Description

Crack Chicken Penne is a creamy, cheesy pasta dish featuring tender strips of seasoned chicken, a rich ranch-flavored sauce, and perfectly cooked penne pasta. It’s a comforting meal that combines cream cheese, cheddar, and aromatic seasonings for a delightful blend of savory flavors, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Seasonings

2 chicken breasts, sliced into strips
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil

Pasta

2 cups penne pasta

Sauce

4 oz cream cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon ranch seasoning mix
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup chicken broth

Garnish

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Instructions

Heat Skillet and Sear Chicken: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Season the sliced chicken breasts with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Sear the chicken strips in the hot oil until golden brown and cooked through, then set aside.
Cook Pasta: Boil the penne pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
Prepare Sauce: In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and add chicken broth, heavy cream, cream cheese, and ranch seasoning mix. Whisk continuously until the cream cheese melts completely and the sauce is smooth.
Add Cheese to Sauce: Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until fully melted and incorporated into the sauce.
Combine Chicken and Pasta: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the drained penne pasta and toss gently to coat everything evenly with the sauce.
Simmer: Let the mixture simmer for 2-3 minutes to meld flavors and heat through. If the sauce is too thick, gradually add the reserved pasta water to achieve desired consistency.
Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley for color and freshness. Serve warm and enjoy your creamy Crack Chicken Penne.

Notes

For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or milk, but the sauce will be less rich.
You can use different pasta shapes such as rigatoni or fusilli if penne is unavailable.
Adding vegetables like spinach or broccoli can increase the nutritional value and add texture.
Adjust seasoning to taste, especially salt and pepper, as ranch seasoning mix can be salty.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Crack Chicken Penne, creamy chicken pasta, ranch pasta recipe, quick dinner recipe, cheesy chicken pasta