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Chicken Bacon Ranch Baked Penne

Cheesy Chicken Bacon Ranch Baked Penne for Cozy Dinners

This Chicken Bacon Ranch Baked Penne is a creamy, cheesy dish combining tender pasta, chicken, and bacon, perfect for cozy dinners.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Resting Time 5 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Sauce
  • 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 cup milk 2% or whole
  • 1/2 cup salted butter can substitute with unsalted
  • 4 ounces cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
For the Pasta
  • 8 ounces penne pasta can substitute with rigatoni or ziti
For the Filling
  • 2 cups cooked chicken breast can use rotisserie chicken
  • 1 cup ranch dressing homemade for fresher taste
  • 6 slices cooked bacon can substitute with turkey bacon
For the Topping
  • 1 cup freshly grated Mozzarella cheese store-bought shredded works too
  • freshly chopped parsley optional, can substitute with chives

Equipment

  • 9x13-inch baking dish
  • medium saucepan
  • large pot
  • mixing bowl

Method
 

Step‑by‑Step Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
  2. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, heavy whipping cream, and milk until smooth.
  3. Melt salted butter and cream cheese in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring until smooth.
  4. Gradually whisk in the flour mixture and cook over medium heat until thickened, about 5 minutes.
  5. Boil salted water in a large pot, cook penne pasta according to package instructions until al dente, then drain.
  6. In the pot, combine the drained penne, cooked chicken, Alfredo sauce, and ranch dressing; stir gently.
  7. Pour the mixture into the baking dish and top with cooked bacon and freshly grated Mozzarella cheese.
  8. Bake uncovered for about 25 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and lightly golden brown. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 450kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 30gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 7.5gCholesterol: 80mgSodium: 800mgPotassium: 600mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 500IUCalcium: 200mgIron: 2mg

Notes

This dish can be assembled ahead of time and refrigerated. Just allow extra baking time if coming straight from the fridge.

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