Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta.’

Ready in just 30 minutes, this super-easy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta recipe is the perfect dinner. Made with tender rotini pasta, crispy bacon pieces, juicy chicken, and a creamy ranch-flavored cheese sauce. 

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Quick dinner recipes like this pasta dinner are perfect for busy weeknights. If you enjoy this Chicken Pasta dinner recipe and love how fast you can get it on the table, you’re going to love my Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta. 

Why this chicken bacon Ranch pasta works

Using rotisserie chicken or other leftover chicken from my Slow Cooker Garlic Whole Chicken is a cheap way to make this easy dinner, plus it helps cut down on food waste. That’s always a winner in my kitchen! You can’t go wrong with anything that is chicken, bacon, and ranch-flavored. Add in some comforting pasta and cream sauce and you have the ultimate comfort food like this Chicken Cobbler Casserole. 

Ingredients needed

• Bacon: Regular-cut or thick-cut bacon can be used. Leftover cooked bacon or precooked bacon bits will work. 
• Pasta: I used Rotini, but this could be swapped out for other similar pasta like penne pasta or rigatoni.
• Onion: I used a sweet onion.
• Herbs and spices: Minced garlic cloves, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes (optional), and dry ranch seasoning.
• Dairy: Butter, half n half, cream cheese,
• Cheese: Shred your own cheddar cheese (either mild or sharp cheddar cheese would work nicely)
• Flour: All-purpose flour
• Chicken: Diced rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken would work as well. 

How to make chicken bacon ranch pasta

• Step 1: In a large skillet, add the diced bacon and cook until crispy. Remove cooked bacon and set aside to let drain on paper towels.  
• Step 2: Remove all but a few Tablespoons of bacon grease from the skillet. Melt the butter and add in diced onion and garlic. Cook until onion is soft and garlic is fragrant. Whisk in flour. Carefully pour in the milk and whisk to create a smooth sauce. 

• Step 3: Bring to a simmer and then reduce the heat before adding in the cubed cream cheese. Stir often to prevent sticking or burning. 
• Step 4: Stir in dry ranch dressing mix, salt, and pepper. 

• Step 5: Add half the shredded cheese and whisk until sauce is smooth. Cook pasta al dente according to package instructions, if you haven’t already. 
• Step 6: Add rest of the cheese, cooked pasta, bacon, and cooked chicken to the skillet. Toss to combine everything and finish melting the cheese. Garnish with optional red pepper flakes. Serve and enjoy.

Recipe Tips

• Next time you make this easy recipe, serve it with some homemade Ciabatta Garlic Bread and your favorite side salad to round it out. 
• Whole milk helps give the creaminess to the creamy cheese sauce along with the cream cheese, but if you need to use a different milk option you can. Although, I would avoid skim milk as it’s too watery. 
• If your sauce is too thick, add a small cup of pasta water to the sauce to thin it a bit if you don’t want to use more milk. 
• Instead of cheddar cheese, try mozzarella cheese.