Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

Total Time Prep: 15 min. Cook: 25 min.
Yield 6 servings
Test Kitchen Approved
Shake up your tired spaghetti routine with this creamy, crunchy, tangy chicken bacon ranch pasta recipe. It comes together in minutes and is endlessly riffable so you can use whatever ingredients you have on hand.

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces uncooked cavatappi pasta
  • 1/2 pound bacon strips
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 1 package (1 ounce) ranch salad dressing mix
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 3 cups cubed cooked chicken breast
  • 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
  • 1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced, divided

Directions

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain; set aside.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add bacon; cook until crisp, 7-8 minutes; remove to a paper towel-lined plate. Let cool; crumble into small pieces.
  3. In the same skillet, pour off the excess bacon fat; add garlic. Cook one minute longer. Add cream, ranch seasoning, pepper, and cheddar cheese. Cook over low heat until cheddar cheese is fully melted, 2-3 minutes. Add in cooked pasta and chicken, cook until heated through, 10-12 minutes. Stir in bacon, tomatoes and half of the green onions. Garnish with remaining green onions.

Nutrition Facts

1-1/2 cups: 802 calories, 52g fat (27g saturated fat), 184mg cholesterol, 1509mg sodium, 42g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 41g protein.

My family loves pasta, but as much as we like it cooked and served with a traditional meat sauce, sometimes they enjoy it when I mix things up. Chicken has very little flavor on its own, but mixed with ranch and bacon, it's delicious! —Donna Gribbins, Shelbyville, Kentucky
Recipe Creator
Community Cook

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