Creamy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta – The Ultimate Comfort Food! Recipe

I recently prepared Creamy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta using tender chicken, crispy bacon, and garlic sautéed in butter. The mix of heavy cream, ranch dressing, and Parmesan cheese creates a rich flavor that upgrades classic pasta. Simple ingredients combine to offer a quick dinner that has become a favorite in my home.

I’ve recently been experimenting in the kitchen and came up with a recipe that is just killer. I’m talking about my Creamy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta – The Ultimate Comfort Food!

This dish combines tender chicken, crispy bacon, and a sauce made from heavy cream and ranch dressing. It starts with cooking 12 oz pasta like penne or rotini to perfection then tossing it with bite-sized chunks of chicken breasts seasoned with salt, pepper and garlic powder.

I love adding extra flavor with a couple cloves minced garlic, a bit of chopped onion, and a melt-in-your-mouth mix of Parmesan and cheddar cheeses. Topped off with crumbled bacon and a sprinkle of parsley if you feel fancy, your taste buds are in for a treat.

I promise you’ll have fun making it and the whole family will be asking for seconds come dinner time!

Why I Like this Recipe

I really love this recipe because the creamy ranch sauce makes every bite feel like a warm hug. I love how the tender chicken and crispy bacon mix together to create a perfect blend of flavors. I also appreciate that its a quick and easy meal to make on busy nights and that every bite of the pasta is covered in all that rich, flavorful sauce.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is one of those meals that makes me feel really satisfied. Its creamy sauce with heavy cream and cheeses combined with tender chicken and crispy bacon is simply irresistible. Even if i mess up a little sometimes, the recipe still comes out delicious. I like how the flavors all come together in one pan and how the pasta soaks up the amazing sauce. This dish is a perfect example of comfort food that is both simple and super tasty.

Ingredients

• Pasta: a robust carbohydrate that fuels your body and fills you up fast.
• Chicken: lean protein that makes the dish hearty and boosts muscle nutrition.
• Bacon: smoky and fatty, adding crunch and irresistible savory flavor each time.
• Heavy cream: rich and smooth, blending all the flavors into a decadent sauce.
• Ranch dressing: tangy and herby, it lightens the dish while upping the creaminess.
• Parmesan cheese: sharp and salty, deepening the umami kick every single bite.
• Cheddar cheese: melty, adding a comforting and gooey cheesy finish to everything.

Ingredient Quantities

• 12 oz pasta (like penne or rotini)
• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into cubes
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup ranch dressing
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• Optional: chopped parsley for garnish

How to Make this

1. Boil 12 oz of pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain it and set aside.

2. Season the cubed chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and 1 tsp garlic powder then cook them in a skillet until they are golden brown and mostly cooked through.

3. In the same skillet, melt 2 tbsp of butter. Add the 2 minced garlic cloves and 1/4 cup chopped onion, cooking until the onion is soft.

4. Pour in 1 cup of heavy cream and 1 cup of ranch dressing into the skillet. Let it come to a low simmer.

5. Stir in 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese and 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese until they are melted into the sauce.

6. Add the cooked chicken along with the 6 slices of bacon that have been crumbled.

7. Toss in the drained pasta and stir everything together really well.

8. Reduce the heat and let the pasta simmer in the sauce for a few minutes so that all the flavors mix nicely.

9. Taste the dish and adjust with more salt and pepper if needed.

10. Serve warm and, if you like, sprinkle some chopped parsley on top for garnish. Enjoy your ultimate comfort food!

Equipment Needed

1. Large pot for cooking the pasta in salted water
2. Colander to drain the pasta when its done
3. Skillet for browning the chicken and making the sauce
4. Cutting board for chopping the garlic and onion
5. Knife to cut the chicken and mince the garlic
6. Measuring cups and spoons for the heavy cream, ranch dressing, and seasonings
7. Grater to shred the cheddar and grate the Parmesan cheese
8. Spatula or wooden spoon for stirring all the ingredients together

FAQ

Creamy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta – The Ultimate Comfort Food! Recipe Substitutions and Variations

• Heavy cream: You can swap heavy cream with half-and-half if you want a lighter version, but the sauce might not be as rich.
• Ranch dressing: Instead of store-bought ranch, you can mix buttermilk with chopped herbs and a pinch of salt to create your own version.
• Parmesan cheese: If you dont have parmesan handy, asiago or pecorino romano work just as well in terms of flavor.
• Cheddar cheese: Monterey jack is a good substitute for cheddar if you want a similar melt and taste.
• Bacon: If you’re not into bacon, you might use turkey bacon or even a bit of smoked sausage to get that savory taste.

Pro Tips

1. When you’re cooking the chicken try not to crowd the pan so they brown nicely instead of steaming, this really gives the dish a richer flavor.
2. Be careful with the garlic and onions, let them cook slowly in the butter so they dont burn, cause burnt garlic can totally mess up the taste.
3. When you add the cream and ranch, keep it on a low simmer and dont let it boil too hard or the sauce might split and look curdled.
4. Crumbling the bacon when its still a bit warm helps mix the flavor better with the sauce so every bite gets a nice bacon kick.