Crack Chicken Penne Recipe
Crack Chicken Penne is a creamy and flavorful pasta dish that combines tender chicken breasts with ranch seasoning, cream cheese, and cheddar cheese for a rich, comforting meal. Perfect for busy weeknights, this recipe comes together quickly with simple ingredients and delivers a satisfying combination of cheesy and savory flavors that the whole family will love.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 3–4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Pasta
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- Salt, for boiling water
Sauce
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 packet ranch seasoning mix
- 1 cup chicken broth
Topping
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta and cook for 10-12 minutes or until al dente. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Cook the Chicken: While the pasta cooks, dice the chicken breasts. Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the chicken pieces seasoned with salt and pepper. Cook for 6-8 minutes until the chicken is browned and cooked through.
- Make the Sauce: Lower the heat to medium-low and stir in the softened cream cheese and the packet of ranch seasoning mix into the cooked chicken. Gradually pour in the chicken broth, stirring constantly until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Add the cooked penne pasta to the skillet with the sauce and toss well to coat all the pasta evenly with the creamy mixture.
- Add Cheese and Melt: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the pasta in the skillet. Cover the pan and let it sit for 2-3 minutes until the cheese melts. Serve the dish hot and enjoy.
Notes
- For extra flavor, add minced garlic or diced onions when cooking the chicken.
- You can use other types of pasta like rotini or rigatoni if penne is unavailable.
- To make it a one-pot dish, cook the pasta separately but keep some pasta water to adjust sauce consistency.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat with a splash of chicken broth to keep creamy.
- Feel free to add vegetables like spinach or broccoli for added nutrition.
Keywords: crack chicken penne, creamy chicken pasta, ranch chicken pasta, easy weeknight dinner, cheesy chicken pasta
Find it online: https://cookwithlea.com/crack-chicken-penne-recipe/
