Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is the ultimate comfort meal! This pasta casserole is packed with chicken, crispy bacon, and plenty of vegetables in a creamy ranch sauce. It’s an easy dish that the whole family will love.
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Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Bake
Pasta is my love language. For dinner, I always choose noodles smothered in sauce and melted cheese. We frequently make this homemade creamy mac and cheese and this buffalo chicken pasta recipe.
I could eat those two casseroles forever, but every now and then, I want to change things up. A few years ago, I tried a chicken bacon ranch sandwich at Subway. It inspired me to add those flavors to a cheesy pasta dinner.
Who doesn't love cheese, chicken, and bacon? This pasta bake has all your favorite ingredients and is so easy to make. This recipe was an instant hit with our whole family and has definitely become my go-to when I'm in the mood for pasta.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make: With simple ingredients and minimal prep, you can have this casserole in your oven in no time.
- Comfort food at its best: The creamy sauce and hearty ingredients make this pasta the ultimate cozy meal for any night of the week.
- Family-friendly: This dish is a great way to please even the pickiest eaters. It's cheesy, hearty, and just plain delicious.
- Perfect for leftovers: This pasta reheats beautifully, making it an excellent choice for meal prep or next-day lunches.
Main Ingredients
Here are the simple ingredients for this easy pasta recipe. It features a creamy, cheesy sauce, chicken, and bacon for a delicious and satisfying meal.
- Pasta: Short noodles like rigatoni, rotini, or penne pasta are perfect for this dish because they hold the sauce well. However, feel free to use whatever you have on hand.
- Veggies: A mixture of onions, green peppers, spinach, and tomatoes gives this chicken casserole flavor and color.
- Garlic: Adds flavor to the cheese mixture.
- Meat: Cooked chicken and crispy bacon are the two stars of this dish. Any type of leftover chicken is great for this recipe. You can grill chicken breasts and cut them up or buy a rotisserie chicken from the store and shred it.
- Cheese Sauce: A can of evaporated milk, shredded mozzarella cheese, sharp cheddar cheese, and ranch dressing make a creamy sauce.
How To Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
This easy chicken bacon ranch casserole can be on your dinner table in under 40 minutes. Follow the simple steps to have it ready in time.
- Sauté the peppers and onions. Add oil to a large skillet over medium heat and stir in the onions and peppers. Once the veggies are slightly softened, add the chicken, bacon, and other veggies. Cover the pan and then set it aside.
- Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. After draining the noodles, add olive oil to prevent them from sticking.
- Make the creamy cheese sauce. Heat the canned milk and half of the shredded cheese until melted and creamy in another pot. Then, stir in the creamy ranch dressing, drained pasta, and sautéed veggies.
- Bake the pasta dish. Pour the cheesy pasta mixture into a greased casserole dish, top with more shredded cheese, and bake until melted and bubbly. If you like, brown the cheese layer on top by broiling it for a few extra minutes.
What To Serve With It
This bacon ranch pasta can be served as a complete meal, but sometimes, side dishes are needed to stretch it further. Here are some great options.
- Garden Salad with Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Roasted Veggies
- Garlic Bread
- Oreo Brownies
Storage Recommendations
In the Refrigerator - Keep the creamy pasta leftovers in an airtight container for 2-3 days.
To Reheat - Heat single servings on a glass plate in the microwave for 30-45 seconds. Cover the whole pan with aluminum foil and heat at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until heated.
Tips and Tricks
- Prep ahead of time. Chop the veggies the night before and store them in airtight containers in the fridge.
- Change up the veggies. Broccoli, peas, asparagus, or mushrooms are also good in this recipe.
- Try another type of cheese. We love using pepper jack because it gives the pasta a spicy flair. If you are not a fan of spice cheese, use Monterey Jack cheese instead.
- Cook the pasta al dente. This helps the pasta hold up when mixed with the creamy sauce.
- Buy a rotisserie chicken. Save time in the kitchen by purchasing a chicken from the grocery store.
- Use homemade or store-bought ranch. Either will work, but if you have the time, making a homemade ranch dressing adds an extra layer of freshness to the dish.
- Save some pasta water. If the sauce feels too thick, a splash of pasta water can help thin it out while keeping it creamy.
- Add a pop of color. Garnish the finished casserole with extra cooked bacon bits, fresh parsley, or green onions.
FAQs
Yes. Prepare the pasta and then place it in a dish. Do not bake it! Cover it tightly and refrigerate the pan.
Set the dish out for 30 minutes before putting it in the oven. Cover with foil and bake for 20-25 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for another 5 minutes.
Any pasta that you like will work in this particular cheesy casserole. Some of our favorites are penne, farfalle, ziti, and cavatappi.
The key is to cook the pasta to al dente. It's best to slightly undercook the noodles for a baked casserole because they also continue to cook in the oven.
Not at all. You can save time by stirring the extra shredded cheese into the hot pasta in the skillet and serving it without baking.
More Easy Dinner Recipes
- Chicken Broccoli Roll Ups
- Sausage Stuffed Shells
- Meat Lover's Pizza Ravioli
- Cheese Tortellini Skillet Meal
- Creamy Chicken and Cheese Pasta
- Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole
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Recipe
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Recipe
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is the ultimate comfort meal! This pasta casserole is packed with chicken, crispy bacon, and plenty of vegetables in a creamy ranch sauce. It’s an easy dish that the whole family will love.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces uncooked penne pasta
- ¼ cup diced red onion
- ½ cup chopped green peppers
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon olive oil, divided
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 - 14 ounce can diced tomatoes (undrained)
- 2 cups shredded, cooked chicken
- ½ cup chopped, cooked bacon
- 1 cup chopped spinach leaves
- 1 - 12 ounce can evaporated milk
- 2 ½ cups shredded mozzarella, divided (use pepper jack cheese if you want a spicier pasta)
- ½ cup Ranch salad dressing
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a baking dish with nonstick spray. (use a 10x10 or 9x13)
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions for al dente pasta. Drain and pour back into saucepan. Drizzle with one teaspoon of olive oil and toss. Cover and set aside.
- Saute the onions and peppers in 1 tablespoon oil for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the garlic, tomatoes, chicken, bacon, and spinach to the pan. Stir until the spinach leaves start to wilt. Cover and set aside.
- Heat the milk and 2 cups of mozzarella cheese in a saucepan until the cheese melts and becomes creamy.
- Stir in the ranch dressing, cooked noodles, and chicken mixture until everything is coated.
- Spoon the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top with the remaining mozzarella and cheddar cheese. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
- Broil an additional 1-2 minutes to brown the cheese, if desired. Keep a close eye on it so it does not burn.
Notes
*This dish has a slightly spicy taste to it if you use pepper jack cheese.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 405Total Fat: 25gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 79mgSodium: 596mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 2gSugar: 8gProtein: 24g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*This post was first published in May 2014. The pictures were updated in March 2022, and then the post was republished in January 2025.
Tiffany
What kind of onion should be used? The recipe says red, but the video shows otherwise.?
Jocelyn
You can honestly use whatever onion you like. I have used red and white and couldn't taste a difference.
beans
I would make it and put everything in a freezer pan, top with cheese, and freeze. Then thaw overnight in the refrigerator and remove from the fridge 30 minutes before baking. Because it will be cold, you will probably have to bake it longer than 20 minutes
Natalie
This is one of my go to recipes, just made it again today! So delicious never fails.
Jocelyn
I am so happy you are enjoying the pasta. Thank you so much for coming back and letting me know. 🙂
Joann
This looks delicious. Cannot wait to fix this for my family. This is just a suggestion; You could use a Rotisserie Chicken, & Real Bacon Bits If you are in a pinch. Just my opinion.Thanks so much for the wonderful recipes. Have a wonderful and blessed day.
Tara
My kids loved this cheesy chicken and pasta dish, and I loved how EASY it is to make!
Becky Hardin
Oh yes! I am making this ASAP! Sounds so delicious!
Rachael Yerkes
Well I just found my new favorite dinner!
Kristyn
You can't go wrong with chicken, bacon, & ranch!! My family loves this! Love the taste & how cheesy it is!
Julie
Yum! My family is going to love this! Thanks for sharing.