Cheesy Ranch Chicken Pasta is so addictive, you won’t be able to have just one plate! Moist shredded chicken is paired with thick-cut crispy pieces of bacon and a creamy and cheesy ranch mixture on a bed of penne noodles for an amazing finish! If you are looking for more pasta ideas, make sure to check out my cheeseburger pasta and my mushroom and swiss pasta!
Easy One-Pot Cheesy Ranch Chicken Pasta
OK, so I know by now I have already sold you on why you would want to make cheesy ranch chicken pasta, but I am going to go ahead and add another thing. It all cooks in one pot! Just one. If you are like me, this is an amazing discovery. My kids love it and it cleans up easy which means I am winning. There is a little bit of prep work to be done but if you do that, I am here to tell you the rest of your week will be a breeze too.
Can I Make This Ahead of Time?
Yes! Here are some ways to make prepping and assembly easier.
- Shredded Chicken: You can buy your chicken cooked and pre-shredded but I prefer to make it ahead. Use this easy shredded chicken recipe for perfectly cooked and moist chicken every single time.
- Bacon: You can also buy pre-cooked bacon at the store but again, there is nothing better than the taste and crunch of perfectly cooked and crispy bacon. I always bake mine in the oven. Start by lining a large baking dish with tin foil and lay out the individual pieces of bacon. Bake them in the oven at 415° F for 18-20 minutes. Cook times will vary based on your oven heat.
- Ranch Seasoning: Make your own homemade ranch seasoning mix if you don’t have any on hand.
How to Make Cheesy Ranch Chicken Pasta
- Start with a small to medium-sized bowl.
- Add the chicken and the dry ranch seasoning and stir to combine making sure to coat all of the chicken well.
- Move to the Dutch oven and set it over medium heat. Add the broth, the dry penne noodles, and the chicken mixture. Stir to combine and bring everything to a boil.
- Reduce the heat down to low and cover. Allow this mixture to simmer 15-20 minutes.
- Stir it occasionally to make sure it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. (There will still be liquid in the pan when the noodles are finished cooking.)
- Add in the cream cheese and stir until it has completely melted into the mixture.
- Remove from heat and add the bacon and the shredded cheddar cheese. Stir everything together until it has completely melted.
Garnish with parsley and serve! Yup, it’s just that easy.
How to Store Cheesy Chicken Ranch Pasta
Store leftover pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I like to add a bit of milk or cream to the dish before reheating.
More Dinner Recipes
Cheesy Ranch Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 cups shredded chicken, cooked
- 1 package (1 ounce) dry ranch seasoning mix*
- 8 ounces penne noodles, uncooked
- 3 ½ cups chicken broth
- 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 4 slices thick-cut bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- In a small bowl combine shredded chicken and dry ranch seasoning. (This is your chicken mixture.)
- To a large Dutch oven over medium heat, add the chicken broth, penne, and chicken mixture. Stir to combine and then bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and then cover and cook for about 15 to 20 minutes or until the pasta is cooked to your preference. There should still be some liquid in the pot when the pasta is done cooking.
- Add the cream cheese to the dutch oven and stir until most of the cream cheese has melted.
- Add the bacon and shredded cheddar cheese. Stir everything until cheese is fully melted.
- Garnish with parsley and serve.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.
I didn’t have any cooked chicken, so I boiled a large chicken breast in the broth for 10 minutes before adding the pasta and ranch seasoning and boiling for another 15 minutes. I used reduced sodium chicken broth, reduced sodium bacon, reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese, and Neufchatel or light cream cheese. At first it seemed too soupy, but as it sat it absorbed the extra liquid. It was a delicious meal and a keeper.
Made this with leftover roasted chicken. Hubby called dibs on leftovers for his lunch tomorrow. Winner winner chicken dinner lol.
What goes in a dry ranch mix?
We only have ranch salad dressing in Australia
Thank you
Hi, Alicia! I work with iambaker and am happy to help with questions. Here is a dry ranch seasoning mix recipe you could use. Have a wonderful day!
I loved this dish. I am handicapped and I love dishes when I don’t have to cook the pasta in a seperate pot. Also it was very easy to make. My boys love ranch and bacon.
Made this for dinner and it was fantastic. I used bacon crumbles from a bag rather than cook bacon. Husband and kids (7, 12 and 14) loved it as well so we all know that’s a win.
I wish that I would have read the comments! The ingredients need to be adjusted for my taste. As is, it’s extremely salty. Lots of salt in the ingredients. Next time, I will double the pasta, use no/low sodium broth, maybe add some milk or cream. The ranch packet will also be low sodium if can find it. The cheese, cream cheese, & bacon have enough salt. I like to taste the ingredients, not just salt. I will also try adding veggies as others have suggested.
Would egg noodles or elbow macaroni work as well
Yes. 🙂
I made this recipe for my family this evening. I have a picky eater and he approved. I did short cut with a store bought cooked chicken and bacon crumbles, but overall followed the recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Can you use with regular large pan don’t have Dutch oven?
Hi, Kelly! I work with iambaker and am happy to help with questions. Since the Cheesy Ranch Chicken Pasta does not go into the oven, any heavy bottom pot will do. Have a great day!
My daughter sent me the recipe with the request it was dinner. It really was delicious and so easy to put together. Made it early in the day and put it into a casserole dish to warm up later for dinner. Very pretty presentation too!