Chicken Bacon Ranch Mac and Cheese
Ranch Chicken Bacon Mac & Cheese is a delicious and hearty dish that combines the classic flavors of macaroni and cheese with the savory goodness of chicken and bacon. Chicken bacon ranch pasta is made from scratch with simple ingredients, but loaded with amazing flavors!
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 713kcal
Ingredients
- 16 oz elbow macaroni pasta cooked
- 8 strips of bacon cooked & crumbled
- 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts about 1.5 lbs- diced into bite size.
- 3 TBSP dry Ranch seasoning
- 1 TBSP lemon pepper
- ½ cup sweet onion chopped
- 5 TBSP unsalted butter divided
- 4 TBSP unbleached all-purpose flour
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 3 cups half & half or you can use 2 cups cream and 1 cup milk
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground pepper
- 2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese divided
- 1 cup shredded Mild Cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Prep: Cook the pasta according to the directions on the box. Set aside. While the pasta is cooking, the bacon needs to be cooked and crumbled.Try this recipe for the easiest way to cook bacon.
- Dice the chicken breasts into bite sized nuggets. Also, chop the onion into small pieces and set them aside.
- Cook chicken: In a large mixing bowl, combine the diced chicken breasts with the Ranch seasoning and Lemon Pepper. Mix to coat each piece. Set aside.
- In a 5 QT skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Add the onion and cook until they are soft, about 8 minutes.
- Sauce: Add the diced chicken and cook completely, stirring every 2-3 minutes. Once the chicken is cooked, take the chicken and the onions out of the skillet and place in a bowl. Set aside.
- In the same skillet, over medium heat, add 4 tablespoons of butter and melt completely. Once the butter is melted, whisk in the flour until you have a thick paste. Add the chicken broth while whisking so you start to have a sauce. Add the half-half and mix well. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Add the onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and ground pepper. Whisk well so the spices are combined with the sauce.
- Assemble: Add 1 cup of mozzarella and 1 cup of cheddar to the sauce. Whisk until melted and incorporated.
- Add the crumbled bacon and cooked pasta. Stir until the pasta is coated with the cheese sauce. Top with remaining cheese. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Leftover Mac & Cheese can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. Reheat the mac and cheese in the microwave or on the stovetop until it is heated through before serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 713kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 138mg | Sodium: 1190mg | Potassium: 444mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 901IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 353mg | Iron: 2mg