Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is creamy and cheesy with pieces of shredded rotisserie chicken and salty thick-cut bacon. A quick and easy flavored-packed, one-pot dinner the whole family will love!
Servings: 6 people
Ingredients
- 1 pound dry short pasta (Campanelle is pictured)
- 3 teaspoons olive oil
- 6 strips thick-cut bacon , diced small
- 3 tablespoons reserved bacon grease
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 packet ranch seasoning
- 2 ounces cream cheese , cubed
- 1 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
- 2 cups heaping cups shredded rotisserie chicken breast
- salt and pepper , to taste
- Additional cheese and crumbled bacon , for serving
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining pasta, then drizzle with the olive oil and toss to coat, to prevent sticking. Set aside.
- In the same pot, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy, about 6 minutes. Drain bacon on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Reserve 3 tablespoons of the bacon grease in the pot. Over medium heat, add garlic and sauté for 20 seconds until fragrant. Add flour and stir 1-2 minutes until no white patches remain, reducing heat if it begins to brown. Slowly whisk in the milk a little at time to incorporate and then bring to a boil. Boil for 2-3 minutes until thick.
- Remove pot from the heat. Whisk in Monterey Jack cheese, ranch seasoning, and the cream cheese until melted and smooth.
- Add cooked pasta, shredded chicken, and most of the cooked bacon (reserving some for garnish), stir to incorporate. Place back on low heat for a couple minutes to re-warm pasta, adding a splash of the reserved pasta water to thin it out, if needed.
- Taste for seasoning, adding salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately with more cheese and crumbled bacon. The sauce will thicken pretty fast as it stands.
Nutrition
Calories: 675kcal · Carbohydrates: 66g · Protein: 38g · Fat: 28g · Saturated Fat: 12g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g · Monounsaturated Fat: 10g · Trans Fat: 0.02g · Cholesterol: 104mg · Sodium: 438mg · Potassium: 702mg · Fiber: 3g · Sugar: 8g · Vitamin A: 495IU · Vitamin C: 1mg · Calcium: 321mg · Iron: 2mg