Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
Made with crispy bacon, tender chicken cutlets, plenty of butter, mushrooms, onions, broth, cream, ranch seasoning, and pasta.
Ingredients
- 1½ cups short-cut pasta penne, rotini, or similar
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
For the Chicken:
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon chopped
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 3-4 chicken cutlets
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Ranch Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 cups sliced mushrooms
- 1 cup diced onion about ½ large onion
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1½ tablespoons flour
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1½ cups heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions, reserving ½ cup of pasta water before draining. Set aside.
- While pasta cooks, prepare all ingredients: slice mushrooms, dice onion, and chop bacon.
- In a large Dutch oven or deep frying pan, cook chopped bacon over medium-high heat for about 6 minutes or until crisp. Remove bacon to a paper towel–lined plate.
- Drain most of the bacon grease, leaving a thin layer in the pan. Add 1 tablespoon butter and chicken cutlets. Season with salt and pepper and cook for about 3 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter, then add mushrooms and onions. Cook for about 3 minutes, stirring often. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.
- Sprinkle flour over the vegetable mixture. Gradually whisk in ½ cup chicken broth until smooth, then add remaining broth, heavy cream, ranch seasoning, and Parmesan. Season to taste.
- Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, stirring until thickened. Add drained pasta, chopped chicken, and crumbled bacon. Toss to coat, thinning with reserved pasta water as needed.
- Adjust seasoning if necessary and serve warm.
Notes
- Cook Bacon First. The rendered bacon fat is mixed with a bit of butter and used to cook the chicken cutlets, adding an extra layer of flavor.
- Whisk constantly after adding the flour and liquids. As it simmers it will thicken into a smooth creamy sauce.
- Reserve some pasta water before draining. Pasta water is great for thinning out and binding pasta sauce.
- Nutrition values are an estimate only.
Nutrition
Calories: 625kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 38gFat: 38gFiber: 2gSugar: 5g
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