Easy Bacon Chicken Ranch Macaroni and Cheese Recipe - super creamy and crazy easy macaroni and cheese loaded with chicken, bacon, cream cheese, and ranch dressing!
Have you seen the crazy viral tik tok pasta?
We're taking the idea of a super simple, crazy easy pasta dinner - and loading it up with bacon, chicken, and TONS of creamy ranch dressing flavor for this pasta dinner - for a viral sensation everyone in your house is going to love!
This dish is almost a true one pt wonder - while you're going to use pre-cooked bacon (we recommend our baked bacon for this pasta) and store bought rotisserie chicken or shredded chicken - so you can throw this dish together in no time, and its rich and delicious enough to feed a crowd!
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Table of contents
TikTok Chicken Bacon Macaroni and Cheese
This recipe is inspired by the TikTok feta pasta trend (this recipe uses cream cheese, not feta), this creamy mac and cheese recipe is the ultimate weeknight comfort meal!
The pasta cooks in the milk, cheese, and ranch dressing mixture while baking.
Then rotisserie chicken and crumbles bacon are stirred in just before serving... so it is super simple, rich, and delicious - just like the famous TikTok pasta recipe!
Tips to Perfect One Pot Creamy Macaroni and Cheese
This is “almost” a 1 dish recipe - the pasta cooks while baking in the cream cheese and ranch dressing sauce, so you're not dirtying up a ton of dishes to get this super creamy pasta dinner to the table!
Our top tips to perfect macaroni and cheese are below:
- A slight film might form over the top while baking, this is normal, just stir it and it will be fine.
- Letting the pasta sit for a bit allows the cheese to thicken and the pasta to finish cooking without burning the dish.
- You can omit the chicken to just have a bacon mac and cheese.
How To Bake Bacon For Pasta
If you want the BEST bacon you can get for this recipe, be sure to follow our tips to bake bacon in the oven - it helps your bacon come out thick, crunchy, salty, and perfect for crubmling into pasta.
When adding bacon into a creamy pasta it is important to crisp it fully - so it doesn't go limp and soggy with all the cream and cheese.
Follow our tips for the best bacon for macaroni and cheese by visiting our baked bacon post here.
For more bacon filled recipes, check out some of our favorites below:
What Chicken To Use For Macaroni and Cheese
For this recipe, we're using a store bought rotisserie chicken, with skin removed.
Gently shred chicken by pulling with your hands or forks to create bite sized pieces of chicken for this pasta.
If you're going for a more homemade route, or want to use up leftover chicken, we recommend using our best boiled chicken recipe for macaroni and cheese - we love the way shredded chicken folds into this super rich and delicious pasta.
Other Macaroni and Cheese Recipes You'll Love
If you're looking for more of our easy macaroni and cheese versions, please check some of our favorites below:
Easy Pasta Dinners You'll Love
If you love this cheesy ranch macaroni and chicken dinner, please check out more of our easy, delicious, and simple pasta dinners the whole family will love!
If you'd like to see our entire easy pasta recipe archives, click here.
Recipe FAQs
This dish can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
We love the texture of shredded chicken for this dish and recommend using shredded chicken in super creamy macaroni and cheese, but any cooked chicken works.
For my super easy shredded boiled chicken recipe (which has SO much flavor, despite the name, and is CRAZY easy), click here.
Easy Bacon Chicken Ranch Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
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Easy Bacon Chicken Ranch Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
Easy Bacon Chicken Ranch Macaroni and Cheese Recipe - easy creamy mac and cheese loaded with chicken, bacon, cheese, and ranch dressing!
Ingredients
- 1 pound short pasta, such as elbow or penne
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 6 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon garlic paste
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup ranch dressing
- ½ rotisserie chicken, shredded
- 6 slices cooked bacon, diced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Place the block of cream cheese in the center of a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Add the pasta around the cream cheese block.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheese and pour the milk over the top of the pasta.
- Gently stir together the pasta mixture, leaving the cream cheese whole.
- Add the garlic paste, salt, and pepper to the pasta, and mix again.
- Drizzle 1 cup of ranch over the entire pan.
- Bake for 50 minutes uncovered.
- Remove from the oven and stir everything together, including the cream cheese, then let rest for 15 to 20 minutes until thickened.
- Add the chicken and bacon and stir until combined before serving.
Notes
- This is a thick, creamy, and rich mac and cheese recipe.
- This is “almost” a 1 dish recipe. The pasta cooks while baking.
- A slight film might form over the top while baking, this is normal, just stir it and it will be fine.
- Letting the pasta sit for a bit allows the cheese to thicken and the pasta to finish cooking without burning the dish.
- You can omit the chicken to just have a bacon mac and cheese.
Nutrition Information
Yield
8Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 570Total Fat 42gSaturated Fat 17gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 21gCholesterol 106mgSodium 1178mgCarbohydrates 23gFiber 1gSugar 3gProtein 25g
Nutrition is automatically calculated by Nutritionix - please verify all nutrition information independently and consult with a doctor or nutritionist for any and all medical and diet advice.
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