Creamy Chicken Bacon Ranch Carbonara
This creamy chicken bacon ranch carbonara is a quick, comforting pasta dish that combines smoky bacon, juicy chicken, tangy ranch, and a velvety sauce. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s a weeknight dinner favorite that’s sure to please the whole family.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz dried spaghetti or fettuccine
- 6 oz bacon, chopped (thick-cut preferred)
- 2 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 12 oz), diced
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 2 oz cream cheese, softened (optional for extra creaminess)
- 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning mix
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- 1/2 cup frozen peas (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Dice chicken breast into bite-sized pieces. Chop bacon into small strips. Mince garlic and parsley. Set out all ingredients.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente (about 10 minutes). Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining.
- While pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped bacon and sauté until crispy (5-7 minutes). Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving about 1 tablespoon bacon fat in the skillet.
- Add diced chicken to the skillet. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until golden and cooked through (6-8 minutes). Stir in minced garlic for the last minute. If using frozen peas, add them for the last 2 minutes of cooking.
- In a bowl, whisk together eggs, heavy cream, cream cheese (if using), ranch seasoning, and Parmesan until smooth.
- Reduce skillet heat to low. Add drained pasta, cooked chicken, and bacon back to the pan. Pour in the ranch carbonara sauce. Toss quickly, adding reserved pasta water bit by bit until sauce is silky and coats the pasta.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and chili flakes if using. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan. Serve hot.
Notes
For gluten-free, use your favorite GF pasta. To make dairy-free, substitute coconut cream and vegan cheese. For extra creaminess, blend cream cheese into the sauce. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Leftovers keep well for up to 3 days in the fridge or 2 months in the freezer.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/4 of recipe (approx. 2 cups)
- Calories: 640
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 940
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 13
- Carbohydrates: 60
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 33
Keywords: chicken carbonara, bacon ranch pasta, creamy pasta, weeknight dinner, easy carbonara, comfort food, ranch chicken pasta, 30 minute meal