Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is an easy, dump and bake chicken pasta recipe made with Alfredo Sauce, bacon, and ranch seasoning! You don’t even have to boil the noodles first. This is my absolute favorite way to make pasta bakes on the weeknight because it’s so easy. It’s the perfect weeknight dinner recipe that is a total family favorite!

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

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 pastas – they’re such an easy to way to make pasta without even boiling the pasta! Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is a no boil pasta recipe that is just so easy and delicious to eat!

I’ve been testing versions of this pasta with both homemade and jarred Alfredo sauce, and this time I decided to jazz it up even more with smoky and crunchy bacon and zippy ranch seasoning. This pasta is truly delicious and will be a huge hit at the dinner table! It is true comfort food that my whole family loves.

Ingredients in Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

• 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 or penne, but longer noodles like spaghetti or fettuccine would also work. Use what 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.
• Bacon – for this recipe, you will cook the bacon and then chop it up to go into the pasta.
• Ranch Seasoning – ranch seasoning adds a ton of flavor to this dish. I buy it in packets 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

How to Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

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! To make your own, it’s really super simple. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan. Once its melted, add the garlic and cook for a minute. Then add the heavy cream, salt, and pepper and let the mixture warm up, about 5 minutes. Then add the Parmesan cheese and stir well. Set that aside and prep the rest of the dish.

Preheat your oven and then to a 9×13″ baking dish add the pasta, chicken, bacon, ranch seasoning, Alfredo Sauce, and chicken broth. Give the mixture a little mix, cover with foil, and then bake. After 40. minutes, the pasta should be tender. Add the shredded mozzarella cheese and stir to combine. You can cover with the foil again for a few minutes to let the cheese melt completely. Then serve topped with fresh chopped parsley. Enjoy!

Tips for Making Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

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 recipe even easier. You can also buy a rotisserie chicken and shred it yourself or cook a couple of chicken breasts and shred them.

Use jarred Alfredo instead of making it from scratch. I’ve made this recipe both ways, and it’s delicious with homemade Alfredo and jarred!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I freeze Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta? This 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.

Can I add vegetables to this? 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.

Can I use half and half instead of heavy cream? That will work. It might not be quite as decadent and creamy, but it will still be very delicious!

What should I serve with this bacon pasta recipe? Garlic bread is always a favorite of ours to go with pasta. A nice green salad or some roasted vegetables would be great, too.

Storage

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.

Tools For This Recipe

9×13″ Baking Casserole Dish – this is the perfect sized casserole dish for this pasta. I love this simple white one because it’s pretty and I also like this one because it has a lid.

Tongs – tongs make it really easy to stir this pasta up after the baking time. You could also use a large spoon, but I always reach for my tongs!

 

Like this recipe? Check these out, too!

No Boil Rigatoni

No Boil Pesto Chicken Pasta

No Boil Lemon Parmesan Pasta

No Boil Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

An easy pasta bake recipe made with chicken, bacon, homemade Alfredo sauce,and ranch seasoning!

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Italian

Keyword: bacon, chicken, easy dinner, no boil, pasta

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Servings: 6 -8 servings

Calories: 932kcal

Author: Taylor Ellingson

Ingredients

Alfredo Sauce

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp 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

• 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 9×13" 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!

Nutrition

Calories: 932kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 59g | Saturated Fat: 33g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 186mg | Sodium: 1572mg | Potassium: 439mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1634IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 366mg | Iron: 2mg

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