Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is the ultimate comfort food with bold, savory flavors. Crispy bacon and tender, seasoned chicken are paired with orecchiette pasta in a rich ranch-seasoned cream sauce. Melted cheddar, mozzarella, and a final sprinkle of Parmesan bring all the cheesy goodness together. It’s hearty, indulgent, and easy to fall in love with—perfect for a crowd or cozy night in.

Author: These Carbs Don't Count

Category: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Difficulty: MEDIUM

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Servings: 4 bowls

Calories: 911 kcal per serving

Ingredients

½ pound - orecchiette pasta
5 slices - bacon
1 tablespoon - olive oil
1 - chicken breast
⅛ - Salt
⅛ - Black pepper
½ teaspoon - garlic powder
½ teaspoon - onion powder
½ teaspoon - paprika
2 tablespoon - unsalted butter
¼ - onion
3 cloves - garlic
1 ½ cup - heavy cream
1 ½ packets - Hidden Valley ranch seasoning
1 cup - cheddar cheese
1 cup - mozzarella cheese
¼ cup - Parmesan cheese
¼ cup - reserved pasta water

Instructions

Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water and drain.
In a large skillet, heat olive oil and cook chopped bacon until crispy. Remove and set on paper towels.
Season chicken with salt, pepper, paprika, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, and 1/4 tsp onion powder.
In the same skillet, cook seasoned chicken in bacon grease until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
Add butter to the same skillet. Sauté diced onion and minced garlic until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
Pour in heavy cream. Season with remaining garlic powder, onion powder, and ranch seasoning. Simmer for 3–5 minutes.
Add cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup mozzarella, and Parmesan. Stir until smooth and melted.
Mix in cooked pasta, a splash of pasta water, cooked chicken, and bacon. Stir well.
For extra cheesiness, stir in remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella before serving.