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Crack Chicken Penne Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 400 reviews

A comforting and creamy one-pot Crac Chicken Penne recipe featuring tender chicken, crispy bacon, and a cheesy ranch-infused sauce cooked together with penne pasta for a quick and delicious meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat & Dairy

  • 4 slices bacon (thick cut)
  • 1 pound chicken breast (boneless and skinless, cut into small bite size pieces)
  • 4 ounces cream cheese (Philadelphia recommended)
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese (shredded)

Pantry

  • 1 ounce ranch seasoning (1 packet or 2 tbsp)
  • 8 ounces penne pasta (uncooked, or pasta of your choice)
  • 3½ cups chicken broth (low sodium or no salt added)

Herbs

  • 1 tablespoon parsley (chopped)

Instructions

  1. Cook the bacon: Cook the bacon in a large Dutch oven until crispy. Remove the bacon and drain some of the bacon fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pot. Chop the bacon into bits.
  2. Cook the chicken: Add the chicken pieces to the Dutch oven with the reserved bacon fat and cook over medium-high heat for about 3 minutes until the chicken starts to brown but is still slightly pink inside.
  3. Season the chicken: Sprinkle the ranch seasoning over the chicken and stir thoroughly to coat all the pieces evenly with the seasoning mix.
  4. Add pasta and broth: Add the uncooked penne and 3½ cups chicken broth to the pot. Stir to combine, then bring to a boil.
  5. Cook the pasta: Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes until the pasta is al dente, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. There should be some liquid left; add more broth if needed.
  6. Create the sauce and add bacon and cheese: Stir in the cream cheese until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Return the chopped bacon to the pot. Add 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese and stir until melted and well combined.
  7. Melt cheese topping: Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup cheddar cheese over the top, cover the pot, and cook for about 30 seconds off the heat just to melt the cheese. Alternatively, place the Dutch oven under a broiler for 5 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and browned.
  8. Garnish and serve: Sprinkle chopped parsley over the top and serve immediately.

Notes

  • Use low sodium chicken broth to better control saltiness.
  • Stir the pasta occasionally during cooking to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
  • If cream cheese is cold, cut it into smaller pieces to melt faster.
  • Bacon fat adds flavor but can be reduced for a lighter dish.
  • Broiling at the end is optional but gives a nice golden cheese crust.

Keywords: Crac Chicken Penne, creamy chicken pasta, bacon pasta recipe, one pot chicken pasta, ranch chicken penne, cheesy chicken pasta

Find it online: https://platedandproud.com/crack-chicken-penne-recipe/