Description
This Crock Pot Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is a creamy, comforting dish perfect for busy weeknights. Tender chicken breasts are slow-cooked with ranch seasoning, cream cheese, and broth, then combined with cheddar cheese, heavy cream, fresh spinach, crispy bacon, and rotini pasta to create a rich and flavorful meal that the whole family will love.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chicken and Sauce
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 ounce packet of dry ranch mix
- 8 ounces cream cheese, cut into 8 cubes
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
- 8 strips bacon, cooked and chopped
Pasta
- 1 pound rotini pasta, cooked to al dente
Instructions
- Prepare chicken in crock pot: Place the boneless, skinless chicken breasts in the bottom of a 6-quart crock pot. Pour ½ cup of low sodium chicken broth over the chicken. Season with ½ teaspoon of black pepper and sprinkle the 1 ounce packet of dry ranch mix evenly on top. Then add 8 cubes of cream cheese over the chicken.
- Cook chicken: Cover the crock pot and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or on high for 2½ to 3½ hours until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
- Add cheese and cream: Remove the cooked chicken breasts from the crock pot. Stir in 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese into the sauce until well combined. Add 1 cup heavy whipping cream, 2 cups chopped fresh spinach, and 8 strips cooked and chopped bacon. Mix everything well.
- Combine chicken with sauce: Dice or shred the cooked chicken as desired and add it back into the crock pot sauce mixture. Continue to cook uncovered for an additional 30 minutes to meld flavors.
- Cook pasta: While the sauce finishes cooking, prepare 1 pound of rotini pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain well.
- Mix pasta and serve: Stir the cooked pasta into the crock pot sauce and chicken mixture until evenly coated. Serve immediately while hot and enjoy!
Notes
- You can dice or shred the fully cooked chicken based on your preference for texture.
- Ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) before serving.
- Use freshly shredded cheddar cheese instead of pre-packaged shredded cheese for better melting and flavor.
- Cook the pasta separately and add it in at the end to maintain perfect texture and prevent sogginess.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 530mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 19g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0.3g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 42g
- Cholesterol: 140mg
