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Creamy crack chicken pasta dish served in a bowl with fresh herbs

Creamy Crack Chicken Pasta

A delightful mix of creamy pasta, savory chicken, and crispy bacon, perfect for weeknight dinners or family gatherings.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 480
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta & Base
  • 8 oz Penne Pasta can swap for any short pasta
  • 2 cups Chicken Broth homemade or store-bought
  • 1 lb Chicken Breast can use dark meat
Sauce Mix
  • 8 oz Cream Cheese can substitute Neufchâtel or Greek yogurt
  • 1 pkg Ranch Seasoning store-bought or homemade
  • 1 tsp Garlic Powder fresh minced garlic can be used
Finishing Touches
  • 6 oz Bacon can use turkey bacon
  • 1 cup Cheddar Cheese can blend in white cheddar
  • 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley can use dried if fresh is unavailable

Method
 

Cooking the Pasta
  1. Boil water in a large pot. Add the penne pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
Preparing Chicken
  1. In a large skillet, add the chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Add the chicken breasts and cook until no longer pink in the center, about 10-15 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and shred it using two forks.
Cooking the Bacon
  1. In the same skillet, cook the bacon until crispy. Remove and crumble it into pieces.
Making the Sauce
  1. In the skillet, add the cream cheese, ranch seasoning, garlic powder, and shredded chicken. Stir until the cream cheese melts and everything is well combined.
Combining Ingredients
  1. Add the cooked pasta and crumbled bacon to the skillet, stirring until well mixed. If the sauce is too thick, add a little more chicken broth to reach the desired consistency.
Serving
  1. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese and fresh parsley over the top. Serve warm and enjoy!

Notes

For extra flavor, marinate the chicken in the ranch seasoning for a few hours before cooking. Feel free to add vegetables like bell peppers, spinach, or mushrooms for added nutrition. If you want a bit of heat, mix in some crushed red pepper flakes.