if it gets too thick.
    • Meanwhile, cut the cooked chicken into strips.
    • Toss the drained pasta with the sauce (stir in some bacon and reserve some for topping each bowl if you want). Top each bowl with the cooked chicken and some freshly grated parmesan if desired.

    Notes

    • This recipe is quite rich, so I kept the portions fairly small. If you've got very hungry people to feed, I recommend either serving this with a side or keeping the chicken the same but doubling the sauce (and adding more pasta).
    • Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 644kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 38gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 149mgSodium: 757mgPotassium: 704mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 795IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 73mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword chicken bacon ranch pasta, ranch chicken bacon pasta
    Author Natasha Bull
    Previous Post: « Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta
    Next Post: Easy Chicken Taco Soup »

    Reader Interactions

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    1. Janice says

      April 11, 2021 at 6:16 PM

      Really really good. My husband is a professional chef so it’s hard to cook something for him he hasn’t had, but he gave this big complements!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 11, 2021 at 6:47 PM

        Fantastic!! That makes me happy 🙂

        Reply
    2. Zue307 says

      January 25, 2021 at 5:11 AM

      Made it for dinner now. Added a little bit if water to lessen the thickness. Something different with ranch dressing, apart from the normal creamy sauce. Thank you, Natasha.. ,

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 25, 2021 at 9:53 AM

        You're welcome!!

        Reply
    3. Nicole M. says

      January 14, 2021 at 8:09 PM

      5 stars
      Sooo good!!! I didn’t think it was overly rich but I did add a little bit of parmesan into the sauce before combining everything and they may have cut the richness. Thank you for another amazingly delicious recipe!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 15, 2021 at 10:04 AM

        I'm so glad you enjoyed it!! 🙂 Thanks for leaving me a review!

        Reply
    4. L says

      December 19, 2020 at 5:09 PM

      4 stars
      We found the sauce was a bit too rich, I think next time I’d cut the cream cheese by half. Otherwise, it was great!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 19, 2020 at 5:27 PM

        Yup, it's definitely pretty rich! I'm glad you liked it, though 🙂

        Reply
    5. Lauren says

      December 14, 2020 at 7:17 PM

      Do you think any kind of Ranch will do? I buy the Penzeys spices and they make their own Ranch mix.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 14, 2020 at 7:34 PM

        It's hard to say, but I think it's definitely worth a try. 🙂 Let me know!

        Reply
    6. Flo says

      December 5, 2020 at 1:10 PM

      This looks good but wowie, looking at the nutritional facts is SUPER unhealthy!!!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 5, 2020 at 1:45 PM

        I removed your 2-star rating since you didn't actually make the recipe. No, it's not healthy. But neither is going out for a burger, having a donut, or ordering pizza. Life is about balance. 🙂

        Reply
    7. Jeanne says

      November 25, 2020 at 8:23 PM

      5 stars
      This was so delicious!! Was given a thumbs up by all my dinner guests and I've passed on your Instagram to everyone! Thanks so much for your yummy and yet easy to prepare recipes.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 25, 2020 at 8:24 PM

        That makes me so happy, Jeanne! Thanks so much for taking the time to review the recipe. And I really appreciate you sharing my Instagram! 🙂

        Reply

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    Hi! I'm Natasha. Salt & Lavender is a recipe blog with a focus on delicious comfort food using everyday ingredients. Beat the weekday grind with hundreds of easy-to-follow and hassle-free recipes!  Read more...

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