Slow Cooker Ranch and Bacon Chicken Penne Pasta Recipe

Ingredients

• 2.5 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 2 teaspoons seasoned salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 0.5 teaspoon dried thyme
• 5 cups chicken broth
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 (1 ounce) package dry ranch dressing mix (such as Hidden Valley Ranch®)
• 1 (16 ounce) package penne pasta
• 1 cup milk
• 1 (8 ounce) package bacon
• 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, or more to taste

Instructions

1. Place chicken in a slow cooker. Season generously with kosher salt, seasoned salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and dried thyme. Pour chicken broth around the chicken. Cook on Low for 5 to 6 hours, or until chicken is cooked through.
2. Shred the cooked chicken and return it to the slow cooker. Add cream cheese and stir until melted and smooth. Stir in ranch dressing. Add cooked penne pasta and milk. Stir well, cover, and cook on High for 30 minutes, or until heated through.
3. While the pasta is cooking, cook bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crispy, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon on paper towels to remove excess grease.
4. Stir Cheddar cheese into the pasta mixture until melted and creamy. Crumble cooked bacon over the pasta and stir to combine. Cook until the cheese is fully melted and the pasta is tender but still slightly firm, about 10 minutes more.

Nutrition

• Calories: 658 kcal
• Fat Content: 29 g
• Fiber Content: 2 g
• Sugar Content: 4 g
• Sodium Content: 2240 mg
• Protein Content: 51 g
• Cholesterol Content: 158 mg
• Carbohydrate Content: 47 g
• Saturated Fat Content: 15 g
• Unsaturated Fat Content: 0 g