Description

Indulge in the creamy, flavorful delight of Crack Chicken Penne—a comforting one-pan pasta dish featuring tender chicken breasts seasoned with ranch, crispy bacon, and melted cheddar cheese, all enveloped in a luscious cream cheese sauce and garnished with fresh parsley. Perfect for a quick, satisfying dinner!

Ingredients

Scale

Protein and Dairy

6 slices thick-cut bacon
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
8 ounce cream cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Pasta and Seasoning

8 ounce penne pasta
1 packet ranch seasoning
3 cup low-sodium chicken broth

Other Ingredients

2 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup fresh parsley

Instructions

Cook the bacon: Heat a large skillet over medium heat, add the bacon slices and cook them until they are crispy. Once done, remove the bacon and set it aside, leaving the bacon fat in the skillet for added flavor.
Brown the chicken: Add the boneless, skinless chicken breasts to the skillet with the bacon fat. Sprinkle the packet of ranch seasoning evenly over the chicken. Cook the chicken, flipping as needed, until browned on both sides and partially cooked through.
Simmer with pasta: Stir the uncooked penne pasta into the skillet, then pour in the low-sodium chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente and most of the broth has been absorbed, allowing the flavors to meld.
Create the creamy sauce: Add the cream cheese to the skillet. Stir continuously until the cream cheese has melted completely and formed a smooth, creamy sauce coating the pasta and chicken.
Finish and garnish: Crumble the cooked bacon and add it to the skillet along with the shredded cheddar cheese. Stir until the cheese is fully melted and everything is well combined. Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the top as a bright garnish before serving.

Notes

For extra spice, add a pinch of red pepper flakes when browning the chicken.
If you prefer, substitute penne pasta with rotini or cavatappi.
To reduce fat, use reduced-fat cream cheese and cheddar cheese.
This dish can be made ahead and reheated, though fresh parsley garnish is best added just before serving.
Ensure the chicken is cooked through thoroughly by checking it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Crack Chicken Penne, creamy chicken pasta, ranch chicken pasta, bacon pasta recipe, quick dinner, one pan pasta