Chicken-Bacon-Ranch Baked Penne

  • Prep 20 min
  • Total45 min
  • Ingredients7
  • Servings6

Pasta is infinitely better packed with cheese and baked into a creamy casserole—this chicken, bacon, ranch combo proves it.File this under the definition of comfort food!

Ingredients

1
lb penne pasta, cooked and drained
2
cups shredded cooked chicken
1
jar (15 oz) Alfredo pasta sauce
1/2
cup ranch dressing
6
slices chopped cooked bacon
2
cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8 oz)

Chopped parsley, if desired

Steps

  • 1Heat oven to 350°F. Grease or spray 13×9-inch pan.
  • 2In large bowl, place 1 lb cooked and drained penne pasta, 2 cups shredded cooked chicken, 1 jar (15 oz) Alfredo pasta sauce and 1/2 cup ranch dressing. Stir to combine. Pour mixture in pan; spread evenly.
  • 3Sprinkle 6 slices chopped cooked bacon evenly over top, then sprinkle with 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8 oz).
  • 4Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.

Expert Tips

  • That optional sprinkle of chopped parsley adds not only bright color but also a fresh taste—don’t skimp on the amount you use.
  • No leftover chicken? Buy a rotisserie chicken—a 2 lb. bird will give you about 3 cups of meat.
  • Use Cheddar cheese instead of mozzarella for a more cheesy flavor.
  • Other short pastas, like fusilli or rotini, work equally well, making the casserole easy to scoop up to serve.

More About This Recipe

  • Pasta is our go-to dinner and there are few flavor combos we appreciate more than chicken, bacon and ranch, so it was only a matter of time before we introduced them to one another. This chicken-bacon-ranch pasta dish is an easy dinner that has the potential to be even easier when you use precooked bacon and rotisserie chicken. Have a few boxes of penne pasta on hand? You can make a casserole, dinner in the skillet or a one-pot meal with these penne recipes.

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