Comforting Crack Chicken Pasta (Printable Version)

Rich, creamy pasta featuring tender chicken, bacon, and melted cheese in a savory ranch sauce.

# Ingredient List:

→ Pasta & Chicken

01 - 12 ounces penne or rotini pasta
02 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
03 - 5 slices bacon, chopped

→ Sauce

04 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
07 - 3/4 cup chicken broth
08 - 1 cup heavy cream
09 - 1 packet 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

# Directions:

01 - Cook pasta in large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
02 - Heat large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped bacon and cook until crispy. Remove bacon and set aside, leaving about 1 tablespoon bacon fat in skillet.
03 - Add butter to skillet. Once melted, sauté garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant.
04 - Lower heat to medium-low. Stir in cream cheese until softened, then add chicken broth, heavy cream, and ranch seasoning. Whisk until smooth and creamy.
05 - Add cheddar and parmesan cheese, stirring until melted and sauce has thickened.
06 - Add cooked chicken and half the bacon to sauce. Stir to heat through.
07 - Add cooked pasta to sauce, tossing to coat evenly.
08 - Divide among plates. Top with remaining bacon, green onions, and black pepper. Serve warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 40 minutes but tastes like it simmered all day
  • The ranch cream sauce is ridiculously addictive and coats every perfectly
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully for tomorrow's lunch
02 -
  • Dont let the garlic brown or it'll turn bitter
  • Temper your cream cheese by letting it sit on the counter for 30 minutes
  • The sauce thickens as it stands, so don't panic if it looks thin at first
03 -
  • Cook your pasta one minute less than the package directions
  • Reserve some pasta water before draining in case you need to thin the sauce

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