Description
Crack Chicken Penne is a creamy, savory pasta dish made with tender chicken breast, crispy bacon, ranch-seasoned cream sauce, and melted cheddar cheese. It’s a family-friendly dinner that comes together in under 30 minutes and delivers serious comfort with every bite.
Ingredients
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
8 ounces penne pasta
6 slices bacon
4 ounces cream cheese
2 tablespoons ranch seasoning
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 cloves garlic minced
1 cup milk or heavy cream
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and 1 tablespoon of ranch seasoning.
2. In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Sear the chicken breasts until golden and fully cooked, about 5–6 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
3. In the same skillet, add chopped bacon and cook until crispy. Remove bacon, leaving 1 tablespoon of grease in the pan.
4. Lower the heat and sauté minced garlic for 30 seconds.
5. Add cream cheese and milk (or cream) to the skillet. Stir until smooth and creamy.
6. Add the remaining ranch seasoning and shredded cheddar cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted and sauce is cohesive.
7. Cook penne pasta in salted water according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup of pasta water.
8. Slice the cooked chicken and add it to the sauce along with the cooked pasta. Add a splash of pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed.
9. Gently toss to coat the pasta and chicken evenly.
10. Top with crispy bacon and sprinkle fresh parsley over the dish.
11. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
For extra creaminess, reserve more pasta water to thin out the sauce as needed.
Using pre-cooked rotisserie chicken is a great time-saving swap.
Add red pepper flakes for a spicy kick if desired.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 960mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
Keywords: crack chicken pasta, creamy chicken penne, ranch chicken dinner