Crack Chicken Penne
A creamy and cheesy pasta dish featuring tender chicken and crispy bacon.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 6 slices smoked bacon cut into ½-inch diced pieces (reserve ¼ cup for garnish)
- 2 pieces boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch cubes (approx. 1 pound)
- 0.5 cup chopped yellow onion
- 0.25 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 ounce ranch seasoning
- 4 cups unsalted chicken stock or low-sodium
- 0.5 pound penne pasta
- 6 ounces cream cheese
- 10.5 ounces cream of chicken soup
- 8 ounces Colby jack cheese shredded (divided into 1½ cups and ½ cup)
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley divided
Instructions
- In a large 12-inch skillet over medium heat, add the diced bacon. Cook for 9-11 minutes until crispy, then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Reserve ¼ cup of the cooked bacon for garnish and set aside the rest. Drain off all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease from the skillet.
- Increase the heat to medium-high and add the cubed chicken, chopped onion, salt, and black pepper to the skillet. Cook for 5-6 minutes until the chicken is lightly browned. It’s okay if the chicken isn’t fully cooked at this stage.
- Once the chicken is browned and the onions are tender, stir in the ranch seasoning and chicken stock. Bring the mixture to a boil, then add the penne pasta. Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and cook for 15-20 minutes until the pasta is tender.
- Remove the lid and stir in the cream cheese and cream of chicken soup until fully combined and smooth.
- Add 1½ cups of the shredded Colby jack cheese, the cooked bacon (except for the reserved ¼ cup), and 1 tablespoon of the chopped parsley. Mix well to combine.
- Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of shredded Colby jack cheese on top (do not stir). Cover the skillet again and let it sit for 3-4 minutes until the cheese melts.
- Remove the lid and garnish with the reserved ¼ cup of bacon and the remaining 1 tablespoon of chopped parsley.
Notes
For a little extra flavor, consider adding some garlic powder or crushed red pepper flakes. You can substitute the penne pasta with any pasta shape you prefer.