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Crack Chicken Penne

Crack chicken penne is a weeknight pasta dinner with penne coated in a thick ranch cream cheese sauce. Shredded chicken, crispy bacon bits, and melted cheddar come together until everything is hot, creamy, and evenly coated.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 695
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Crack chicken penne
  • 3 cup cooked chicken, shredded
  • 8 strip bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled
  • 12 oz penne pasta, cooked
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 packet (1 oz) ranch seasoning mix
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened and cubed
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 0.5 cup heavy cream
  • 1.5 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 fresh chives for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Cook the ranch cream base
  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and cook minced garlic for 1 minute, stirring until fragrant and lightly sizzling.
  2. Add chicken broth and cream cheese cubes and stir over medium-low heat until the cream cheese melts completely and the mixture looks smooth.
  3. Stir in ranch seasoning and heavy cream, then simmer for 3-4 minutes until the sauce is slightly thickened and cohesive.
Toss and melt the toppings
  1. Add shredded chicken, most of the crumbled bacon, and cooked penne, then toss until everything is evenly coated in the thick ranch sauce.
  2. Top with shredded cheddar, cover the skillet, and cook for 2-3 minutes until the cheddar is fully melted and glossy.
  3. Garnish with the remaining bacon and fresh chives, then serve immediately while hot and creamy.

Notes

Pro tip: use softened (not cold) cream cheese so it melts quickly into a smooth ranch sauce. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days; reheat gently with a splash of chicken broth if the sauce thickens. Freezing is not recommended because the cream cheese sauce can become grainy after thawing. Dietary swap: for a lighter option, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream (the sauce may be slightly thinner).