Description
This creamy and flavorful Crack Chicken Penne recipe combines tender chicken strips with a rich ranch-seasoned cheese sauce and perfectly cooked penne pasta. It’s a comforting, one-pan meal that’s quick to prepare and packed with cheesy goodness, making it perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 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 the olive oil: Warm the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat to prepare for cooking the chicken.
- Season and cook chicken: Season the chicken strips with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Sear them in the hot oil until they are golden brown and cooked through, then set aside.
- Cook pasta: Boil the penne pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
- Prepare sauce: Reduce the skillet heat to medium. Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream, then add the cream cheese and ranch seasoning. Whisk these ingredients together until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Melt cheddar cheese: Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese and continue to heat until completely melted into the sauce.
- Combine chicken and pasta: Add the cooked chicken and drained pasta into the skillet with the sauce. Gently toss everything together to coat evenly.
- Simmer and adjust consistency: Let the mixture simmer for 2-3 minutes. If the sauce is too thick, add the reserved pasta water a little at a time until desired thickness is reached.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle the pasta with chopped fresh parsley if desired and serve warm for a comforting meal.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency—this helps loosen the sauce without watering down flavor.
- You can substitute chicken breasts with thighs for a juicier result.
- For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
- Fresh parsley adds a nice touch of color and freshness, but it’s optional.
- Make sure not to overcook the pasta, as it will continue to cook slightly when combined with the sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Crack chicken, Penne pasta, Creamy chicken pasta, Ranch chicken recipe, Easy dinner recipe
