Looking for a new comfort food dish to make for dinner? Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is a delicious casserole made with plenty of cheese, chicken, and bacon. The easy baked pasta recipe will impress your friends and family with its amazing flavors.
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Pasta is my love language. Noodles covered in sauce and melted cheese will always get my vote for dinner. In fact, we make this creamy homemade mac and cheese and this buffalo chicken pasta quite often.
I'll never get tired of those two casseroles, but sometimes I get the urge to try something new. Enter in a new family favorite that we can't get enough of.
This chicken bacon ranch pasta was inspired by a sandwich that I had at Subway years ago. There is just something so delicious about the combo of flavors.
Why You Will Love This Pasta Bake
Who doesn't love cheese, chicken, and bacon? This pasta bake has all your favorite ingredients, and it's so easy to make.
Our chicken bacon ranch pasta bake is the perfect solution to "what's for dinner?". It only requires 15 minutes of prep time, and it bakes in 20 minutes.
The best part is that you can make this cheesy pasta casserole ahead of time. Just pop it in the oven when you're ready to eat.
It's the perfect easy pasta for busy weeknights or gatherings with friends and family. The cheesy, bacon-y goodness will have everyone asking for seconds and the recipe.
Main Ingredients Needed
Here are the main components to this chicken bacon ranch pasta recipe. It is made with a creamy cheesy sauce, chicken, and bacon for a delicious and satisfying meal.
- Pasta - We like using penne noodles for this casserole, but any pasta noodle will work.
- Veggies - A mixture of onions, green peppers, spinach, and tomatoes give this chicken casserole so much flavor and color.
- Garlic - Adds flavor to the cheese mixture.
- Meat - Cooked chicken and bacon are the two stars in this dish. Any type of leftover chicken is great to use in this recipe. You can grill chicken breast and cut them up or buy a rotisserie chicken from the store and shred it.
- Cheese Sauce - Using a can of evaporated milk, mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese, and ranch dressing creates a creamy sauce that coats everything.
How to make Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
This easy and cheesy chicken ranch pasta dinner can be on your dinner table in under 40 minutes. Follow are simple steps to have it ready in time.
Cook the pasta. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Dump in the pasta and cook until al dente.
Prep the veggies and meats. Chop and dice the vegetables and cooked chicken. Cook the bacon and drain the grease.
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 set it aside.
Make the cheese sauce. In another pot, heat the canned milk and shredded cheese until melted and creamy, then stir in the creamy ranch dressing, cooked pasta, and sautéed veggies.
Bake the pasta. Pour the cheesy pasta mixture into a greased pan, top it with more shredded cheese, and bake until melted and bubbly. Give it few extra minutes under the broiler to brown the layer of cheese on top, if you like.
Storage Recommendations
In the Refrigerator - Keep the creamy pasta leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
To Reheat - Heat single servings on a glass plate in the microwave for 30-45 seconds. For the full pan, cover it with foil and heat at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
How to Serve
This bacon ranch pasta is a delicious and filling meal on its own, but sometimes we like to add side dishes to stretch it out further. Here are some great options.
- Garden Salad with Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Roasted Veggies
- Garlic Herb Bread
- Oreo Brownies
Tips and Tricks
- Chop the veggies the night before and store them in containers in the fridge.
- If you cook the pasta ahead of time, be sure to toss it with a little bit of olive oil, so the noodles do not stick together.
- Change up the veggies in this casserole. A few that would be good are broccoli, peas, asparagus, or mushrooms.
- Try other types of cheese. We love using pepper jack because it gives the pasta a spicy flair.
- Make sure to use freshly shredded cheese because it really does melt better. The pre-packaged cheese from the store has a coating to keep it from sticking, and that hinders it from melting as well.
- Garnish the finished casserole with extra cooked bacon and chopped parsley for a pop of color.
FAQ
Yes. Prepare the pasta and place it in a dish. Do not bake! Cover it tightly and place the pan in the refrigerator.
Set the dish out 30 minutes before putting it in the oven. Cover with foil and bake for 20-25 minutes, then remove the foil and bake an additional 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 continue to cook in the oven too.
Not at all. You can save time by stirring the extra shredded cheese into the hot pasta in the skillet and serve it without baking.
More Easy Dinner Recipes
- Cheddar Broccoli Chicken Lasagna Rolls
- Buffalo Chicken Pasta
- Sausage Alfredo Stuffed Shells
- Meat Lover’s Pizza Skillet Ravioli
- Cheese Tortellini Skillet Meal
- Chicken Pasta Bake recipe
- Bacon Mac and Cheese
- Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole
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Recipe
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is a delicious casserole made with plenty of cheese, chicken, and bacon. The easy baked pasta recipe will impress your friends and family with its amazing flavors.
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 degrees. 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 1 teaspoon 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 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.
*The post for Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Bake was first published May 2014. The post and pictures were updated March 2022.
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! 😉