This chicken bacon ranch pasta combines the bold flavor of bacon and ranch with the sensibilities of chicken alfredo to create a rich, creamy, and bold pasta dish that will leave everyone asking for the recipe.
If you've been reading Golden Grace Kitchen for any length of time, you know I love rich, creamy pasta dishes like this pasta with chicken and garlic. They're always so delicious, full of flavor, and everyone loves that creamy, cheesy texture.
I routinely serve dishes like my cream cheese shrimp pasta, steak pasta alfredo, and Marry Me shrimp pasta for dinner, and now I've added a new recipe to my rotation. This chicken pasta is loaded with smoky bacon and a touch of ranch flavor for the ultimate dinner.
For the ultimate comfort food meal, pair this creamy, zesty pasta dish with these blueberry lemon gluten free muffins for dessert. Their bright, sweet citrus and berry flavors work perfectly with the pasta!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: This recipe uses simple ingredients found in any kitchen or grocery store.
- Easy: Like almost all of my gluten free pasta recipes, this dish is very easy to make. It only takes about 30 minutes from start to finish.
- Big, Bold Flavor: Every bite of this pasta dish is full of tender chicken, smoky bacon, and creamy sauce with a touch of ranch flavor.
- Versatile: This is a great recipe for an easy family dinner or to bring to your next potluck.
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Ingredients
I use Springer Mountain Farms boneless skinless chicken breasts because they don't use antibiotics or hormones and never feed their chicken animal by-products.
See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts.
Flavor Variations
- Meat: The cheesy, ranch-infused sauce pairs well with chicken breasts or thighs, as well as beef and pork. I don't recommend seafood, as it may not complement the bold flavors in the sauce.
- Cheese: You can use any cheddar cheese you like. Any of your other favorite bold cheeses will work, as well.
- Pasta: Any short, textured noodle will work in this recipe.
- Spicy: Add red pepper flakes or cayenne for a spicy version.
How to Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
Step 1: Toss the chicken and seasonings in a bowl until evenly coated.
Step 2: Cook the bacon in a large skillet on medium-high heat until crispy. Remove the bacon. Then, cook the chicken in the grease until golden and cooked through. Remove the chicken.
Step 3: Lower the heat to medium and sauté the shallots, onions, and seasonings in butter until fragrant.
Step 4: Add flour and cook until smooth.
Step 5: Add heavy cream and chicken broth, cooking until the mixture begins to bubble slightly.
Step 6: Add the cheese and cook until the sauce thickens. Then, add the cooked chicken and pasta and gently stir to combine.
Expert Tips
- Be sure to season the chicken before beginning the recipe. This gives the seasonings time to permeate the meat.
- Cook the bacon on medium to medium-high heat. This is the sweet spot for bacon, producing crispy bacon without a burned flavor.
- Cook the chicken in the bacon grease for an extra kick of flavor.
- Be sure the pasta is cooked to al dente and no further. This prevents the pasta from breaking apart when it's stirred into the sauce.
- Dice the chicken into 1-inch cubes for even cooking and easy eating.
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta FAQ
Whether you're cooking whole breasts or diced chicken, the only way to ensure it's fully cooked is to use a meat thermometer. When the temperature registers 165 degrees, it's fully cooked.
Cook your bacon over medium to medium-high heat, turning it frequently. This temperature cooks the bacon to a crispy finish without burning it.
Pasta that breaks apart when mixed into a sauce is almost always the result of overcooking. Cook your pasta to al dente, not overcooked. This helps it withstand being mixed into the sauce.
📖 Recipe
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
Video
Ingredients
Chicken
- 6 slices bacon diced small
- 1 lb chicken breast boneless/skinless; diced small
- 1 ½ tablespoon ranch seasoning
- 1 ¼ teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon salt
Sauce
- 12 oz gluten free shells
- 3 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoon dry shallots
- 2 tablespoon minced onion
- 1 tbsp ranch seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder
- 2 tablespoon 1:1 gluten free flour
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup parmesan cheese
- ¾ cup cheddar cheese
Instructions
Chicken
- Boil the pasta according to the directions for al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Add the diced chicken, ranch seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, and salt to a large bowl and toss or stir to evenly coat.
- Cook the bacon in a large skillet on medium-high heat until crispy. Remove it from the pan, leaving the grease.
- Add the chicken to the pan and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally until the internal temperature registers 165 degrees. Remove the chicken from the pan.
Sauce
- Reduce the heat to medium and melt the butter in the pan. Cook the shallots, onion, ranch, garlic powder, salt, and chicken bouillon for a minute while stirring.
- Add the flour and cook for another minute, stirring constantly.
- Add the heavy cream and chicken broth and cook, stirring constantly, until it begins to bubble slightly.
- Add both cheeses and cook until the sauce has thickened.
- Gently stir in the chicken, bacon, and pasta. Serve with fresh parmesan.
Notes
- Refrigerate for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Freezing is not recommended due to the cream used in the sauce.
- Reheat the entire amount in a skillet over medium-low heat until warm, or microwave individual portions at 1-minute intervals.
- Cook the bacon on medium to medium-high heat. This is the sweet spot for bacon, producing crispy bacon without a burned flavor.
- Cook the chicken in the bacon grease for an extra kick of flavor.
- Be sure the pasta is cooked to al dente and no further. This prevents the pasta from breaking apart when it's stirred into the sauce.
- Dice the chicken into 1-inch cubes for even cooking and easy eating.
Jacqueline says
Love how flavorful this pasta recipe was! Will definitely make again!
Nicole Kendrick says
Just one of our amazing pasta recipes. Thanks for sharing, Jacqueline!
Ashley says
Yum! My family loved this easy pasta dinner and have already asked when I'm making it again. 🙂
Krystle Smith says
It was so easy to make, and the step-by-step instructions made it a breeze. My family loved it and are already asking when I'm making it again.