Comforting Crack Chicken Pasta (Print View)
Creamy pasta with chicken, bacon, and ranch flavors for cozy dinners.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta & Chicken
01 - 12 oz penne or rotini pasta
02 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
03 - 5 slices bacon, chopped
→ Sauce
04 - 1 tbsp unsalted butter
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
07 - 3/4 cup chicken broth
08 - 1 cup heavy cream
09 - 1 oz ranch seasoning mix
→ Cheese
10 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
11 - 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
→ To Finish
12 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
13 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How To Make It:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped bacon and cook until crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels, leaving approximately 1 tablespoon of bacon drippings in the skillet.
03 - Add butter to the bacon drippings in the skillet. Once melted, add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
04 - Reduce heat to medium-low. Add softened cream cheese to the skillet and stir until melted and smooth. Pour in chicken broth, heavy cream, and ranch seasoning packet. Whisk continuously until fully combined and sauce begins to thicken, about 3-4 minutes.
05 - Stir in shredded cheddar and grated parmesan cheese. Continue stirring until completely melted and sauce is velvety and thickened.
06 - Add cooked chicken and half of the crispy bacon to the sauce. Stir gently to coat evenly and heat through, about 2-3 minutes.
07 - Add the drained pasta to the skillet. Toss thoroughly until every piece of pasta is evenly coated with the creamy sauce.
08 - Divide pasta among serving plates. Top evenly with remaining crispy bacon, sliced green onions, and freshly ground black pepper. Serve immediately while hot.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- Everything comes together in one skillet, meaning less cleanup and more time eating
- The ranch and bacon create this addictive flavor that makes everyone ask for seconds
02 -
- Keep the heat low once you add the cream cheese or it might separate and get grainy
- The sauce thickens quickly as it cools, so dont panic if it looks thin at first
03 -
- Reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining, it can rescue a sauce thats too thick
- Grating your own cheese instead of buying pre-shredded makes it melt way smoother