Description

Creamy Crack Chicken Penne is a comforting and flavorful pasta dish featuring tender chicken breasts, crispy bacon, and a rich ranch-infused cream cheese sauce. This recipe combines penne pasta cooked in chicken broth with melted cheddar cheese and fresh parsley for a perfect weeknight dinner that’s both easy and irresistible.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta & Meat

8 ounces penne pasta
6 slices thick-cut bacon
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Sauce & Seasoning

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 packet ranch seasoning
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
8 ounces cream cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

Cook Bacon: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and cook the six slices of thick-cut bacon until they are crispy. Once done, remove the bacon from the skillet and set aside, leaving the rendered bacon fat in the pan for added flavor.
Brown Chicken: Add the boneless, skinless chicken breasts to the skillet. Sprinkle the ranch seasoning evenly over the chicken. Cook the chicken breasts on both sides until browned and partially cooked through, sealing in the flavors.
Simmer Pasta: Stir the uncooked penne pasta into the skillet with the chicken. Pour in the low-sodium chicken broth and bring the mixture to a simmer. Allow the pasta to cook in the broth until al dente, absorbing the savory liquid and flavors.
Melt Cream Cheese: Add the cream cheese to the skillet and stir continuously until it is fully melted, creating a creamy, rich sauce that coats the pasta and chicken perfectly.
Combine and Serve: Crumble the cooked bacon and fold it into the skillet along with the shredded cheddar cheese. Mix everything thoroughly until the cheese has melted and the ingredients are well combined. Garnish the dish with fresh chopped parsley before serving for added freshness and color.

Notes

For extra creaminess, consider adding a splash of milk or heavy cream when melting the cream cheese.
You can substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth for a lighter flavor or to accommodate dietary preferences.
Ensure not to overcook the chicken breasts during browning, as they will continue to cook with the pasta.
To make this dish gluten-free, use gluten-free penne pasta and verify that the ranch seasoning is gluten-free.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Crack Chicken Penne, creamy pasta recipe, chicken penne pasta, bacon pasta recipe, ranch seasoning pasta, easy dinner, comfort food