Description
Creamy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta combines juicy chicken, crispy bacon, and a rich, ranch-flavored cheese sauce tossed with tender rotini pasta. It’s the ultimate one-pan comfort meal for family dinners.
Ingredients
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
6 strips thick-cut bacon (or turkey bacon)
2 cups rotini pasta
2 cups half and half
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
2 tbsp ranch seasoning mix
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 garlic clove, minced
Salt, pepper, onion powder, and Italian seasoning to taste
Instructions
1. Cook bacon slowly in a skillet over low heat until crisp. Reserve 2 tbsp bacon fat.
2. Season chicken with salt, pepper, onion powder, and Italian seasoning. Sear in the bacon fat until golden and cooked through. Rest and cube.
3. Cook rotini pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain but do not rinse.
4. Melt butter in the same skillet. Add garlic and sauté 30 seconds. Stir in flour and whisk 1 minute to form a roux.
5. Gradually whisk in cold half and half until smooth and thickened.
6. Stir in ranch seasoning and shredded cheddar cheese until creamy.
7. Add cooked pasta and cubed chicken. Toss gently to coat.
8. Top with crumbled bacon and garnish with herbs if desired.
Notes
For a pork-free version, use turkey bacon or mushroom bacon.
To reheat, warm gently on the stovetop with a splash of milk or broth.
For extra spice, add a tablespoon of buffalo sauce or crushed red pepper.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop / Skillet
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (about 1 ½ cups)
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg