Save A creamy flavorful pasta dish featuring tender chicken crispy bacon and a homemade ranchinfused sauce tossed with penne. Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner.
The first time I made this ranch chicken and bacon penne my family couldn't stop raving about the silky sauce and savory bacon. It quickly became our goto dinner for busy evenings when we wanted something decadent and hearty.
Ingredients
- Chicken: 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 400 g) cut into bite sized pieces
- Bacon: 6 slices bacon chopped
- Penne pasta: 350 g penne pasta
- Onion: 1 small onion finely chopped
- Garlic: 2 cloves garlic minced
- Heavy cream: 200 ml heavy cream
- Whole milk: 120 ml whole milk
- Cream cheese: 60 g cream cheese softened
- Parmesan cheese: 70 g grated Parmesan cheese
- Dried parsley: 1 tsp dried parsley
- Dried dill: 1 tsp dried dill
- Dried chives: 1 tsp dried chives
- Garlic powder: ½ tsp garlic powder
- Onion powder: ½ tsp onion powder
- Salt: ½ tsp salt
- Ground black pepper: ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- Chopped fresh parsley (optional): 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Cook Pasta:
- Cook the penne pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water then drain and set aside.
- Cook Bacon:
- In a large skillet over medium heat cook the bacon until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Discard excess bacon fat leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan.
- Cook Chicken:
- Add the chicken pieces to the skillet. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Cook for 57 minutes until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics:
- In the same skillet add the chopped onion and cook for 2 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Make Sauce:
- Reduce heat to mediumlow. Add cream cheese heavy cream and milk stirring until smooth and combined.
- Add Ranch Seasoning & Cheese:
- Stir in the ranch seasoning (parsley dill chives garlic powder onion powder salt pepper) and half of the Parmesan cheese until sauce is creamy.
- Toss & Finish:
- Add cooked pasta chicken and bacon to the skillet. Toss to coat everything in the sauce adding reserved pasta water as needed to reach your desired consistency.
- Garnish & Serve:
- Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan and chopped parsley. Serve hot.
Save My kids love to help sprinkle fresh parsley over their plates and they always ask for seconds of this pasta. It's the perfect dish for a cozy night in with the family.
Serving Suggestions
Ranch chicken and bacon penne pairs wonderfully with a crisp green salad and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc for adults. Garlic bread is a tasty accompaniment.
Required Tools
You will need a large pot large skillet slotted spoon knife cutting board and measuring cups and spoons to prepare this recipe.
Nutritional Information
Each serving has approximately 690 calories 37 g fat 53 g carbohydrates and 34 g protein making this dish filling and satisfying.
Save This creamy pasta is sure to become a regular on your dinner menu—just serve hot and enjoy every cheesy ranchinfused bite.
Kitchen Tips & Answers
- → How do I achieve the perfect creamy sauce consistency?
Reserve some pasta cooking water before draining and add gradually to the sauce while tossing to achieve a smooth, creamy texture without thinning it out excessively.
- → Can I substitute bacon with another meat?
Yes, pancetta or smoked sausage can be used as alternatives to provide a similar smoky, savory flavor.
- → What type of cheese works best in the sauce?
Grated Parmesan adds a sharp, nutty flavor that complements the creamy base and enhances the overall richness.
- → How can I incorporate more vegetables into this dish?
Adding steamed broccoli, spinach, or peas during the final toss-in step boosts nutrition and freshness without altering the flavor balance.
- → What is the best way to cook the chicken pieces?
Cook bite-sized chicken pieces in the skillet over medium heat until golden and cooked through, seasoning lightly with salt and pepper for best results.