Creamy Crack Chicken Penne Recipe
Enjoy a creamy and savory dinner with this Crack Chicken Penne recipe. Featuring tender chicken breasts seasoned with ranch, crispy bacon, and a luscious blend of cream cheese and cheddar, all tossed with perfectly cooked penne pasta. This skillet meal is comforting, rich, and easy to prepare — perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Meat
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Seasonings and Dairy
- 1 packet ranch seasoning
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Oil and Garnishes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Cook the bacon: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the thick-cut bacon slices until they are crispy. Once done, remove the bacon and set it aside on a paper towel-lined plate. Reserve the bacon fat left in the skillet for added flavor in the next steps.
- Brown the chicken: Add the boneless, skinless chicken breasts to the skillet with the reserved bacon fat. Sprinkle the ranch seasoning evenly over the chicken. Cook the chicken, turning occasionally, until both sides are well browned and the chicken is nearly cooked through.
- Simmer pasta and broth: Stir in the penne pasta and pour in the low-sodium chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook until the pasta is al dente and most of the broth has been absorbed, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Add cream cheese: Lower the heat and add the cream cheese to the skillet. Stir continuously until the cream cheese melts completely and creates a creamy sauce coating the pasta and chicken.
- Combine bacon and cheddar: Crumble the cooked bacon and fold it into the skillet along with the shredded cheddar cheese. Stir gently until the cheese is melted and well incorporated into the creamy sauce.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle the chopped fresh parsley over the dish before serving to add a bright, fresh note to this rich and hearty meal.
Notes
- For extra spice, add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes when browning the chicken.
- Substitute penne pasta with any other short pasta like rigatoni or rotini if preferred.
- Use low-fat cream cheese to reduce calories while maintaining creaminess.
- Make sure to reserve the bacon fat as it adds a smoky depth of flavor to the dish.
- This recipe can be adapted to a slow cooker by browning ingredients separately then layering and cooking on low for 2-3 hours.
Keywords: Crack Chicken Penne, creamy chicken pasta, bacon ranch pasta, easy one skillet meal, comfort food pasta
