Description
A creamy, cheesy Crack Chicken Penne recipe featuring tender seared chicken strips, al dente penne pasta, and a luscious ranch-flavored cheese sauce. This comforting dinner dish is quick and easy to prepare on the stovetop, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 chicken breasts, sliced into strips
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Pasta
- 2 cups penne pasta
Sauce
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning mix
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
Garnish
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
- Season and sear chicken: Season chicken strips with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Add to the skillet and sear until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Cook pasta: In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook penne pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water and then drain the pasta.
- Prepare sauce: Reduce heat on the skillet to medium. Add chicken broth, heavy cream, cream cheese, and ranch seasoning mix to the skillet. Whisk continuously until the cream cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Add cheddar cheese: Stir in shredded cheddar cheese until completely melted and the sauce is creamy.
- Combine chicken and pasta: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet along with the drained penne pasta. Toss gently to coat everything evenly with the sauce. Simmer for 2-3 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Adjust sauce consistency: If the sauce is too thick, gradually stir in some of the reserved pasta water until the desired sauce consistency is reached.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the top for a fresh touch and serve the Crack Chicken Penne warm.
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or a lighter cream alternative.
- Use gluten-free penne pasta to make this recipe gluten-free.
- You can add vegetables like spinach or mushrooms for extra nutrition and flavor.
- Ranch seasoning mix can be homemade or store-bought; adjust quantity based on taste preference.
- Reserve pasta water carefully as it helps to loosen the sauce if it becomes too thick.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Crack Chicken Penne, creamy chicken pasta, ranch chicken pasta, easy dinner recipe, cheesy penne pasta
