Name: One-Pot Cheesy Bacon Ranch Pasta with Chicken and Broccoli
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 4 slices bacon; 0.75 pound chicken breasts, diced; 0.5 teaspoon kosher salt; 0.5 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 medium shallot, finely chopped; 1 clove garlic, minced; 2 cups water; 1 cup whole milk; 4 cups elbow macaroni; 1 tablespoon ranch dressing mix; 3 cups broccoli florets; 1 (8 ounce) package shredded Cheddar cheese; 0.25 cup sour cream

One-Pot Cheesy Bacon Ranch Pasta with Chicken and Broccoli

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

4 slices bacon
pound chicken breasts, diced
teaspoon kosher salt
teaspoon ground black pepper
1 medium shallot, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 cups water
1 cup whole milk
4 cups elbow macaroni
1 tablespoon ranch dressing mix
3 cups broccoli florets
1 (8 ounce) package shredded Cheddar cheese
cup sour cream

Directions

Step 1: Heat bacon in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook, flipping occasionally, until browned and crispy, about 10 minutes. Remove from the pan and drain on paper towels.

Step 2: Season the diced chicken with salt and pepper. In the same Dutch oven, cook the chicken in the hot bacon drippings over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until golden brown on all sides (about 4 minutes). The chicken doesn't need to be fully cooked at this stage. Remove the chicken and set it aside.

Step 3: Add the chopped shallot and minced garlic to the drippings in the Dutch oven. Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring often, until fragrant.

Step 4: Pour in the water and milk. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the Dutch oven. Stir in the elbow macaroni and ranch dressing mix. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 6 minutes.

Step 5: Return the chicken to the Dutch oven, and add the broccoli florets. Continue cooking for 3-4 minutes, until the pasta is tender and the chicken is fully cooked.

Step 6: Stir in the shredded Cheddar cheese and sour cream. Mix everything together until the cheese melts and everything is well combined.

Step 7: Crumble the cooked bacon over the top of the dish, and serve hot.

Cook's Notes

Any type of short pasta, such as penne or bow-ties, can be used in place of elbow macaroni.
To save time, substitute rotisserie chicken for the diced chicken.
This dish can easily be made vegetarian by omitting the chicken and adding other vegetables like spinach or green beans.
For a richer flavor, you can substitute the water with 2 cups of chicken or vegetable stock.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Nutrient	Amount	% Daily Value
Calories	570	28%
Total Fat	21g	26%
Saturated Fat	11g	56%
Cholesterol	83mg	28%
Sodium	680mg	30%
Total Carbohydrate	60g	22%
Dietary Fiber	4g	13%
Total Sugars	5g
Protein	35g	70%
Vitamin C	42mg	47%
Calcium	375mg	29%
Iron	4mg	19%
Potassium	553mg	12%

Comments

Nathan White

09/30/2025 05:42:55 AM

I found that I needed to add an extra 2 cups of water to ensure the noodles cooked properly. I also added more cheese to enhance the flavor. Overall, I would definitely make this dish again.

Alexander Miller

09/30/2025 03:30:08 AM

Great recipe! The only issue I encountered was that the skim milk curdled, but once I added the cheese and sour cream, it wasn't noticeable. I also used high protein pasta, which required additional water and cooking time. Next time, I'll throw in an extra strip or two of bacon. Overall, it was a delicious dish that was simple to prepare and clean up after.

Virginia Gomez

09/26/2025 11:45:27 PM

Such a fantastic recipe! I tried it out with my new Dutch oven and I couldn't be more pleased with how it turned out. Thanks a lot for sharing this recipe - it's definitely a keeper!

Patricia Wright

09/27/2025 09:01:55 AM

I absolutely adore Nicole's recipes. They are always easy to follow, delicious, and quick to make. I didn't make any alterations and the dish turned out perfect.