Ranch dressing was invented in 1972 by a plumber in Alaska—now it's somehow the star of this Italian pasta bake.
Chicken Bacon Ranch Alfredo Pasta Bake
Satisfy your family’s cravings with this delectable Chicken Bacon Ranch Alfredo Pasta Bake! This comforting dish features tender chicken, crispy bacon, and a creamy ranch-infused Alfredo sauce, all baked to perfection with a golden cheese topping. Get ready for a crowd-pleasing dinner that’s as easy to make as it is to devour!
Prep
15
min
Cook
20
min
Serves
4
people
Level
beginner
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥩Meat & Seafood(2)
- 6 pieces of cooked and crumbled bacon
- 1 lb cooked chicken, chopped or shredded (454 g)
🥛Dairy & Eggs(2)
- 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese (240 ml)
- 1 1/2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese (360 ml)
🫙Pantry Staples(1)
- 1 lb of Cellentani Pasta (454 g)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(1)
- 1 Ranch seasoning packet
📦Other(1)
- 15 oz jar of Alfredo Sauce (425 g)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Cook at least 6 pieces of bacon and chop into small pieces.
- 2
Boil one pound of pasta according to the directions on the package.
- 3
Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- 4
Pour the cooked pasta into the bottom of the baking dish.
- 5
Add 1 lb of cooked chicken, one jar of Alfredo sauce, and a ranch seasoning packet.
- 6
Add some of the mozzarella, cheddar cheese, and some of the bacon and stir everything together well.
- 7
Top with a little bit more cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, and crumbled bacon.
- 8
Bake at 375 degrees F for about 15-20 minutes.
- 9
Serve and enjoy!
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Cook your pasta 2-3 minutes under package directions (to al dente minus) because it will continue cooking in the oven and absorb sauce, preventing mushy texture.timing2-3 minutes under
- ✓Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining to thin the Alfredo sauce if needed - the starch content helps bind the sauce to pasta at a molecular level.technique1/2 cup reserved
- ✓Let your cooked chicken rest and cool for 10 minutes before adding to prevent the residual 165°F+ heat from breaking the Alfredo sauce emulsion.timing10 minutes, 165°F+
- ✓Mix only 3/4 of your cheese into the pasta base, reserving 1/4 for topping - this creates proper cheese distribution and prevents the bottom layer from becoming rubbery.technique3/4 mixed, 1/4 reserved
- ✓Cover with foil for the first 12 minutes at 375°F, then uncover for final 8 minutes to prevent moisture loss while achieving golden-brown cheese surface through Maillard reaction.timing12 minutes covered, 8 minutes uncovered
Share this recipe
Prep
15
min
Cook
20
min
Serves
4
people
Level
beginner
Share this recipe
Ranch dressing was invented in 1972 by a plumber in Alaska—now it's somehow the star of this Italian pasta bake.
Chicken Bacon Ranch Alfredo Pasta Bake
Satisfy your family’s cravings with this delectable Chicken Bacon Ranch Alfredo Pasta Bake! This comforting dish features tender chicken, crispy bacon, and a creamy ranch-infused Alfredo sauce, all baked to perfection with a golden cheese topping. Get ready for a crowd-pleasing dinner that’s as easy to make as it is to devour!
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥩Meat & Seafood(2)
- 6 pieces of cooked and crumbled bacon
- 1 lb cooked chicken, chopped or shredded (454 g)
🥛Dairy & Eggs(2)
- 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese (240 ml)
- 1 1/2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese (360 ml)
🫙Pantry Staples(1)
- 1 lb of Cellentani Pasta (454 g)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(1)
- 1 Ranch seasoning packet
📦Other(1)
- 15 oz jar of Alfredo Sauce (425 g)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Cook at least 6 pieces of bacon and chop into small pieces.
- 2
Boil one pound of pasta according to the directions on the package.
- 3
Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- 4
Pour the cooked pasta into the bottom of the baking dish.
- 5
Add 1 lb of cooked chicken, one jar of Alfredo sauce, and a ranch seasoning packet.
- 6
Add some of the mozzarella, cheddar cheese, and some of the bacon and stir everything together well.
- 7
Top with a little bit more cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, and crumbled bacon.
- 8
Bake at 375 degrees F for about 15-20 minutes.
- 9
Serve and enjoy!
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Cook your pasta 2-3 minutes under package directions (to al dente minus) because it will continue cooking in the oven and absorb sauce, preventing mushy texture.timing2-3 minutes under
- ✓Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining to thin the Alfredo sauce if needed - the starch content helps bind the sauce to pasta at a molecular level.technique1/2 cup reserved
- ✓Let your cooked chicken rest and cool for 10 minutes before adding to prevent the residual 165°F+ heat from breaking the Alfredo sauce emulsion.timing10 minutes, 165°F+
- ✓Mix only 3/4 of your cheese into the pasta base, reserving 1/4 for topping - this creates proper cheese distribution and prevents the bottom layer from becoming rubbery.technique3/4 mixed, 1/4 reserved
- ✓Cover with foil for the first 12 minutes at 375°F, then uncover for final 8 minutes to prevent moisture loss while achieving golden-brown cheese surface through Maillard reaction.timing12 minutes covered, 8 minutes uncovered