You can never go wrong with pasta for dinner! This Crock Pot Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is packed with juicy chicken, crispy bacon pieces, and zesty ranch seasoning, in a creamy cheese sauce. It's sure to be your family's new favorite pasta recipe!
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I love an easy and flavorful pasta dish and this creamy chicken bacon ranch pasta is loaded with flavor! The sauce is a blend of melted cream cheese, cream, cheddar cheese, and ranch dressing that tastes amazing. Pair that with the salty bacon, some fresh spinach, and chicken, and you have a filling meal that even the pickiest of eaters will love.
If you like recipes with ranch seasoning, you will love my Crock Pot Ranch Potatoes, Ranch Pork Chops, and Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Simple Dinner Idea: Pasta is always a great idea for dinner because it's so simple to make! This easy chicken pasta recipe is different from your usual spaghetti dinner, but is still just as easy and just as delicious.
- Flavors Everyone Will Love: With ingredients like zesty Ranch seasoning and crispy, salty bacon in a creamy sauce, this dish is sure to be a hit with the whole family! These flavors are crowd-favorites that will have everyone back for more!
- Budget-Friendly: Chicken and pasta are great meal components for a family on a budget. This pasta dish is filling and tastes great, plus the ingredients are also affordable.
Ingredients
- Chicken Breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are best for this recipe because they are easy to shred or chop after they finish cooking and aren't greasy.
- Chicken Broth: Add a lot of flavor by cooking the chicken in chicken broth instead of water. You can use regular chicken broth or a low-sodium broth.
- Ranch Seasoning: A packet of dry Ranch seasoning packs a flavorful punch and shines through in this bacon ranch chicken pasta.
- Cheese: Cream cheese gives the pasta dish its creamy texture as it melts down into the perfect tangy cheese sauce, while shredded sharp cheddar cheese brings more flavor.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: Heavy cream helps create the perfect sauce that isn't overly thick or thin.
- Fresh Spinach: Spinach and pasta are an amazing pair, especially in a rich, creamy sauce.
- Bacon: Cut up some crispy bacon or use bacon bits to add a salty, crunchy component to the dish.
- Pasta: You can use any pasta for this recipe. I used rotini, but penne and cavatoppi noodles are also great options. You could even use spaghetti, fettucini, or angel hair and make a chicken bacon ranch spaghetti.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
How To Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta in the Crock Pot
Pasta is always a good idea for dinner because it is easy to make! This chicken bacon ranch crock pot pasta has a unique flavor but is just as simple as any other pasta recipe.
- Step 1: Season the Chicken. Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of a 6-quart crock pot with the chicken broth. Season it with the Ranch seasoning mix and pepper and place the cream cheese over the top.
- Step 2: Cover and Cook. Secure the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 2½-3½ hours.
- Step 3: Add the Other Ingredients. After the chicken is fully cooked, remove it from the crock pot and mix in the shredded cheddar cheese, heavy cream, spinach, and bacon. Cut the chicken into cubes and add it back to the crock pot, then stir to combine everything. Let it cook for an additional 30 minutes.
- Step 4: Prepare the Pasta. Cook the pasta separately on the stove according to the package instructions until it is al dente. Then mix the pasta into the sauce with the chicken.
Expert Tips
- Cubed vs Shredded Chicken: When you remove the cooked chicken from the slow cooker to stir in the cream and other ingredients, you can either cut it into bite-sized cubes or shred the chicken. This is a personal preference, so you can serve the chicken whichever way you prefer.
- Use Freshly Shredded Cheese: Pre-packaged cheese may save you a little time, but freshly shredded cheese melts more evenly and tastes better. I always recommend you shred cheese from the block. It's worth the extra work!
- Cook the Pasta Separately: Cooking pasta in the slow cooker is tricky. It's so easy for it to undercook or overcook. Ensure you have the perfect al dente pasta by cooking it separately and then stirring it into the sauce.
Serving Suggestions
Pasta dishes are always a crowd-pleaser because they are filling, flavorful, and easy to make. This bacon chicken ranch pasta has chunks of tender chicken, crispy bacon, and a zesty, cheesy sauce. It's something the whole family will love for dinner any night of the week!
- Serve this creamy chicken pasta with a Caesar salad or a salad with Italian dressing for an easy side dish.
- Skip the pasta and try this chicken bacon ranch recipe over a bed of garlic mashed potatoes instead!
- Get your veggies in by serving glazed carrots, green beans, or Brussels sprouts with the pasta.
- Breadsticks, garlic bread, and focaccia are the perfect pairings for a pasta recipe!
Recipe FAQs
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat them in the microwave in 60-second increments until they are warmed through.
Cut your cooking time in half and use pre-cooked chicken instead of raw chicken breasts. Rotisserie chicken, canned chicken, or leftover chicken from yesterday's dinner are great options for this chicken pasta dish.
If you forgot to put dinner in the crock pot, never fear! It's easy to make this pasta dish on the stove. First, cook your chicken until it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit, then chop it up and set it aside. In a large pot, melt the cream cheese, then stir in the ranch seasoning, heavy cream, shredded cheese, spinach, bacon, and fully cooked chicken. Cook your pasta separately and stir it into the sauce with everything else.
More Delicious Crock Pot Chicken Ranch Recipes
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Crock Pot Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ½ cup low sodium chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 ounce packet of dry ranch mix
- 8 ounce cream cheese (cut into 8 cubes
- 1½ cup cheddar cheese
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 cups fresh spinach (chopped)
- 8 strips bacon (cooked and chopped)
- 1 pound rotini pasta (cooked to al dente)
Instructions
- Place chicken in the bottom of a 6-quart crock pot and pour chicken broth over the top.
- Season the chicken with black pepper and ranch seasoning mix. Then, place the cream cheese on top.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 2½-3½ hours.
- Remove chicken and mix in cheddar cheese until well combined. Add heavy cream, spinach, and bacon. Mix until well combined. Then add the chicken back in and continue to cook for 30 minutes. (* See Notes)
- While the new ingredients are cooking, cook pasta to al dente per directions on the package.
- Mix pasta into the sauce and serve while hot. Enjoy!
Notes
- The fully cooked chicken can be cut into bite-sized cubes or shredded based on your personal preference.
- Be sure to cook chicken to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit before serving.
- Shred cheese from the block instead of using prepackaged cheese because it tastes better and melts evenly.
- Cook the pasta separately and stir it into the sauce to ensure it is perfectly cooked every time.
Nutrition
*Nutrition information is an estimate. It may vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact ingredient numbers, I recommend calculating them with your preferred nutrition calculator.
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