Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is creamy, cheesy, loaded with juicy seasoned chicken, crispy bacon, and that tangy ranch flavor we all love. It’s the kind of easy, comforting dinner that makes everyone at the table happy.
This bacon chicken ranch pasta is perfect for those hectic weekdays when you’re short on time, but it’s also fancy enough to impress your friends and family on the weekend. It’s easy on the wallet, and trust me, everyone at the table, including the kids, is going to love it.
If you love no-fuss dinners that are picky-eater approved? Then you’ll also want to make this chicken bacon ranch pizza or this creamy chicken Alfredo pasta.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Family favorite: Even picky eaters go back for seconds (or thirds).
- Easy weeknight winner: Creamy bacon ranch chicken pasta comes together fast with simple pantry ingredients.
- Great for Meal Prep: Tastes just as good the next day, so it’s great for lunches!
Ingredients
- Chicken breasts: Boneless, skinless, and cut into bite-size pieces.
- Veggies: You will need a green bell pepper, green onions, and an onion. Yellow onions are my go-to for cooking.
- Seasonings: Garlic salt, black pepper, and a little kick of flavor from Slap Ya Mama seasoning.
- Ranch seasoning packet: This is the secret ingredient to get the best flavor in your creamy sauce.
- Bacon: Cooked crispy and crumbled.
- Milk and chicken broth: Thins out the sauce just enough to coat the pasta while keeping it creamy.
- Mayonnaise: Yep, mayo in pasta. Trust me, it adds such a tangy flavor to the sauce.
- Medium pasta shells: They are great for grabbing onto all that creamy goodness.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Make it spicy: Add a dash of cayenne or red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Use leftover chicken: Have leftover chicken or a rotisserie chicken on hand? Use that instead and skip cooking the chicken. Just be sure to still saute the vegetables until tender.
- Swap the pasta: Penne, rotini, and even elbow macaroni will work here. We’ve found that round shapes hold the sauce best.
- Add extra veggies: Stir in spinach, mushrooms, or cherry tomatoes for an extra boost.
For more chicken and ranch flavors without the bacon, try this chicken ranch bowtie pasta dish!
How To Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
You won’t believe how quickly this comes together, so grab a skillet and pot and let’s get cooking.
- Step 1: Boil the pasta. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions, then drain it and toss it back into the pot.
- Step 2: Cook the chicken and veggies. Cook the chicken, onions, peppers, and all your seasonings until the chicken is no longer pink.
- Step 3: Add the bacon and ranch. Sprinkle in the ranch mix, then toss in the bacon.
- Step 4: Make the sauce. Combine the milk, chicken broth, and mayonnaise. Toss the pasta in the sauce.
- Step 5: Garnish and serve. Garnish the dish with sliced green onions and serve.
Expert Tips
- Cut the chicken evenly: Smaller pieces cook quicker and stay juicy.
- Salt the water: Don’t forget to salt your pasta water; it’s your only chance to season the pasta.
- Stir the pasta right away: As soon as the pasta hits the boiling water, give it a good stir. This will prevent it from clumping up and allow it to cook all the way through.
- Cook the pasta to al dente: Taste the pasta a minute or two before the cooking time is up; you want it to have a little bite to it since it will continue to cook in the sauce.
- Don’t rinse your pasta: Once you’ve drained the pasta, don’t rinse it. The starch left on the pasta will help your sauce stick.
Storage Directions
- Storing: Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I don’t recommend freezing it because mayonnaise-based sauces don’t fare well in the freezer, and they’ll separate when thawed.
- Reheating: Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each. Or reheat on the stove in a skillet over medium heat for 5-8 minutes, or until warm all the way through. No matter the method, you can add a splash of milk if it’s looking a little thick.
Serving Suggestions
This creamy bacon ranch pasta is super versatile! Here’s how I love to serve it:
- Turn this chicken bacon pasta into a complete meal by serving it with a side salad or a fresh vegetable side dish such as this air fried asparagus.
- If you ask me, you can’t have pasta without a bread side dish, so whip up a batch of these jalapeno cheddar biscuits or homemade Olive Garden breadsticks.
- End your meal with a sweet treat, such as these peanut butter butterscotch chocolate crispies or sea salt caramel cookies.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely, mix all the ingredients, spread them in an even layer in a greased casserole dish, top with your favorite shredded cheese, and bake in a 350-degree oven until golden brown and bubbly.
Greek yogurt or sour cream can work in a pinch in this bacon ranch pasta, but mayonnaise provides the best taste and creamy texture.
Slap Ya Mama has a little kick to it, so adjust the amount to suit your preferred level of spice.
More Delicious Pasta Dishes
Here are a few more pasta recipes that are on the blog for you to check out.
And this Cheesy Hamburger Pasta from Great Grub, Delicious Treats is a family favorite you might enjoy as well
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Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breast, boneless, skinless, cut into small bite-size pieces
- 1 tbsp butter
- ½ onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp slap ya mama seasoning
- 1 packet Ranch seasoning
- 8 slices bacon, crispy, crumbled
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 16 oz medium pasta shells
- green onions, sliced, optional
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and return to pan.
- In a skillet or frying pan, over low/medium heat, melt butter, add chicken, seasonings, bell pepper and onions. Cook until chicken is no longer pink and veggies are tender.
- Sprinkle chicken with ranch seasoning and add bacon. Stir.
- Next, add milk, chicken broth and mayonnaise. Stir.
- Add chicken mixture to pot with pasta. Stir until combined. Serve hot.
- Optional: top with sliced green onions.
Notes
- Salt your pasta water: Don’t skip this part! It’s the only chance to give the pasta any flavor of its own.
- Al dente pasta: Check the package directions for the correct al dente cooking time. You don’t have mushy pasta.
- No rinsing, please: After draining, leave the pasta as is. The starch on it helps the sauce stick to the noodles.
