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.
This post was first published in May 2014. The pictures were updated in March 2022, and the post was republished in January 2025.
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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.
"This is one of my go to recipes, just made it again today! So delicious never fails." -Natalie
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.
SallyJoJo
We really enjoyed this! Made just a couple of changes, I used ham instead of bacon and all cheddar cheese and add 2 Tbl jalapeno. Very good! Thanks for something different that didn't have a can of cream of something soup! 🙂
Yvonne
This was delicious! My husband and 4 year old had seconds, and my husband wanted to go back for thirds of his stomach would have held more! Having leftovers for lunch today, I'm excited.
katie @ fromicecreamtomarathon
I made this for dinner tonight, and it was delicious. You're right, the fam LOVED it!!
Jaren (Diary of a Recipe Collector)
This looks to die for good!! Yummy, cheesy, goodness!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Jaren! 🙂
Stephanie @ PlainChicken
Looks insanely delicious! Must try soon. YUM!
Maria
This looks like some serious comfort food!!!! So creamy and cheesy!! It looks delicious!!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Maria!
Chels R.
OMG-the melted cheese is just calling my name! I've got like 20 boxes of penne pasta in my pantry because it's my hubby's fave cut of pasta so I need to make this. Looks completely amazing!
Nancy P.@thebittersideofsweet
Jocelyn, this dish looks absolutely amazing! My family would be coming back for seconds and thirds on this one!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Nancy!
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor
It is a good thing that I am not on a diet because I wouldn't be able to resist a serving of this pasta bake. Look at all that cheesy goodness!
Kim (Feed Me, Seymour)
All the cheesiness... I must have this. I'm a BIG bacon fan so I'd eat the entire tray in one sitting unless someone stopped me.
aimee@shugarysweets
I'm loving this dish! You are rocking on the cheese and pasta meals girlfriend. Can my kids come live with you???
Jocelyn Brubaker
Absolutely! As long as you take mine!! 😉
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness
Chicken, bacon, ranch, cheese and carbs? That is my kind of dinner! Comfort food at it's finest! Nom-a-licious girlfriend!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Haha, thanks Taylor! 😉
Chloe @ foodlikecake
This looks so good!
Sharlynn Ng
Omg, these are amazing! I'm a huge sucker for pastas and I can't help it even though I really shouldn't be having too much of the cheesy carby goodness! I totally need to try a spinach and salmon pasta!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Yum, that sounds good! Thanks Sharlynn!
Amy @ Amy's Healthy Baking
Jocelyn, send me some of those savory brain waves -- I desperately need them!! My body isn't happy with me for taste testing so many cookie and cupcake recipes right now. It's begging for healthy real food, but I honestly don't know where to start. It's actually overwhelming! But I really love how you're adding savory dishes to your repertoire (I've been staring at your sweet treats on Pinterest for months now, so I know how much you enjoy making those!). That takes courage to step outside of your baking comfort zone! And my brother's Pinewood Derbies were always really fun. They held his at the elementary school at night, so I'd sneak out with a friend or two to play on the playground in the dark. Such fun memories!
Tieghan
Comfort food at its best! Looks awesome!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Tieghan! 🙂
DessertForTwo
This is my kind of comfort food!
Mary
This is a crowd pleaser! - my crowd will definitely be pleased - delicious!
Mary
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Mary! 🙂
Ilona @ Ilona's Passion
Perfect dinner, yummy! Pasta and chicken:)
Tanya Schroeder
Oh this would make my family extemely happy! We are huge pasta lovers and bacon lovers!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Then this is the pasta for you and your fam! 😉