Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is an easy 30-minute dinner loaded with tender chicken, crispy bacon, penne pasta, and a creamy homemade cheese sauce with cheddar cheese and Ranch seasoning. This cheesy chicken pasta recipe is perfect for busy weeknights and easy to customize with your favorite vegetables, pasta shapes, and toppings.

This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta came about recently after my kids asked me 100 times what was for dinner. I had to find something quick because I had no plan. Next thing I knew, this tasty pasta dinner with penne, bacon, chicken, and a quick homemade Alfredo sauce with cheddar cheese and Ranch seasoning came about. The best part is this pasta dish was on the table in 30 minutes!

Chicken, bacon, Ranch, pasta, AND a creamy cheesy sauce? Yes, please!

This easy pasta recipe combines penne with chunks of chicken breast and crispy bacon, then tosses everything in a homemade Alfredo-style sauce made with heavy cream, Parmesan, cheddar cheese, garlic, and Ranch seasoning. My kids always love my Homemade Alfredo Sauce, so I knew this recipe would be a hit.

The Ranch is what really gives the sauce its fun twist. Instead of having to measure out a bunch of individual herbs and spices, the seasoning adds loads of flavor to the creamy cheese sauce in one easy ingredient.

And just to be clear, this is a HOT Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta recipe, not a cold Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad. Although that sounds pretty good too!

What I Love About This Recipe

• This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is one of those easy dinner recipes that tastes like you spent a lot more time on it than you actually did. You get pasta, chicken, crispy bacon, garlic, two kinds of cheese, and Ranch flavor all in one dish. Even better, you can have the whole thing ready in about 30 minutes. It’s a great option for busy weeknights when you want a hearty homemade dinner without spending hours in the kitchen.
• The creamy Ranch sauce is definitely the star of this chicken pasta recipe. It starts with a homemade Alfredo-style sauce made with butter, garlic, heavy whipping cream, and freshly grated Parmesan, then cheddar cheese and Ranch seasoning take it in a completely different direction. It’s rich, cheesy, savory, and full of flavor. If you love chicken bacon Ranch anything, this pasta is probably going to be right up your alley.
• You can customize this creamy pasta in SO many ways. Swap the penne for ziti, bowtie, rotini, or your favorite pasta shape. Add broccoli, mushrooms, peas, spinach, or corn, or finish the pasta with fresh tomato or avocado. It’s a great clean-out-the-fridge kind of dinner when you have vegetables or other ingredients that need to be used.
• I also love that this is basically a complete meal in one bowl. You’ve got pasta, chicken, bacon, and a creamy cheese sauce all together. Add a green vegetable or simple salad on the side, and dinner is done. Definitely the kind of comfort food my family loves.

What is Ranch Seasoning

Ranch seasoning is a dry seasoning blend generally made with dried buttermilk along with herbs and spices such as parsley, dill, chives, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.

You can find packets of Ranch seasoning at most grocery stores, or you can make homemade Ranch seasoning and keep it on hand for recipes like this one. You can also buy online.

For this Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta recipe, you’ll need 4 teaspoons, which is about half of a typical store-bought packet.

The dry Ranch seasoning is an easy way to add lots of flavor to the creamy pasta sauce without pouring bottled Ranch dressing into the pasta. It blends right into the Parmesan and cheddar Alfredo sauce.

If you’re completely out of Ranch seasoning, you could experiment with dried herbs and spices, but the flavor won’t be quite the same.

What Kind of Pasta Is Best for Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta?

Penne is my choice for this recipe, but you have plenty of options.

Short pasta shapes work particularly well with the chunks of chicken and bacon because everything is easy to scoop up together. Ziti, bowtie pasta, and rotini are all good substitutions.

You can really use your favorite pasta, though. Just cook it according to the package directions until al dente.

Want something other than traditional pasta? Spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles are possibilities too, although the final texture and consistency will obviously be quite different.

Equipment You May Need

• Large Pot – You’ll need a large pot with plenty of water for cooking the penne or other pasta until al dente.
• Large Skillet – Choose a skillet large enough to cook the bacon and chicken and later hold the sauce, pasta, meat, and other ingredients.
• Whisk – Helps incorporate the heavy whipping cream and cheeses into a smooth, creamy Ranch sauce.
• Sharp Knife – You’ll need one to chop the raw bacon and chicken breast into small pieces and slice the green onion.
• Cutting Board – Helpful for prepping the chicken, bacon, garlic, and green onion before you start cooking.
• Cheese Grater – Freshly grated good-quality Parmesan makes a big difference in homemade Alfredo sauce, so a handheld grater is handy.
• Colander – For draining the pasta after reserving some of the pasta water.

(Full printable recipe card is at bottom of post.)

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Ingredients

• Penne – Penne works great because the creamy Ranch sauce coats the pasta well. You can also use another favorite pasta such as ziti, bowtie, or rotini.
• Bacon – Start with raw bacon and chop it into pieces so it cooks quickly. It adds smoky flavor and crispy texture throughout the pasta. Pancetta or ham are other options.
• Chicken Breast – Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are chopped into small pieces so they cook quickly alongside the bacon. Boneless skinless chicken thighs could also be worth trying if that’s what you have.

For the Creamy Ranch Sauce

• Unsalted Butter – Creates the base for the homemade Alfredo-style sauce. Salted butter can work if that’s what you have, but keep the other salty ingredients in mind.
• Garlic – Fresh minced garlic adds loads of flavor to the creamy sauce. Chop or mince it finely so you don’t end up with large pieces of garlic.
• Heavy Whipping Cream – The key to the rich, thick, creamy sauce. I don’t recommend swapping regular milk for the heavy cream.
• Parmesan Cheese – Use a good-quality block of Parmesan and grate it yourself for best results. It makes a big difference in the texture and flavor of homemade Alfredo sauce.
• Cheddar Cheese – Gives the sauce extra cheesy flavor and helps set this Ranch pasta apart from traditional Alfredo. Use a good melting cheddar or shred it yourself.
• Ranch Seasoning – The ingredient that turns the cheesy Alfredo-style sauce into creamy bacon Ranch pasta sauce. Store-bought or homemade Ranch seasoning works.
• Pasta Water – Before draining the pasta, reserve 1/4 cup of that starchy cooking water. It helps bring the sauce and pasta together.
• Green Onion – Use the green part, thinly sliced. Some goes into the pasta and you can add more on top before serving.
• Salt and Pepper – Add to taste. Parmesan, bacon, cheddar, and Ranch seasoning already contribute plenty of flavor and salt, so taste before adding much additional salt.

Optional Toppings

• Green Onion – Sprinkle extra thinly sliced green onion over the pasta for color and fresh flavor.
• Parmesan Cheese – A little freshly grated Parmesan on top is an easy finishing touch.

How to Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

Step One: Cook the Pasta
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente.

Step Two: Cook the Bacon and Chicken
Cook the chopped bacon in a large skillet for 1-2 minutes, then add the chicken. Continue cooking for about 4-5 minutes until the bacon is crispy and the chicken is cooked through, then remove both from the pan and drain off most of the excess fat.

Step Three: Make the Creamy Ranch Sauce
Cook the butter and garlic for about 1 minute, then slowly whisk in the heavy cream and simmer until it starts to thicken. Stir in the Parmesan, cheddar, Ranch seasoning, and pasta water until the sauce is smooth and thick.

Step Four: Combine the Pasta
Drain the pasta and add it to the skillet with the sauce, chicken, and bacon. Stir until everything is well coated, then mix in the green onion and salt and pepper to taste.

Step Five: Garnish and Serve
Serve immediately with additional green onion and/or freshly grated Parmesan cheese as desired.

(Full detailed directions are in printable recipe card at bottom of post.)

Why Save Pasta Water?

Before you drain your penne, don’t forget to scoop out 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water.

The starchy water helps loosen the thick cheese sauce just enough and helps everything come together when you add the cooked pasta.

That said, don’t panic if you accidentally pour all the pasta water down the drain. The sauce will still be delicious.

If you need a little extra liquid to stretch the sauce, a small amount of chicken broth is another option.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Variations

This pasta is easy to change depending on what your family likes or what you already have in the refrigerator.

For vegetables, try adding cooked broccoli, mushrooms, peas, corn, or spinach. Fresh chopped tomatoes or avocado would also be delicious added toward the end or served on top.

You can swap the bacon for pancetta or ham, or experiment with a different type of chicken.

For a little smoky-sweet flavor, try adding a small amount of BBQ sauce to the cheddar Alfredo sauce. Chicken, bacon, Ranch, cheddar, and BBQ are quite the combination!

And of course, you can change the pasta. Penne is easy, but ziti, rotini, bowtie pasta, or another short pasta should work well too.

Serving Suggestions

• Top the pasta with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and/or thinly sliced green onion. Or you can skip the green onion and add a little fresh parsley to the pasta and on top.
• Serve with some green vegetables like these Roasted Brussels Sprouts or Italian Green Beans.
• Some bread or rolls on the side are also a great addition, like these Homemade Dinner Rolls or Cheddar Garlic Drop Biscuits.
• Add a simple green salad for a lighter side to balance the rich, creamy pasta.
• For a hearty family-style dinner, put the skillet right in the middle of the table with extra Parmesan and green onion on the side.

Quick Tips for Best Results

• Use full-fat ingredients. Heavy whipping cream, good Parmesan, cheddar, and butter give you the best creamy sauce. Lower-fat dairy products don’t always melt or behave the same way.
• Grate your own Parmesan. A block of good-quality Parmesan that you freshly grate works much better in this homemade Alfredo-style sauce than shelf-stable grated cheese.
• Prep before you start cooking. The creamy sauce comes together quickly. Have your garlic minced, cheese grated, Ranch measured, and green onion sliced before you start the sauce.
• Multitask for a 30-minute dinner. Start heating the pasta water first. While the water boils and pasta cooks, prepare the chicken, bacon, and sauce.
• Keep the sauce warm if necessary. It’s better to have the sauce finished and waiting briefly over low heat than to have the pasta sitting around waiting for the sauce.
• Don’t forget the pasta water. Scoop out the 1/4 cup you need before draining the penne. If the sauce is too thin, check out this how to thicken alfredo sauce for tips or add less pasta water.
• Taste before adding salt. Bacon, Parmesan, cheddar, and Ranch seasoning can all be salty, so you may need little or no additional salt.
• Serve immediately. Creamy cheese sauces are generally at their best right after they’re made.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta FAQ

How should I store leftovers?
Store leftover Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Alfredo-style sauces generally don’t reheat quite as well as when they’re freshly made, so this pasta is definitely at its best right out of the skillet.

Can I freeze the Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta?
I don’t recommend freezing it. The creamy cheese sauce may not hold up or reheat particularly well after freezing.

How long will the pasta last?
Leftovers should last at least a few days in the refrigerator when stored in an airtight container.

Substitutions?
Instead of penne, try ziti, bowtie, rotini, or another favorite pasta. Pancetta or ham can replace the bacon, and chopped fresh parsley or other favorite herbs can replace the green onion.

Can I use low-fat ingredients?
I don’t recommend low-fat ingredients for the creamy Ranch sauce because lower-fat cheese and dairy products may not melt or thicken the same way. You could, however, use lower-fat bacon if you prefer.

What else can I add to this recipe?
Try precooked mushrooms, broccoli, peas, corn, or spinach. Fresh tomato or avocado would also be delicious. You could even add a little BBQ sauce to the cheddar Alfredo sauce for another flavor variation.

Can I make this vegan/vegetarian/low carb/gluten-free?
Here are some suggestions, but I can’t guarantee results. Be sure as always to check particular brands and ingredients if you’re following a specific diet or have diet restrictions or allergies.

Vegan – This would be a tough one to make vegan. It would require quite a few changes because of the chicken, bacon, butter, cream, Parmesan, and cheddar.

Vegetarian – To make it vegetarian, skip the bacon and chicken. You could add some vegetables instead if you’d like, or a meat alternative.

Low-Carb – You can try a lower-carb pasta or spaghetti squash or zoodles (zucchini noodles) instead of the pasta.

Gluten-Free – Use your favorite gluten-free pasta, spaghetti squash, or zucchini noodles and check the Ranch seasoning and other packaged ingredients to make sure they meet your needs.

Other Pasta Recipes You May Enjoy

• Chicken Parmesan Baked Pasta – A great make-ahead baked pasta recipe that feeds a crowd.
• Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo – Easy pasta dish made in a pressure cooker for a simple meal.
• Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad – You can serve this pasta salad warm or cold, and as a side dish or main dish.
• Fettuccine with Smoked Salmon and Fresh Dill – Perfect for fish lovers!
• One-Pot Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta – Can’t beat one pot for an easy dinner.

Hope you enjoy this tasty Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta. Tell me in the comments what else you added to it!

You might also like this homemade Fettuccine Alfredo recipe! Or check out all my Alfredo recipes or Ranch recipes.