This chicken bacon ranch pasta is the ultimate easy comfort food recipe. My family requests it regularly, and with good reason! The combination of hearty chicken, savory bacon, and creamy ranch dressing is unbelievably good. The pasta is so rich and creamy, like an elevated Alfredo sauce. And the best part is it’s ready to eat in just 30 minutes!
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Recipe
When my family is hungry for something comforting, this is what they request 9 out of 10 times. Chicken, bacon, and ranch are quite the trifecta of flavors. I love that all I have to do is stir everything together, bake, and enjoy– so quick and easy! This is a great dish for parties and potlucks, too. It always goes first!
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How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover chicken bacon ranch pasta tightly covered with aluminum foil in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 20-30 minutes or in the microwave in 30-second increments until warmed through.
How to Freeze
Freeze this chicken bacon ranch pasta bake tightly wrapped in 2 layers of plastic wrap and 1 layer of aluminum foil for up to 3 months. Remove the plastic wrap and reheat in a 350°F oven directly from frozen for about 1 hour.
Notes and Tips
- Swap out the ranch dressing for a creamy Italian dressing for a different flavor.
- You could also swap out the bacon for pancetta or prosciutto.
- You can use a rotisserie chicken to save time on cooking and shredding chicken before beginning the recipe.
- Be sure to stir your chicken mixture well to let the cream cheese fully melt before pouring it into your baking pan. This will help make sure all the ingredients are mixed and evenly distributed.
Top Reader Review
“Very tasty and makes enough for a crowd. I will definitely make this again!” – Lisa
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound cooked penne pasta
- 2½ cups shredded cooked chicken
- 15 ounces Alfredo sauce (1 jar)
- 4 ounces cream cheese room temperature and cubed (½ brick)
- ½ cup ranch dressing
- 6 slices cooked bacon chopped
- 2 cups freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
- Fresh parsley optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with oil or nonstick spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, add the pasta, chicken, Alfredo sauce, cream cheese, and ranch dressing. Stir to combine.1 pound cooked penne pasta, 2½ cups shredded cooked chicken, 15 ounces Alfredo sauce, 4 ounces cream cheese, ½ cup ranch dressing
- Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan and spread it into an even layer.
- Sprinkle the chopped bacon on top of the mixture.6 slices cooked bacon
- Next, sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.2 cups freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly. Remove the pan from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving. Optionally, garnish with freshly chopped parsley.Fresh parsley
Notes
How To Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Step by Step
Layer the Casserole: In a large bowl, combine 1 pound of cooked penne pasta, 2½ cups of shredded cooked chicken, 15 ounces (1 jar) of alfredo sauce, 4 ounces (½ brick) of room temperature cubed cream cheese, and ½ cup of ranch dressing. Spread the creamy pasta mixture into a prepared baking pan. Sprinkle chopped bacon (6 cooked slices) and 2 cups of freshly shredded mozzarella cheese all over the top.
Bake the Casserole: Bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving. Add an optional garnish of fresh parsley on top.
Didn’t rate as I have a question before making this lovely looking chicken pasta bake. In your notes, you say to stir the chicken well to make sure the cream cheese melts. I’m guessing you use hot pasta and chicken so the cheese melts? If I wanted to prep this ahead of time can I warm the cheese in a pan or microwave when ready to put in the baking dish? Thank you.
Yes, you can absolutely try it that way!
Waaay too unhealthy & fattening! This recipe could be lightened-up to a large degree.
too fattening?????? simply don’t do it and let
the others enjoy every bite.
I received the email about this yesterday and want to make it tonight, but I can’t figure out how to melt the cream cheese, which usually takes a while in the best of circumstances, perhaps due to its density. You combine it in a bowl (cold) with the chicken (shredded so not hot), Alfredo sauce (cold), pasta (drained, so at best warm) and ranch dressing (definitely cold), so how does the cream cheese melt??
Try cutting it into smaller pieces, that may help it melt easier!
Thanks, Becky, yes I did do that, but I think my method of melting the cheese in the Alfredo sauce is more efficient and more certain of melting it thoroughly. Perhaps when you made this all your ingredients were steaming hot, but mine were not and could never have been!
A suggestion for next time you make this or when you make it, I’m not sure if you’ve done it or not, take your cream cheese out and let it sit a room temperature for about 20-30 minutes (basically while your water and noodles boil) and it should make it easier to cream with the other ingredients.
Well, I ended up simmering the Alfredo sauce and melting the cream cheese — cubed — in it, which took around three minutes to do thoroughly due to the denseness of the cheese. We liked the result — it was delicious and not too rich — but I honestly think you need to revisit the recipe because as I said in my previous comment, a four ounce chunk of cream cheese would never have melted in a big bowl of cool (or even lukewarm) ingredients!
Hi, what could I use in place of Alfredo Sauce as where I live I cannot obtain it. Was wondering if a White Wine Cream Sauce (Packet) would work?
Thanking you inn advance of your reply.
That sounds like it would be delicious!
2 cups heavy cream (or milk, but if you use milk add a tablespoon of cream cheese to help thicken it), 1 cup butter, 1 cup Parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon garlic powder. Quick and easy homemade Alfredo.
With that said, you got me wondering about making this with a white wine cream sauce now!
I have added a few other items to this recipe. I saute’ garlic, onions and mushrooms, and have even added artichoke hearts.
not much for the bacon in it, so omit that. I also use Farfalle
pasta, instead of Penne, or Zita.
I just use the alfredo sauce and ranch dressing, bottled kind. I omit the cream cheese. turns out great.
Sounds amazing, Jean!
Very tasty and makes enough for a crowd. I will definitely make this again!
Thanks for stopping by, Lisa!
The ranch, Alfredo, cream cheese combo was just too much for me.
If I were to make something similar again I’d definitely alter the ingredient list. I believe the concept is good but there could be a better ingredient combination.
That being said, my 7yo daughter loved it.
Also those asking how to melt the cream cheese. Room temperature will work, cut the cream cheese into chunks and using a spatula press the cream cheese against the side of the bowl in a sweeping motion and it will blend in beautifully.
Definitely modify to your liking!
I just used cream of chicken soup instead of Alfredo
Darlin’, you outdid yourself on this’un! It is wonderful, Don
Thanks so much for stopping by, Don!