Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340g) of pasta (penne, fusilli, or your favorite shape) https://spoonfuse.com/tag/pasta/
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced https://spoonfuse.com/tag/chicken/
- 6 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 cup of ranch dressing or homemade ranch sauce
- 1 cup of shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
- 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced chicken, season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, and cook until browned and cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, cook the bacon slices until crispy. Remove and crumble once cooled. For added flavor, retain some bacon fat in the skillet.
- In a bowl, mix ranch dressing with shredded cheese and grated Parmesan. You can add a splash of milk if you prefer a thinner sauce. Set aside.
- In the skillet with bacon fat, add minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds. Return cooked chicken to the skillet. Pour the ranch cheese sauce over the chicken and stir until well combined. Add cooked pasta and toss to coat evenly. Heat through for 2-3 minutes until hot.
Notes
- Use freshly grated cheese for the best flavor and melting quality.
- Adjust the ranch sauce amount to your taste for creaminess.
- For a healthier twist, swap out regular pasta for whole grain or veggie-based options.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Contain Dairy
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approx. 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 650 kcal Kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 58 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 125 mg