Description
Comforting Crack Chicken Pasta is a creamy, cheesy, flavor-packed easy dinner loaded with tender chicken, crispy bacon, and pasta in a rich ranch-style sauce. It is one of those easy recipe favorites that works for quick dinner plans, cozy family meals, comfort food cravings, and simple food ideas when you need reliable dinner ideas fast.
Ingredients
12 ounces pasta
2 chicken breasts
8 slices bacon
2 tablespoons butter
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 packet ranch seasoning
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving a little pasta water if needed later.
2. In a large skillet, cook the bacon until crisp. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, then chop into pieces.
3. In the same skillet, cook the chicken until golden and fully cooked through. Remove, rest briefly, and cut into bite-sized pieces.
4. Add the butter to the skillet, then sauté the onion until softened. Stir in the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
5. Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream. Add the cream cheese and ranch seasoning, stirring until smooth.
6. Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until melted and creamy.
7. Return the chicken and most of the bacon to the skillet, then add the cooked pasta. Toss until evenly coated.
8. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if the sauce needs loosening.
9. Top with parsley and the remaining bacon, then serve warm.
Notes
Do not boil the sauce after adding the dairy, or it can turn grainy and lose its smooth creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 710
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 39g
- Saturated Fat: 19g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 49g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 39g
- Cholesterol: 145mg
Keywords: comforting crack chicken pasta, crack chicken pasta, creamy chicken pasta, easy dinner, comfort food, pasta dinner, chicken bacon pasta, cheesy pasta recipe