Description

Crack Chicken Penne is a creamy, cheesy pasta dish featuring tender diced chicken, sharp cheddar cheese, and a flavorful ranch seasoning sauce. Perfect for a comforting weeknight meal, this recipe combines penne pasta with a rich and indulgent sauce made from cream cheese and chicken broth, finished with crisp turkey bacon and fresh green onions.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

8 ounces penne pasta

Protein

1 pound chicken breast, diced
Cooked turkey bacon, amount not specified (approx. 4-6 slices recommended)

Sauce

8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 packet ranch seasoning mix (about 1 ounce)
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Garnish and Seasoning

Chopped green onions, to taste
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
Oil for cooking (approx. 1-2 tablespoons)

Instructions

Cooking Pasta: Boil salted water in a large pot. Add penne and cook until slightly firm (al dente). Drain the pasta, reserving one cup of the pasta water for later use if needed.
Cooking Chicken: Using the same large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add the diced chicken breast in a single layer without crowding to allow browning. Lightly season with black pepper and cook until the chicken is browned and cooked through.
Adding Bacon: Stir in the cooked turkey bacon pieces into the pot with the chicken. Cook together until the bacon is crisp and well combined with the chicken.
Making the Sauce: Reduce the heat to low. Add the softened cream cheese, ranch seasoning packet, and chicken broth into the pot. Stir continuously until the cream cheese melts completely and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
Combining Ingredients: Add the drained penne pasta back to the pot. Gently stir to coat the pasta evenly with the creamy sauce mixture.
Finishing Touches: Sprinkle shredded sharp cheddar cheese over the pasta in the pot. Cover the pot and allow the cheese to melt, stirring once the cheese is melted through. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as desired.
Serving: Garnish the creamy crack chicken penne with chopped green onions. Serve the dish hot for best flavor and texture.

Notes

You can substitute rigatoni or ziti pasta if penne is unavailable.
Use low-sodium chicken broth to better control the salt content in the dish.
For a richer sauce, you can add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce if too thick.
Turkey bacon can be substituted with regular bacon, but cooking times may vary.
Adjust seasoning after adding bacon and ranch packet since they already contain salt.
This dish pairs well with a simple green salad or steamed vegetables for a balanced meal.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Pasta
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Crack Chicken Penne, creamy pasta, chicken pasta, ranch pasta, cheddar cheese pasta, easy weeknight dinner