When you're searching for the ultimate comfort food that brings the whole family running to the dinner table, this Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta delivers exactly what your heart craves. This creamy, indulgent pasta dish combines tender chicken, crispy bacon, and that beloved ranch flavor we all secretly obsess over.
You'll find everything from simple weeknight dinner solutions to satisfying pasta recipes that actually fill everyone up. Trust me, this one's going to become your new go-to when you need dinner magic in under 30 minutes.
Why You'll Love This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta hits every single comfort food note perfectly, and honestly, it's become my family's most requested dinner. The creamy ranch sauce clings to every piece of pasta while the bacon adds that smoky crunch we all crave.
It's incredibly versatile too - you can make it as a warm pasta bake for cozy nights or serve it cold as a ranch pasta salad for summer gatherings.
The best part? Everything comes together in one pot, which means less cleanup and more time enjoying this absolutely irresistible chicken pasta creation with your loved ones.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
- What You'll Need
- How to Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
- Aliana's Pro Tip
- Storage & Reheating Instructions
- What to Serve With Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
- Perfect Pairings
- FAQs About Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
- More Recipes You'll Love
- Related
- Pairing
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
- More DINNER
What You'll Need
These ingredients are probably sitting in your pantry right now, which makes this recipe perfect for those "what's for Dinner" moments. I love how this chicken and bacon pasta uses everyday staples to create something that tastes like it came from your favorite restaurant.
Main Ingredients
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Bacon
- Uncooked pasta
- Butter
- Flour
- Garlic
- Half and half
- Dry ranch dressing seasoning mix
- Cheddar cheese
- Salt
- Pepper
- Onion powder
- Italian seasoning
Optional Extras
Feel free to add some fresh chives for color, extra cheese if you're like my family and believe more cheese makes everything better, or even some diced tomatoes for freshness. Want perfect results? Use the measurements in the recipe card.
How to Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
Cook the Bacon
Start by cooking your bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until it's perfectly crispy. Remove the bacon and set it aside on paper towels, but keep about 2 tablespoons of that gorgeous bacon fat in the pan. This is where all the flavor magic begins for your chicken pasta.
Prepare the Chicken
Season your chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Using the same pan with the bacon fat, cook the chicken for about 6-7 minutes per side until it's golden brown and cooked through. Remove and let it rest before slicing into bite-sized pieces. The bacon fat gives the chicken an incredible smoky flavor that makes this dish special.
Boil the Pasta
While the chicken rests, get your pasta water boiling with plenty of salt. Cook your pasta according to package directions until al dente. Save about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining - this will help create the silkiest sauce for your bacon ranch pasta salad.
Why does my pasta sauce break sometimes? The key is controlling your heat and adding the dairy slowly. Too much heat will cause the cream to curdle, so keep it at a gentle simmer.
Make the Sauce
In the same pan, melt butter over medium heat and whisk in flour to create a roux. Cook for about 1 minute, then slowly add minced garlic. Gradually whisk in the half and half, followed by the ranch seasoning mix. Let it simmer until it thickens beautifully, then stir in the cheddar cheese until melted and smooth.
Combine Everything
Add the cooked pasta to your creamy ranch sauce, tossing everything together. Fold in the sliced chicken and most of the crispy bacon, saving some for garnish. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of that reserved pasta water. The result is a luscious, restaurant-quality crockpot chicken pasta that'll have everyone asking for seconds.
Aliana's Pro Tip
- Here's my secret for the creamiest, most flavorful chicken ranch pasta: don't throw away that bacon fat! I learned this trick from my grandmother, who never wasted a drop of flavor.
- That rendered bacon fat is liquid gold for cooking your chicken, and it infuses every bite with smoky richness.
- Also, always cook your roux (butter and flour mixture) for at least a full minute to eliminate any raw flour taste.
- When you're making the ranch sauce, add the half and half slowly while whisking constantly.
- This prevents lumps and creates that silky texture that makes this pasta dinner recipe absolutely irresistible.
- One more insider trick: if your sauce gets too thick, pasta water is your best friend.
- That starchy water binds everything together beautifully and creates the perfect consistency for coating every piece of pasta.
Storage & Reheating Instructions
Store your leftover Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container. When reheating, add a splash of milk or half and half to bring back that creamy texture, since cream sauces can thicken up overnight.
Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each one, or gently reheat on the stovetop over low heat. This recipe doesn't freeze well due to the dairy, so it's best enjoyed fresh or within a few days.
What to Serve With Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
This hearty pasta dish pairs beautifully with lighter sides that balance out all that creamy goodness. I always serve it with a crisp Caesar salad - the fresh romaine and tangy dressing cut through the richness perfectly. Roasted vegetables like broccoli, asparagus, or green beans add color and nutrition to your plate.
For summer gatherings, this works wonderfully as a chicken bacon ranch pasta salad when served cold alongside fresh fruit and crusty bread. The key is balancing the richness of this chicken pasta dish with something fresh and bright.
Perfect Pairings
Serve this Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta with a crisp garden salad, roasted Brussels sprouts, or steamed broccoli. My family's favorite combination includes warm dinner rolls and a simple cucumber salad. The fresh, crunchy vegetables complement the creamy pasta beautifully, and trust me, you'll want something to help cut through all that delicious richness.
FAQs About Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
What side goes with chicken bacon ranch pasta?
Serve Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta with a Caesar salad like we do at home, but roasted broccoli, asparagus, zucchini, or some green beans would also be perfect choices for balancing the richness.
Can you put bacon in pasta?
Yes, bacon can be added to pasta dishes to add a smoky, savory flavor and richness. It's a popular ingredient in pasta recipes, especially in dishes like spaghetti carbonara, bacon pasta with tomato sauce, or creamy bacon pasta.
How to make chicken and bacon pasta?
Cook bacon until crispy, season and cook chicken in the bacon fat, make a creamy ranch sauce with butter, flour, cream, and ranch seasoning, then combine everything with cooked pasta for the ultimate comfort food.
What sauce goes on chicken bacon ranch pizza?
For a chicken bacon ranch pizza, a garlic ranch sauce or a garlic oil base are the most common and flavorful choices. You can also use alfredo sauce, a hot honey BBQ sauce drizzle, or even a BBQ sauce.
More Recipes You'll Love
If you're craving more comfort food magic
Air Fryer Chicken Wings Recipe - crispy outside, juicy inside, always a crowd pleaser.
Blackened Chicken Alfredo Recipe brings serious flavor with perfectly spiced chicken and creamy sauce. For easy weeknight dinners,
Sheet Pan Fajitas Chicken delivers restaurant taste with minimal cleanup.
Want more family favorites? This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is creamy, satisfying, and always a hit with everyone at the table.
Tried this recipe? Tag me on Pinterest @AlianaRecipes - I'd love to see your twist on it!
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta:
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
Equipment
- 1 Large skillet or sauté pan For cooking bacon, chicken, and making the sauce
- 1 Large pot To boil pasta water and cook noodles
- 1 Whisk For making smooth ranch sauce without lumps
- 1 Wooden spoon To combine pasta with sauce and ingredients
Ingredients
- 12 slices bacon - Cook until crispy, save 2 tablespoon fat
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts - Cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 lb uncooked pasta - Penne or rotini work best
- 4 tablespoon butter - For making the roux
- 4 tablespoon all-purpose flour - Creates creamy sauce base
- 4 cloves garlic - Minced fresh for best flavor
- 2 cups half and half - Don't substitute with milk
- 1 packet dry ranch dressing seasoning mix - 1 oz packet, any brand
- 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese - Sharp cheddar preferred
- 1 teaspoon salt - To taste, adjust as needed
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper - Freshly ground is best
- 1 teaspoon onion powder - Adds depth to chicken seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning - For seasoning the chicken
Instructions
- Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crispy, about 8-10 minutes. Remove bacon and set aside on paper towels, but keep 2 tablespoons of bacon fat in the pan.
- Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, onion powder, and Italian seasoning. Cook chicken in the bacon fat for 6-7 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and let rest 5 minutes, then slice into bite-sized pieces.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining.
- In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute. Add minced garlic and cook 30 seconds. Gradually whisk in half and half, then ranch seasoning. Simmer until thickened, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in cheddar cheese until melted.
- Add cooked pasta to the sauce and toss to coat. Fold in sliced chicken and most of the bacon, reserving some for garnish. Add pasta water if needed for consistency. Serve immediately topped with remaining bacon.
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