Comforting Crack Chicken Pasta (Printable Version)

Rich, creamy pasta featuring chicken, bacon, cheese, and ranch flavors—ready in 40 minutes for satisfying dinners.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta & Chicken

01 - 12 oz penne or rotini pasta
02 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
03 - 5 slices bacon, chopped

→ Sauce

04 - 1 tbsp unsalted butter
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
07 - 3/4 cup chicken broth
08 - 1 cup heavy cream
09 - 1 packet ranch seasoning mix (1 oz)

→ Cheese

10 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
11 - 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

→ To Finish

12 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
13 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped bacon and cook until crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels, reserving approximately 1 tbsp of bacon drippings in the skillet.
03 - Add butter to the reserved bacon fat in the skillet. Once melted, add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn.
04 - Reduce heat to medium-low. Add softened cream cheese and stir until melted and smooth. Pour in chicken broth, heavy cream, and ranch seasoning packet. Whisk continuously until fully incorporated and creamy, about 3-4 minutes.
05 - Gradually stir in shredded cheddar and grated parmesan cheese. Continue stirring until completely melted and sauce has thickened slightly, about 2 minutes.
06 - Add cooked chicken breast and half of the crispy bacon to the sauce. Stir gently to combine and heat through, about 2-3 minutes.
07 - Add the drained pasta to the skillet. Using tongs or a large spoon, toss thoroughly until every piece of pasta is evenly coated with the creamy sauce.
08 - Divide the pasta among four serving plates. Top evenly with remaining crispy bacon and sliced green onions. Finish with freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve immediately while warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sauce comes together in minutes but tastes like it simmered all afternoon
  • Leftovers actually get better, making it perfect for lazy tomorrow lunches
  • That crispy bacon on top creates the most satisfying crunch against creamy pasta
02 -
  • The sauce will look thin at first but thickens beautifully as it simmers and the cheese melts in
  • If you are making this ahead, undercook the pasta slightly so it does not turn to mush when reheating
03 -
  • Room temperature cream cheese incorporates so much faster than cold straight from the fridge
  • Grating your own cheese instead of buying pre-shredded makes a huge difference in how smoothly it melts

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