Sweet and Creamy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
Sweet and Creamy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken, crispy smoky bacon, and a rich creamy ranch sauce tossed with perfectly cooked pasta. Ideal for a quick weeknight dinner or an impressive yet easy meal, it balances savory and tangy flavors with indulgent creaminess and satisfying textures.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free (when using gluten-free pasta)
Ingredients
Scale
Protein
- 1 lb chicken breast or thighs, diced
- 6–8 strips bacon
Pasta
- 12 oz pasta (penne, rotini, or fusilli recommended)
Sauce & Seasoning
- 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning mix
- 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 tablespoons butter
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the bacon: Fry the bacon strips in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove from the pan and place on paper towels to drain excess grease. Once cooled, crumble the bacon and set aside.
- Prepare the pasta: Cook the pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving a small cup of pasta water, and set the pasta aside.
- Cook the chicken: In the same skillet used for bacon, add the diced chicken seasoned lightly with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Cook over medium heat for 6-8 minutes until fully cooked and lightly browned.
- Make the creamy ranch sauce: Reduce heat to low and add butter to the skillet with the chicken. Once melted, stir in ranch seasoning and heavy cream. Whisk continuously until the sauce thickens slightly. Add Parmesan cheese and a splash of reserved pasta water to achieve desired sauce consistency.
- Combine and serve: Return the cooked pasta and crumbled bacon to the skillet. Gently toss everything together until well coated in the creamy ranch sauce. Serve hot, optionally garnished with fresh herbs like parsley or chives.
Notes
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for better melting and richer flavor.
- Cook pasta al dente to maintain perfect texture and avoid mushiness on reheating.
- Reserve pasta water to help loosen the sauce without diluting flavors.
- Cut chicken into uniform pieces for even cooking.
- Adjust creaminess by adding more heavy cream or Parmesan cheese to your preference.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
Keywords: chicken bacon ranch pasta, creamy chicken pasta, bacon pasta, ranch seasoning pasta, quick dinner, comfort food