Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 1 pound rotini pasta
For the Chicken and Bacon
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 12 ounces bacon, diced
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 1 packet ranch seasoning mix, divided
For the Creamy Ranch Sauce
- 1 tablespoon garlic paste
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
For Garnish
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water, then set aside.
⏱️ 12 min
- 2
While the pasta cooks, place the diced bacon in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until crispy. Using a slotted spoon, remove the crispy bacon bits and transfer them to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Leave about 1 to 2 tablespoons of the rendered bacon fat in the skillet; discard any excess.
⏱️ 10 min
- 3
Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, combine 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, 1 teaspoon of dried oregano, 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of black pepper, and half of the ranch seasoning mix packet. Season the chicken breasts generously on both sides with this spice blend.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Increase the heat of the skillet with the reserved bacon fat to medium-high. Add the seasoned chicken breasts and sear for 5 to 7 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F). Remove the chicken from the skillet and let it rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes. Once rested, chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
⏱️ 15 min
- 5
Reduce the heat in the same skillet to medium-low. Add the garlic paste and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Stir in the remaining 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, 1 teaspoon of dried oregano, 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of black pepper, and the remaining half of the ranch seasoning mix packet.
⏱️ 3 min
- 6
Pour in the heavy cream and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese. Continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 7 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water.
⏱️ 7 min
- 7
Add the cooked rotini pasta, chopped chicken, and most of the crispy bacon bits (reserve a few for garnish) to the skillet with the sauce. Toss everything together until the pasta and chicken are well coated.
⏱️ 2 min
- 8
Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the pasta. Cover the skillet with a lid and let it sit for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the mozzarella cheese is melted and bubbly.
⏱️ 3 min
- 9
Garnish with the reserved crispy bacon bits and fresh chopped parsley before serving hot. Enjoy your Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta!
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 1 pound rotini pasta
For the Chicken and Bacon
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 12 ounces bacon, diced
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 1 packet ranch seasoning mix, divided
For the Creamy Ranch Sauce
- 1 tablespoon garlic paste
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
For Garnish
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water, then set aside.
⏱️ 12 min - 2
While the pasta cooks, place the diced bacon in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until crispy. Using a slotted spoon, remove the crispy bacon bits and transfer them to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Leave about 1 to 2 tablespoons of the rendered bacon fat in the skillet; discard any excess.
⏱️ 10 min - 3
Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, combine 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, 1 teaspoon of dried oregano, 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of black pepper, and half of the ranch seasoning mix packet. Season the chicken breasts generously on both sides with this spice blend.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Increase the heat of the skillet with the reserved bacon fat to medium-high. Add the seasoned chicken breasts and sear for 5 to 7 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F). Remove the chicken from the skillet and let it rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes. Once rested, chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
⏱️ 15 min - 5
Reduce the heat in the same skillet to medium-low. Add the garlic paste and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Stir in the remaining 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, 1 teaspoon of dried oregano, 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of black pepper, and the remaining half of the ranch seasoning mix packet.
⏱️ 3 min - 6
Pour in the heavy cream and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese. Continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 7 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water.
⏱️ 7 min - 7
Add the cooked rotini pasta, chopped chicken, and most of the crispy bacon bits (reserve a few for garnish) to the skillet with the sauce. Toss everything together until the pasta and chicken are well coated.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the pasta. Cover the skillet with a lid and let it sit for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the mozzarella cheese is melted and bubbly.
⏱️ 3 min - 9
Garnish with the reserved crispy bacon bits and fresh chopped parsley before serving hot. Enjoy your Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta!
⏱️ 1 min