This chicken, bacon and ranch pasta casserole recipe is the creamy and delicious weeknight meal you have been craving! I can’t deny that I have been absolutely obsessed with pasta lately. I mean, can you blame me with dishes this low in points. My CHICKEN BACON RANCH PASTA is creamy, delicious and packs all the flavors. A rich cream sauce and bacon is really all you need in life. Try this dish out! You’ll be licking your plate clean!!
Chicken and bacon are two of my favorite things. Let's put these two together in this delicious pasta dish!
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- Cheddar Bacon Ranch Meatballs
- Baked Ranch Chicken with Bacon
- Buffalo Ranch Chicken Meatballs
Ingredients
Let's go over the ingredients to make a chicken bacon ranch pasta casserole!
- Penne pasta
- Chicken breast
- Ranch seasoning
- Bacon
- Onion
- Garlic
- Cream cheese
- Milk
Penne Pasta - Yes, really any pasta shape will work; however, I do prefer penne pasta for this recipe. Elbow noodles or bowties are also a fan favorite of mine.
Chicken Breast - Honestly, most of the time I do make this chicken bacon ranch casserole with boneless, skinless chicken breasts; however, lately I have been making this recipe with ground chicken breast. I have been loving the ground chicken instead of the diced chicken lately. But, you can also use any meat that you prefer.
Ranch Seasonings - Big tip here is to buy the entire jar of the ranch seasonings. I use it for so many recipes and to add flavor to just about anything. But, if you do not use it too often, a little packet will be fine.
More Suggestions and Substitutions
Bacon - Whether you use fully cooked bacon or not, please be sure to cook the bacon before adding it to the chicken ranch pasta casserole. I am a huge fan of fully cooked bacon; however, any bacon, including turkey bacon, is great here.
Onion and Garlic - You can buy pre-minced garlic; however, I love mincing my own with this mini food processor. You can also use that for the onion depending on how small you want the pieces.
Cream Cheese - I typically buy reduced fat cream cheese; however, any cream cheese will work fine here.
Milk - Personally, I use plain unsweetened almond milk for just about everything. However, you can use another type of milk. I love almond milk because it is light and lasts longer in the fridge. However, I know people do not prefer it or have allergies; therefore, pick your favorite milk. But, the specific milk does not matter too much.
How to Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
Cook pasta according to the package instructions. Reserve a little pasta water. Drain well and set aside. You can cook the pasta slightly al dente, as to not over cook it. Then, it may become mushy.
Dice the fully cooked bacon and set aside.
Heat a large pan, greased with cooking spray, over medium heat.
Add diced onion and cook until starting to turn translucent, about 3 minutes. Add in the minced garlic and cook for another minute, until fragrant.
Now, we will start cooking the chicken bacon ranch casserole.
Then, add the ground chicken (or diced chicken breast) into the pan and start breaking it up. Sprinkle on the seasonings and continue to breakup while cooking. Continue to break up and mix in the seasonings until the chicken is fully cooked.
Reduce heat to medium low. Add the cream cheese and start to melt it. As needed, start adding the milk and the ranch seasoning, stirring together. If needed, add in splashes of pasta water.
Add the pasta, diced bacon and cooked chicken into the sauce and toss to combine.
Recipe Variations
Honestly, most of the time I do make this with boneless, skinless chicken breast; however, lately I have been making this recipe with ground chicken breast. I have been loving the ground chicken instead of the diced chicken lately. But, you can also use any meat that you prefer.
Hidden Valley also sells a spicy Ranch seasonings packet, if you wish to spice things up.
How to Thicken Up the Sauce
To thicken up the sauce, add in some more cream cheese, shredded mozzarella cheese or grated parmesan cheese. However, do note that when the sauce cools down, it will thicken a little. Therefore, you do not want to over thicken it from the beginning.
Be sure to save some pasta water to thin out the sauce while making it extra creamy.
In order to thin out the sauce, add more milk, one tablespoon at a time.
What if I Can’t Find Ranch Seasoning?
If you cannot find Ranch seasonings, you can make your own ranch or use Italian seasonings to make this dish have a little different of a flavor combination.
What to Serve with Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
This recipe has your carb and your protein, although I do love this recipe with a nice piece of garlic bread. But, now you need your veggie. Grab a side salad or make one of my favorite vegetable recipes:
How Long will Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Last?
Typically, chicken will last in the fridge for 3-4 days, in an airtight container.
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Casserole Recipe
This chicken, bacon and ranch pasta casserole recipe is the creamy and delicious weeknight meal you have been craving! I can’t deny that I have been absolutely obsessed with pasta lately. I mean, can you blame me with dishes this low in points. My CHICKEN BACON RANCH PASTA is creamy, delicious and packs all the flavors. A rich cream sauce and bacon is really all you need in life. Try this dish out! You’ll be licking your plate clean!!
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 ounces penne pasta dry
- 16 ounces ground chicken breast or diced chicken breast
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 tablespoon Ranch seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- â…› teaspoon black pepper
- 4 slices fully cooked bacon
- â…› cup white onion diced
- 4 cloves minced garlic
Sauce
- 2 ounces â…“ less fat cream cheese
- â…“ cup plain, unsweetened almond milk
- 1.5 tablespoons Ranch seasoning for the sauce
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to the package instructions. Reserve a little pasta water. Drain well and set aside.Â
- Dice the fully cooked bacon and set aside.Â
- Heat a large pan, greased with cooking spray, over medium heat.Â
- Add diced onion and cook until starting to turn translucent, about 3 minutes. Add in the minced garlic and cook for another minute, until fragrant.Â
- Then, add the ground chicken (or diced chicken breast) into the pan and start breaking it up. Sprinkle on the seasonings and continue to breakup while cooking. Continue to break up and mix in the seasonings until the chicken is fully cooked.
- Reduce heat to medium low. Add the cream cheese and start to melt tit. As needed, start adding the milk and the ranch seasoning, stirring together. If needed, add in splashes of pasta water.
- Add the pasta, diced bacon, and cooked chicken into the sauce and toss to combine.
Nutrition
How many WW points is this now?! Click on the link and it will take you to the recipe I made within your own WW app. Your specific points will be calculated, and you can track that.
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