Description
A delightful and quick dish featuring tender chicken, savory beef, and crispy bacon in a creamy ranch sauce, perfect for busy weeknights or gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450g) penne or rotini pasta
- 1–2 tbsp salt, for pasta water
- 8 oz (227g) thick-cut beef bacon, diced
- 1 lb (450g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
- 1 lb (450g) lean ground beef
- Salt (to taste)
- Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 4–5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ½ cups (360ml) chicken broth
- 1 ½ cups (360ml) heavy cream
- 4 oz (113g) cream cheese, softened and cubed
- 1 packet (1 oz / 28g) dry ranch seasoning mix
- 1 cup (110g) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- ½ cup (55g) Parmesan cheese, shredded
- ½ tsp dried parsley
- Fresh parsley or chives, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- In a large pot, cook diced beef bacon until crispy. Remove the bacon but reserve 1-2 tablespoons of the fat. Add cubed chicken, season with half of the protein spices (salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika), and sear until browned. Remove the chicken from the pot. Then, add ground beef, season with the remaining spices, and brown. Drain any excess fat.
- In a separate pot, boil salted water and cook your chosen pasta until al dente. Remember to reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
- In the pot with the beef, melt the butter and sauté the diced onion until translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute. Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits (fond) from the bottom of the pot, and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Lower the heat to medium-low. Stir in the heavy cream and softened cream cheese until the sauce is smooth. Whisk in the dry ranch seasoning mix to infuse that delicious ranch flavor.
- Incorporate the shredded cheddar and Parmesan cheeses, stirring until they melt into the sauce. Adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and dried parsley to taste.
- Add the cooked pasta, chicken, and crispy beef bacon to the sauce. Gently toss everything together to coat the ingredients evenly. Adjust the consistency with more pasta water if needed. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley or chives and extra Parmesan cheese before serving hot.
Notes
This dish is best served hot. Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Reheat gently with added moisture to restore creaminess.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 990mg
- Fat: 40g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 160mg
Keywords: pasta, creamy, chicken, beef, bacon, ranch, quick dinner, comfort food