This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Casserole is a comforting one-pot meal that combines tender chicken, crispy bacon, and creamy ranch dressing for a hearty and satisfying family dinner. This is a stovetop/oven recipe but if you love kitchen efficiency, parts of the dish can be prepared in the Instant Pot (e.g. shredded chicken, cooked pasta).
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword Bacon, Casserole, Casserole Recipes, chicken pasta, Comfort Food, Dinner Recipes, Instant Pot Casserole, Tuna Noodle Casserole, Tuna Recipes, Instant Pot Pasta Recipes, Canned Tuna Recipes, Budget-Friendly, Instant Pot Dinner Recipes, Stovestop
Prep Time 5 minutesminutes
Cook Time 20 minutesminutes
Total Time 25 minutesminutes
Servings 54-6 servings
Calories 716kcal
Author Irena Macri
Ingredients
0.8lbpenne pastacooked (12-13 oz | 350-400 g)
2cupschickenshredded cooked, 10-11 oz | 300 g
1tablespoonbuttermelted
1teaspoongarlic powder
1teaspoononion powder
2tablespoonseasoning mixdry ranch dressing
2cupshalf and half13 fl.oz | 500 ml
¼teaspoonsea salt
1cupbacondiced (8 oz | 225 g)
Instructions
Make-ahead components: Cook pasta for 1 minute less than stated on the pack as it will continue to cook and soften in the oven. Strain and let it cool slightly.
You can make shredded chicken in the Instant Pot or use any leftover cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken. Alternatively cut 1 large chicken breast in halves and pan-fry for 4-5 minutes each side, then shred or slice.
Heat the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 F | 180 C. Spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Combine pasta casserole. In a large bowl, add cooked pasta, shredded chicken, melted butter, garlic powder, onion powder, ranch dressing, half and half and salt. Combine all together and transfer in the baking dish. Bake in the middle of the oven for 20 minutes.
Cook bacon in the oven. Prepare a baking tray with parchment paper. Cut bacon into small pieces, lay on the parchment paper and roast at the same time with the chicken casserole.
Note: We designed the recipe in the way that the bacon can be cooked at the same time as pasta baking but you can pan-fry or grill it separately on the stovetop.
Notes
Storage Tips:
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Reheat on low-medium heat until hot in the centre.