Creamy Crack Chicken Penne with Bacon and Ranch Flavor

Creamy chicken penne coats cooked pasta and chicken with ranch-seasoned cheese sauce and crisp bacon.

Ingredients

Measure the ingredients below before you begin. Optional additions are marked in the list.

• One pound of penne pasta
• 2 cups of shredded chicken that has been cooked
• 1 packet of ranch seasoning mix
• 8 ounces of cream cheese that has been softened
• 1 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 3/4 cup of cooked and chopped bacon
• 1/2 cup of chicken broth
• 1/2 cup of thick cream
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley for decoration

How to make it

1. Follow the package’s instructions for cooking the penne pasta. After it’s done, drain it and set it aside.

2. Put olive oil in a big skillet and turn the heat up to medium.

3. Put the diced onion and minced garlic in the skillet and cook them until they are clear.

4. Add the softened cream cheese and ranch seasoning mix to the skillet and turn the heat down to low.

5. Mix until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

6. Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream slowly, stirring all the time until the sauce is well mixed.

7. Add salt and pepper to taste.

8. Put the shredded chicken, half of the cooked bacon, and shredded cheddar cheese in the skillet.

9. Mix everything together until the cheese melts.

10. Mix the cooked penne with the creamy chicken mixture, making sure everything is well mixed.

11. Before serving, add the rest of the bacon and fresh parsley to the dish.

Tips and serving

Save a little pasta water if the sauce thickens; use fully cooked chicken and heat leftovers to 165°F (74°C).

For more ideas, try Easy Creamy Crack Chicken Casserole for Busy Weeknights or Quick and Cheesy Ground Turkey Pasta for Weeknight Dinners.