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Creamy Chicken Ranch Pasta - Ultimate Comfort Food Dinner Recipe

This creamy chicken ranch pasta is a comforting, satisfying dinner that comes together in minutes with tender chicken, rich ranch flavors, and a velvety sauce coating every noodle. Perfect for busy weeknights, it delivers restaurant-quality flavors with simple ingredients and straightforward steps in about 30 minutes.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 520
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 12 oz pasta (penne, fusilli, or your favorite shape)
  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup ranch dressing
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tsp dried dill
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley for garnish
  • Optional: 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese for topping

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving about 1/2 cup of pasta water.
  2. While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken cubes with salt, pepper, and half of the dried dill. Cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
  3. In the same skillet, add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits.
  4. Reduce heat to medium and add heavy cream, ranch dressing, remaining dill, onion powder, and garlic powder. Whisk until smooth and bring to a gentle simmer.
  5. Stir in grated Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce thickens slightly, about 2-3 minutes.
  6. Return cooked chicken to the skillet along with the drained pasta. Toss everything together until well coated in the creamy sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency.
  7. For an extra cheesy version, sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the top and cover for 2-3 minutes until melted.
  8. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately while hot.

Notes

Marinate chicken in ranch dressing for 15 minutes before cooking for extra tenderness. Use reserved pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Choose ridged pasta shapes like penne or fusilli to hold the sauce better.