This chicken bacon ranch pasta recipe is loaded with all our favorites—bacon, ranch, carbs, and cheese! If you love a creamy pasta and big, bold flavors, you’re going to want to add this to your menu soon.
Clichés usually exist because they’re true. Everyone loves ranch? Bacon makes everything better? Yep, they’re clichés, but you can’t exactly argue with them either. That’s why this chicken bacon ranch pasta is such a hit. It combines a creamy ranch sauce and savory bacon with weeknight favorites like pasta and chicken. Oh, and cheese too! (For a recipe with similar flavors, try this Crack Chicken Casserole.)
Why This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Is the Best
All the reasons you’ll flip for this recipe!
- So much flavor. Between the tangy, herbaceous ranch, irresistible bacon, cheddar cheese, and tender chicken, this pasta is mouthwateringly delicious.
- Quick and easy. This dish comes together in just 30 minutes, making it perfect for those busy weeknights when you don’t have much time (or energy) to cook.
- Kid-friendly comfort food. Kids will love this chicken bacon ranch pasta, and so will you. It checks all those comfort food boxes: carby, cheesy, and creamy!
What You’ll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.
- Homemade ranch seasoning mix – This is made with buttermilk powder, dried parsley and dill, garlic and onion powders, dried chives, salt, and pepper.
- Bacon – You can swap in turkey bacon if you’d like.
- Olive oil
- Chicken breasts – Skinless and boneless chicken breasts make prep super easy. You can swap in skinless boneless thighs if you prefer them.
- Salt and pepper
- Uncooked pasta – I like to use fusilli or penne, but other shapes would also work.
- Butter
- All-purpose flour
- Sharp cheddar cheese – Melty cheese takes this recipe over the top!
- Heavy cream – For a rich, creamy sauce. This is also labeled as heavy whipping cream.
How to Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
The full instructions for this chicken bacon ranch pasta can be printed from the recipe card below.
- Mix the ranch seasoning. Whisk all the ingredients in a small bowl.
- Cook the bacon. Crisp the bacon in a skillet set over medium-heat, then place it on a paper towel-lined plate. Once it’s cool, chop it into small pieces.
- Prepare the chicken. Drain off the grease from the bacon (if desired) and add olive oil to the skillet. Adjust the heat to medium-high and cook the chicken, seasoned with salt and pepper, for 3 to 4 minutes per side.
- Cook the pasta. Follow the package instructions and cook the pasta in salted water until it’s al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Make the sauce. Melt the butter in the skillet and add the flour. Whisk in the cream and pasta water. Once this comes to a gentle boil, stir in the ranch seasoning, followed by the cheese.
- Finish. Stir the pasta into the sauce, then serve with the crumbled bacon on top.
Tips for Success
Here are some additional pointers for perfect pasta.
- Cook the chicken in the bacon fat. You don't have to, but if you do, it will infuse the chicken with bacon flavor.
- Don't overcook the pasta. Make sure to cook it al dente, which means slightly firm to the bite. This will ensure that your pasta doesn't become mushy when mixed with the sauce.
- Use freshly grated cheese. Pre-shredded cheese often has added ingredients like potato starch or cellulose to keep it from clumping in the package, but this can also affect its ability to melt smoothly.
Serving Suggestions
Add a simple vegetable side like a green salad or Roasted Butternut Squash to round out the meal, or mix thawed frozen peas or broccoli into the chicken bacon ranch pasta for a one-dish dinner.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
- Refrigerator: Store leftover chicken bacon ranch pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Because of the heavy cream in this recipe, I don’t recommend freezing it; it can separate after thawing.
- To reheat: You can reheat this pasta in the microwave or in a skillet on the stovetop, adding a splash of milk or cream if needed.
More Pasta Dinner Ideas
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
If you love creamy, cheesy pasta and big, bold flavors, you’re going to flip for this easy chicken bacon ranch pasta recipe!
Ingredients
For the homemade ranch seasoning mix:
- ¼ cup buttermilk powder
- 2 tablespoons dried parsley
- 1 tablespoon dried dill
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried chives
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
For the chicken and pasta:
- 4 strips bacon
- A splash of olive oil
- 2 small chicken breasts skinless and boneless
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 ¼ cup uncooked pasta like fusilli or penne
- 1 ½ tablespoon butter
- 1 ½ tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 ¼ cup sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 ½ tablespoon homemade ranch seasoning mix (from above)
Instructions
- Make the ranch seasoning: In a small bowl, mix all the ingredients for the homemade ranch seasoning. Set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add your bacon slices and cook until crispy. Remove the bacon and place it onto the paper towels to drain. Once cooled enough the handle, chop the bacon and set aside.
- Wipe the skillet from the bacon grease. Add a splash of olive oil and heat it over medium-high heat. Cut the chicken into thin slices. Season the chicken to taste with salt and pepper.
- Add the chicken to a heated skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes per side. Set the chicken aside and once the chicken is cold enough, cut it into desired-size pieces.
- Cook the pasta in a pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain the pasta and set aside. Reserve ¼ cup of the pasta water and set aside.
- Prepare the sauce: In the same skillet you used for the chicken, melt butter. Once the butter is melted, add flour. Cook the flour until fragrant and smells like popcorn.
- Carefully whisk in the cream and pasta water. Bring to a gentle boil.
- Stir in the prepared ranch seasoning mix. Gradually stir in the cheese.
- Once your cheese is incorporated and melted, add the cooked chicken and pasta. Stir gently to combine all.
- Serve pasta topped with crumbled bacon.
Notes
- You can use your bacon fat to cook the chicken in it. This will intensify the bacon flavor.
- I used sharp white cheddar for this recipe. You can use the mild one which has less tangy flavor. Besides white, you can use classic orange cheddar.
- For this recipe you can use chicken breast fillets or skinless and boneless chicken thighs.
- Always use freshly shredded cheese. Do not go with the pre-shredded version.
- Instead of plain bacon, you can use smoked bacon for a unique twist on this recipe.
Nutrition
Calories: 686kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 54g | Saturated Fat: 30g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 181mg | Sodium: 919mg | Potassium: 397mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1603IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 308mg | Iron: 1mg
