Creamy One-Pot Crack Chicken Penne (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Main Ingredients
01 -
Thick-cut bacon (4 slices)
02 -
Boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces (1 pound)
03 -
Ranch seasoning mix (1 ounce packet or 2 tablespoons)
04 -
Uncooked penne pasta (8 ounces)
→ Sauce and Cheese
05 -
Low sodium chicken broth (3½ cups)
06 -
Cream cheese, preferably Philadelphia (4 ounces)
07 -
Shredded cheddar cheese (2 cups)
→ Garnish
08 -
Fresh parsley, chopped (1 tablespoon)
# Instructions:
01 -
Fry bacon in a large Dutch oven until crispy. Remove and chop into bits, leaving about 1 tablespoon of fat in the pot.
02 -
Add chicken pieces to the pot and cook over medium-high heat for 3 minutes until starting to brown. Stir in ranch seasoning to coat chicken evenly.
03 -
Add penne and chicken broth, bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 15-20 minutes until pasta is al dente, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
04 -
Stir in cream cheese until melted and sauce is creamy. Add bacon and 1½ cups cheddar cheese, stirring until well combined and melted.
05 -
Top with remaining cheese, cover for 30 seconds to melt. Alternatively, broil until bubbly and lightly browned. Garnish with parsley before serving.
# Notes:
01 -
Can be made in an Instant Pot using 2-2½ cups broth, 5 minutes on Poultry setting
02 -
Slow cooker option: Cook 6-8 hours on low or 4 hours on high, adding pasta 30 minutes before finish
03 -
One-pot meal that's perfect for easy cleanup