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Crack Chicken Penne

Crack chicken penne is a weeknight chicken pasta with penne coated in a thick ranch cream cheese sauce, plus tender shredded chicken, crispy bacon, and melted cheddar. The sauce is simmered until slightly thickened, then topped with cheddar so it melts right on top.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 720
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken
  • 3 cup cooked chicken shredded
Bacon
  • 8 strip bacon cooked crispy and crumbled
Pasta
  • 12 oz penne pasta cooked
Oil and aromatics
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 clove garlic minced
Ranch and dairy
  • 1 packet (1 oz) ranch seasoning mix
  • 8 oz cream cheese softened and cubed
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 0.5 cup heavy cream
  • 1.5 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Garnish
  • 1 fresh chives for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Make the ranch cream sauce
  1. Cook the garlic in olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat for 1 minute, stirring until fragrant.
  2. Add chicken broth and cream cheese cubes, then stir over medium-low heat until the cream cheese melts completely and the mixture looks smooth.
  3. Stir in ranch seasoning and heavy cream until combined, then simmer for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened and glossy.
Combine and finish
  1. Add shredded chicken, most of the bacon, and cooked penne, then toss until everything is evenly coated in the sauce.
  2. Top with shredded cheddar and cover the skillet for 2-3 minutes until the cheddar is fully melted.
  3. Garnish with the remaining bacon and fresh chives, then serve while hot and creamy.

Notes

Pro tip: soften and cube the cream cheese for faster melting so your ranch sauce turns silky instead of grainy. Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 3 days; reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of chicken broth or cream to loosen. Freezing is not recommended because the cream sauce can separate after thawing. For a lighter swap, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream (sauce may be slightly thinner).