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A plate of creamy Crack Chicken Penne pasta, topped with crispy bacon and chopped parsley. The dish is served on a white plate with a fork resting on the side.

Easy crack chicken penne

This Crack Chicken Penne is a quick, creamy pasta dish with tender chicken, crispy bacon, and a ranch sauce. Ready in 30 minutes, it's the perfect one-pot dinner for busy weeknights!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 5
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 600
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 8 oz Penne Pasta Cooked to al dente
  • 2 Boneless Chicken ( breasts) Cut into bite-sized cubes
  • 6 strips Bacon Crispy crumbled
  • 1 Yellow Onion Chopped
  • 3 cloves Garlic Minced
  • 8 oz Cream Cheese Softened
  • 1 packet Ranch Seasoning
  • 1 cup Chicken Broth
  • 1 cup Heavy Cream
  • 1 cup Shredded Cheddar
  • ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese For topping
  • ¼ cup Green Onions Optional for garnish
  • ¼ teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes Optional for spice
  • ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper To taste
  • ¼ teaspoon Garlic Powder Optional for flavor

Equipment

  • 1 Large pot For boiling pasta
  • 1 Deep Skillet/Dutch Oven For cooking chicken, bacon, and sauce
  • 1 Knife For cutting chicken
  • 1 Wooden spoon For stirring the sauce

Method
 

  1. Cook pasta to al dente, drain, and set aside.
  2. Cook bacon until crispy, remove, and save fat.
  3. Cook seasoned chicken in bacon fat until done, then shred.
  4. Sauté onions and garlic, then add ranch seasoning and spices.
  5. Mix in cream cheese, chicken broth, and cream; stir until smooth.
  6. Add shredded chicken, cooked pasta, cheddar cheese, and bacon to the sauce. Stir to coat.
  7. Top with Parmesan, green onions, and serve.

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.