Looking for an easy dinner recipe? 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 the ultimate comfort food!

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!

My kids could put ranch dressing on anything (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!

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

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

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!

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.

Homemade Alfredo Sauce

Melt the butter. In a large skillet, melt the butter. Once its melted, add the garlic and cook for a minute.

Add the cream. Add the heavy cream, salt, and pepper and let the mixture warm up over low heat, about 5 minutes. Then add the Parmesan cheese and stir well. Set that aside and prep the rest of the dish.

Prepare. Preheat your oven and then grease a 9×13″ baking dish.

Add the ingredients. Add the pasta, chicken, bacon, ranch seasoning, Alfredo Sauce, and chicken broth.

Bake. Give the mixture a little mix, cover with aluminum foil, and then bake. After 40 minutes, the pasta should be tender.

Add the mozzarella. Add the shredded cheese and stir to combine. You can cover with the foil again for a few minutes to let the cheese melt completely.

Serve. Top with fresh chopped fresh parsley and serve. 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 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.

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 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.

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.

Can I use bacon bits? I have never used pre-cooked bacon bits, but I think that would work just fine!

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