Description
Chicken Beef Bacon Ranch Pasta isn’t just a meal; it’s a culinary hug in a bowl! This dish combines tender pasta with a rich, creamy ranch sauce, juicy chicken, and savory beef bacon for an indulgent comfort food experience.
Ingredients
- Medium-sized pasta shapes (penne, rotini, or cavatappi)
- Cooked, shredded or diced chicken breast or thighs
- Lean ground beef (85-90% lean)
- Thinly sliced beef bacon
- Good quality, full-fat creamy ranch dressing
- Packet of dry ranch seasoning mix
- Heavy cream
- Cream cheese (full-fat or reduced-fat)
- Blend of shredded cheeses (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or pizza blend)
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Yellow onion
- Fresh garlic
- Chicken or beef broth
Instructions
- Cook your chosen pasta according to package directions until it's al dente. Remember to salt your pasta water generously for flavor! Once cooked, drain it and set it aside, reserving about ½ cup of the pasta cooking water.
- In a large skillet or Dutch oven, cook your beef bacon over medium heat until it's wonderfully crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the beef bacon with a slotted spoon and place it on a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Crumble it into small pieces and keep a tablespoon or two of the rendered fat in the skillet.
- In the same skillet, add your ground beef. Break it up with a spoon and cook over medium-high heat until fully browned. Drain any excess grease and season with salt and black pepper. Remove the ground beef from the skillet.
- If your chicken isn't already cooked, season it with salt and pepper, then pan-fry or bake until cooked through, then shred or dice it.
- Return the skillet to medium heat. If you drained all the bacon fat, add a tablespoon of olive oil or butter. Add the diced onion and cook until it softens and becomes translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- To the skillet with the softened onions and garlic, add the cream cheese. Let it soften for a minute, then whisk it into the aromatics until it starts to melt.
- Pour in the chicken or beef broth, followed by the ranch dressing and heavy cream. Whisk continuously until the mixture is smooth and the cream cheese is fully incorporated.
- Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally. Add the dry ranch seasoning packet, salt, black pepper, and any other desired seasonings. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
- Gradually add the shredded cheeses, stirring until each addition is fully melted and smooth. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta cooking water.
- Add the cooked pasta, chicken, and seasoned ground beef to the creamy ranch sauce. Add most of the crumbled beef bacon, reserving some for garnish.
- Toss everything together gently until all the pasta and meats are thoroughly coated in the sauce.
- Ladle portions of the Chicken Beef Bacon Ranch Pasta into bowls. Garnish with the remaining crumbled beef bacon and a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley or chives. Serve immediately.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 700
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 1200 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
Keywords: For the best texture, always cook your pasta to al dente. You can use rotisserie chicken for convenience, and feel free to add vegetables like spinach or peas for extra nutrition.