Is there anything more comforting than a creamy, cheesy pasta dish after a long day? I think not. Just like a warm blanket on a chilly day, a well-prepared pasta meal wraps you in a cosy, satisfying hug, filling you up and delighting your senses.
Do you love both pasta and chicken, but can’t decide which one to have for dinner? Why not have both in one delicious, simple-to-make dish? Allow me to introduce you to my favourite comfort food, Chicken Ranch Pasta. It’s the perfect blend of juicy, tender chicken, pasta, and a creamy ranch sauce that will have you hooked with the very first bite.
A Little About Chicken Ranch Pasta
This dish has its roots in classic American cuisine, where ranch dressing is a staple. The idea is to combine the flavours of ranch, which is often used as a dip or dressing, with pasta and chicken to create a meal that is both hearty and flavourful. The creamy ranch sauce coats the pasta and chicken beautifully, creating a symphony of flavours that are simply irresistible.
The Magic of Ranch Dressing
Ranch dressing is more than just a sauce; it’s the soul of this dish. It’s creamy, tangy, and has a punch of garlic and herbs that take the overall flavour of this pasta dish to a whole new level. It’s like the secret ingredient that transforms an ordinary dish into an extraordinary one.
Ingredients and Instructions
What I love about this recipe is the versatility it offers. You can tweak it to your liking by adding veggies, swapping the pasta type, or even playing around with the sauce’s thickness. It’s a beautiful canvas for you to paint your culinary masterpiece upon.
Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 8 oz penne pasta
- 1 cup ranch dressing (homemade or store-bought)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and cook until it’s golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions, then drain and set aside.
- In the same pan, add the ranch dressing and let it heat up. Add the pasta and toss until it’s well coated with the sauce.
- Chop the cooked chicken and add it to the pan. Mix well to ensure the chicken is evenly spread throughout the pasta.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheese on top, cover the pan, and let it melt over low heat.
- Garnish with chopped parsley before serving. Enjoy your Chicken Ranch Pasta!
Cook and Prep Times
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
Nutrition Information
- Servings: 4
- Calories: 600
- Fat: 30g
- Protein: 35g
- Carbohydrates: 50g