Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta (Dump and Bake!)
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is an easy dinner recipe that you simply dump and bake. This chicken pasta recipe is made with Alfredo Sauce, bacon, and ranch seasoning! You don't even have to boil the noodles first. It's the perfect weeknight dinner recipe that is the ultimate comfort food!
We are big fans of pasta in our house, so I'm always trying to come up with new pasta dishes to keep things interesting. I have been loving no boil pasta (this Baked Rigatoni is a family favorite!) and my Boursin Pasta. They're such an easy to way to make pasta without even boiling the pasta!
My kids could put ranch dressing (especially my Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing) on ANYTHING so I knew that a recipe with ranch seasoning it would be a hit. I was right!
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is a no boil pasta recipe that is perfect for a busy weeknight and your whole family will love. It has quickly become one of my family's favorite recipes!
Looking for a slow cooker chicken recipe? Check out my Slow Cooker French Onion Chicken! More bacon recipes? Check out my Bacon Cheese Turnovers and Bacon Green Chile Breakfast Tacos!
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Ingredients
This is an easy chicken bacon ranch casserole that doesn't even require you to boil the pasta. The entire dish is baked in the oven and the noodles are cooked while it bakes!
- Butter - unsalted or salted butter can be used to make this homemade Alfredo sauce for this recipe.
- Garlic - fresh minced garlic adds a delicious garlic flavor to the Alfredo sauce.
- Heavy Cream - heavy cream is traditionally used in homemade Alfredo sauces, and lends to its rich texture and flavor. You could also use half and half if that is what you have.
- Parmesan Cheese - Parmesan cheese adds a creaminess and flavor to the Alfredo sauce. I prefer using shredded Parmesan cheese.
- Pasta - This recipe works really well with short noodles like rigatoni, rotini pasta, or penne pasta, but longer noodles like spaghetti or fettuccine would also work. Use any type of pasta you have on hand!
- Shredded Chicken - to make this recipe incredibly weeknight friendly, I've been using shredded rotisserie chicken from Target. It comes pre-shredded which makes my life SO much easier! Of course, you can cook your own chicken and shred it yourself, or buy a rotisserie chicken and shred it. This is also a great recipe to use leftover chicken.
- Bacon - for this recipe, you will cook the bacon and then chop it up to go into the pasta.
- Ranch Seasoning - ranch seasoning mix adds a ton of great ranch flavor to this delicious pasta dish. I buy it in packets at the grocery store or a large container from Costco, but you can make homemade ranch seasoning, too.
- Chicken Broth - This is the liquid in the pasta bake that the pasta cooks in. I use chicken bouillon that I store in the refrigerator and combine it with water.
- Mozzarella Cheese - mozzarella cheese is added at the end to make the pasta bake super cheesy and delicious!
- Salt and Pepper
Refer to the recipe card for the complete ingredient list.
Variations
- Different Pasta - you can definitely switch up the typeof pasta you use! I have made this with rigatoni, penne, and elbow macaroni and I love it with the short noodles. However, I've made my Pesto Chicken Pasta, another no boil recipe, with spaghetti and it was also delicious.
- Jarred Alfredo Sauce vs Homemade Alfredo Sauce - this can be made either way! I honestly usually make it with the jarred Alfredo sauce, because I like to buy a good quality sauce and it saves me time. I have included instructions in the recipe card for both ways, but in my step by step instructions, I show it using the jarred sauce.
- Spice things up - If you want a spicy chicken bacon ranch pasta, add ½-1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes.
- Make buffalo chicken bacon ranch pasta - if you like buffalo chicken, you can add ⅓ cup of buffalo sauce to the pasta when you add all of the ingredients to the pan.
- Add some vegetables - Add a cup or two of frozen mixed vegetables for a boost of nutrition! Looking for a veggie packed pasta? Check out my Creamy Vegetable Pasta!
Step by Step Instructions
In this chicken bacon ranch pasta recipe, you can use jarred Alfredo sauce, or make your own. I've done it both ways and it is delicious either way! In this step-by-step, I am showing you how to make it with jarred Alfredo sauce.
Cook the bacon and chicken. I like to cook the bacon in the oven the day in advance. Baking bacon in the oven gets super crispy bacon, which I love! You could also make this the day in advance. For the chicken, you can bake some boneless skinless chicken breasts or you can use rotisserie chicken, which is what I do.
Step 1. Add the pasta to a greased 9x13" baking dish.
Step 2. Add the cooked and chopped bacon on top of the pasta
Step 3. Add the shredded chicken.
Step 4. Add the ranch seasoning.
Step 5. Add the Alfredo sauce.
Step 6. Add the broth and give the ingredients a good stir.
Step 7. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.
Step 8. Remove the pasta from the oven and give it a good stir.
Step 9. Add the cheese and stir to combine. Cover and bake for 5-10 more minutes, until the pasta noodles are cooked and the cheese is melted.
Step 10. Stir it all up and serve!
Expert Tips
You can use any kind of pasta you want in this pasta bake. I love using rigatoni or penne, but even something like spaghetti or fettuccine would work, too.
I've been obsessed with the Good & Gather shredded rotisserie chicken and it makes this easy recipe even easier. You can also buy a rotisserie chicken and shred it yourself or cook a couple of chicken breasts and shred them.
Before you bake it, try to press the noodles into the liquid so they cook easier. After the 40 minutes, you'll want to stir it well and then bake 5-10 more minutes to make sure the noodles are cooked completely.
Store leftover (if you're lucky enough to have any!) in an airtight container up to 3-4 days or freeze for up to 2-3 months.
Recipe FAQs
This easy pasta dish will freeze quite well. Simply place it in an airtight container, label it, and freeze for up to 2-3 months. To reheat, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and then defrost in the microwave. Add a splash or two of cream or milk if the pasta does not seem quite as creamy
Yes! Add 1-2 cups of frozen mixed vegetables or a few cups of chopped baby spinach for a boost of nutrition in this chicken ranch pasta dish.
That will work. It might not be quite as decadent and creamy, but it will still be very delicious!
I have never used pre-cooked bacon bits, but I think that would work just fine!
Serving Suggestions
Garlic bread is always a favorite of ours to go with pasta. A nice chopped kale grapefruit salad or some Parmesan Brussels sprouts would be great, too.
Other pasta recipes to consider...
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, or take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #greensnchocolate.
No Boil Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
Ingredients
- 16 ounce jar Alfredo
OR Homemade Alfredo Sauce
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Pasta
- 16 ounces rigatoni pasta penne works, too
- 2 cups shredded chicken
- 1 ounce packet Ranch seasoning
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and chopped
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
Alfredo Sauce (if making homemade)
- In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
- Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the heavy cream, salt, and pepper, and cook for 5 minutes.
- Add the Parmesan cheese and stir to combine and melt the cheese.
Pasta
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- To a 9x13" baking dish add the pasta, chicken, bacon, and ranch seasoning. Top with the Alfredo sauce and chicken broth and give it a little stir.
- Top the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes.
- Add the mozzarella cheese and stir well. Cover with foil and let sit for a couple of minutes to let the cheese completely melt.
- Serve topped with fresh chopped parsley. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use pre-shredded chicken to make this recipe super easy.
- This recipe is delicious with homemade or jarred Alfredo sauce.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Half and half can be used in place of heavy cream, if you'd prefer.
- Shred the Parmesan cheese from a block if possible. It will melt and taste much better.
- Any kind of pasta can be used for this recipe. WE love using rigatoni or Cavatappi.
- Add a cup or two of frozen mixed vegetables for a boost of nutrition!
This might be a silly question but I just want to make sure - you cook the pasta first, right? 🙂
Not silly at all! The pasta is actually uncooked - it cooks in the oven 🙂
Keep on working, great job!
Trying it with gluten-free penne pasta tonight. I'll let you know...