Description
Creamy Crack Chicken Pasta is a comforting and flavorful dish that combines tender chicken, crispy bacon, and a creamy ranch-infused cheese sauce with penne pasta. Easy to prepare and better than takeout, this one-pot meal is perfect for a cozy dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins
- 1 lb Chicken Breast, cut into bite-sized chunks
- 6 oz Bacon (can use turkey bacon)
Pasta & Grains
- 8 oz Penne Pasta (can swap for any short pasta)
Dairy
- 8 oz Cream Cheese (can substitute Neufchâtel or Greek yogurt)
- 1 cup Cheddar Cheese (can blend in white cheddar)
Liquids & Broth
- 2 cups Chicken Broth (homemade or store-bought)
Seasonings & Herbs
- 1 pkg Ranch Seasoning (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder (fresh minced garlic can be used)
- 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley (can use dried if fresh is unavailable)
Instructions
- Cook the Bacon: In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the diced bacon over medium-high heat for 8–10 minutes until it’s crispy.
- Cook the Chicken: Add the bite-sized chicken breast chunks to the same pot with the bacon. Cook for about 3–4 minutes until mostly cooked through.
- Season the Chicken: Sprinkle the ranch seasoning and garlic powder over the chicken, stirring well to coat. Cook for an additional 1–2 minutes to let the flavors meld.
- Add Pasta and Broth: Stir in the penne pasta followed by pouring in the chicken broth. Bring everything to a boil for 2–3 minutes to slightly soften the pasta.
- Simmer the Pasta: Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let everything simmer for 15–20 minutes, stirring every 4–5 minutes until the pasta is tender and most of the broth is absorbed.
- Create the Creamy Sauce: Add the cream cheese in cubes and stir continuously until it melts and forms a creamy sauce. Then mix in the crispy bacon and cheddar cheese until fully combined.
- Melt Additional Cheese: Top the pasta with extra cheddar cheese and heat on low or use the broiler for a short time until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the dish and serve warm for a hearty, comforting meal.
Notes
- You can substitute penne pasta with any short pasta like rotini or rigatoni.
- For a lighter option, use Neufchâtel or Greek yogurt instead of cream cheese.
- Home-made ranch seasoning can be used to control salt content.
- To make it spicier, add red pepper flakes when seasoning the chicken.
- Frozen parsley can be used if fresh is unavailable.
- Make sure to stir frequently during simmering to prevent pasta from sticking to the pot.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Creamy Crack Chicken Pasta, easy chicken pasta recipe, bacon ranch pasta, comfort food, one pot pasta
