Chicken Ranch Pasta Bake (Print View)

Tender chicken and penne in creamy ranch sauce with melted mozzarella cheese, baked until golden. Serves 4 in just 45 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta & Chicken

01 - 10 oz penne pasta
02 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded

→ Sauce

03 - 1 cup ranch dressing
04 - 1 cup sour cream
05 - 1/2 cup whole milk
06 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
07 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
08 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
09 - 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
10 - 1/2 teaspoon dried dill

→ Cheese

11 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
12 - 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

→ Garnish

13 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives or green onions

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - Cook penne pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together ranch dressing, sour cream, whole milk, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, dried parsley, and dried dill until smooth and well combined.
04 - Add cooked pasta and diced chicken to the sauce mixture. Stir thoroughly to coat all pasta and chicken evenly.
05 - Fold 1.5 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese into the pasta mixture until fully incorporated.
06 - Pour the combined mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading evenly. Top with remaining 0.5 cup mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
07 - Bake for 20-25 minutes until cheese is completely melted and the top is golden brown.
08 - Remove from oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh chives or green onions before serving.

# Expert Insights:

01 -
  • It uses pantry staples and comes together faster than ordering takeout.
  • The creamy ranch sauce clings to every piece of pasta and chicken, making each forkful ridiculously satisfying.
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully, so lunch the next day feels like a gift.
02 -
  • Drain the pasta really well or the sauce will be watery, I learned that the hard way on my second attempt.
  • Don't skip the resting time after baking, it makes all the difference in how the sauce clings to the pasta.
03 -
  • Use rotisserie chicken to save at least 20 minutes of prep time.
  • Mix a little extra parmesan into the sauce for a deeper, nuttier flavor.
  • Let the dish cool slightly before serving so the sauce thickens and clings better.
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