Description
Penne pasta, creamy Alfredo sauce, and crispy beef bacon come together to create this Chicken Bacon Ranch Baked Penne!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup milk (2% or whole milk)
- 3/4 cup salted butter
- 1 block (8 ounces) cream cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 1/2 pound cooked chicken breast (chopped or shredded)
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
- 6 slices cooked beef bacon (chopped)
- 1 cup freshly grated Mozzarella cheese
- freshly chopped parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
- Mix Sauce Base: In a small bowl combine flour, heavy whipping cream and milk. Whisk until smooth and combined. Set aside.
- Melt: In a medium saucepan, over medium-low heat, add butter and cream cheese. Stir with a whisk until both are melted.
- Thicken: Slowly add in flour/milk mixture to saucepan. Continue to whisk until mixture starts to thicken.
- Finish Sauce: Once thickened, remove from heat. Stir in Parmesan cheese and garlic powder until sauce is smooth and creamy. Set aside.
- Cook Pasta: Cook penne pasta in a large pot of water until al dente. Drain water and return pasta to pot.
- Combine: Add the cooked chicken, Alfredo sauce, and ranch dressing. Carefully stir to combine.
- Prepare Dish: Pour mixture into prepared baking dish; spreading out evenly.
- Top: Sprinkle the chopped beef bacon and Mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake: Bake, uncovered, for 25 minutes or until hot, bubbly and cheese is melted.
- Rest and Serve: Carefully remove from oven. Allow to stand for 5 minutes before serving. Serve with fresh chopped parsley, if desired.
Notes
Serve this pasta dish with a side of Garlic Parmesan Breadsticks, Gorgonzola Garlic Bread, or a simple salad for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 880 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 1250 mg
- Fat: 58 g
- Saturated Fat: 32 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 165 mg
Keywords: chicken bacon ranch, baked penne, creamy pasta, comfort food, cheesy pasta bake