Description
A rich and creamy pasta dish loaded with tender chicken, crispy bacon, savory meatballs, and a luscious ranch-infused sauce. Perfect for a hearty family dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- For the meatballs:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- For the chicken and bacon:
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- For the pasta and sauce:
- 12 oz penne pasta
- 2 tbsp butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 packet (1 oz) ranch seasoning mix
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional garnish: chopped fresh parsley or chives
Instructions
- Prepare the meatballs: In a bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined. Roll into 1-inch meatballs.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tbsp olive oil. Cook meatballs until browned on all sides and cooked through, about 8-10 minutes. Remove and set aside.
- Cook the bacon: In the same skillet, cook chopped bacon until crispy. Remove bacon bits and drain on paper towels, leaving about 1 tbsp of drippings in the pan.
- Cook the chicken: Season cubed chicken with salt and pepper. Add 1 tbsp olive oil to the pan if needed. Cook chicken until golden and cooked through, about 5-6 minutes. Remove and set aside.
- Cook pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook penne according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Make the sauce: In the same large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in heavy cream, chicken broth, and ranch seasoning. Whisk to combine.
- Bring sauce to a simmer, then reduce heat to low. Stir in mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses until melted and smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine: Add cooked pasta, chicken, meatballs, and crispy bacon to the sauce. Stir gently to coat everything evenly.
- Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley or chives if desired.
Notes
For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream and swap ground turkey for the beef. The ranch seasoning can be homemade (mix dried dill, parsley, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt).
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Method: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 720 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Fat: 42 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Protein: 38 g