Creamy Chicken Ranch Pasta
Easy and delicious Bacon Ranch chicken ranch pasta recipe! This chicken ranch pasta will soon become a regular on your dinner table. It is creamy, cheesy, and packed with delicious flavors, not to mention the crispy bacon.
Ingredients
- ½ pound pasta I use penne pasta
- 1 pound chicken breast cubed to bitesize
- ½ pound bacon
- 1 cup half and half plus ½ cup of water or pasta water
- ½ cup onion finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves finely chopped
- ½ cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- ½ cup parmesan cheese shredded
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil sub with bacon fat
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 ½ Tablespoon ranch seasoning divided into 1 tablespoon and 1tsp
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- If you haven't already, cut the bacon into smaller pieces and cook it on medium-high heat until crispy. This will take approximately 8-10 minutes. Drain on a kitchen paper towel and set aside.
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted water according to package instructions or until al dente, and set aside 1 cup of pasta water before draining.½ pound pasta
- Add butter and olive oil (or bacon fat) to a skillet on medium-high heat.2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- Add chopped onion and saute for until soft, translucent and fragrant.½ cup onion
- Next, add the cubed chicken to the sauteed aromatics and season with black pepper and 1 tablespoon of ranch seasoning. Stir to combine and cook until the chicken is white. Now add the garlic, stir to combine, and cook for 30 seconds.1 pound chicken breast cubed to bitesize, 4 garlic cloves, 1 ½ Tablespoon ranch seasoning, black pepper to taste
- Pour the cooking cream into the skillet (with half a cup of water) and sprinkle in the remaining ranch seasoning, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, and the cooked bacon. Stir to combine and bring to a gentle simmer (2-3 minutes).½ pound bacon, 1 cup half and half, 1 ½ Tablespoon ranch seasoning, 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Add cheddar cheese and parmesan cheese to the sauce and stir until melted, creamy, and well combined. Let it cook for another 2-3 minutes on low heat. Stir to combine, check for salt, and adjust accordingly.½ cup sharp cheddar cheese, ½ cup parmesan cheese, Salt to taste
- Lastly, add the cooked pasta and stir to combine until each pasta is well coated in the creamy sauce. Add some of the reserved pasta water to thin out the sauce if need be or until your desired consistency is achieved. Serve immediately with more crispy bacon bits and garlic bread. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Calories: 874kcalCarbohydrates: 53gProtein: 49gFat: 51gSaturated Fat: 21gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 19gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 169mgSodium: 1272mgPotassium: 825mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1078IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 348mgIron: 2mg
Nutritional data: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients and brands you use. Under no circumstances will thedinnerbite.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.
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