Description

Crack Chicken Penne is a creamy, cheesy pasta dish featuring tender chicken strips seasoned with garlic and onion powder, cooked to golden perfection, and tossed in a rich ranch-flavored sauce made from cream cheese, cheddar, and heavy cream. This comforting and indulgent recipe is perfect for a hearty weeknight dinner that comes together quickly on the stovetop.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

2 chicken breasts, sliced into strips
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
Salt and 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 the skillet: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat to prepare for searing the chicken.
Cook the chicken: Season the sliced chicken breasts with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken strips to the skillet and sear until they are golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
Boil the pasta: Cook the penne pasta in boiling salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water and then drain the pasta.
Make the sauce: Reduce the heat to medium in the same skillet. Add the chicken broth, heavy cream, cream cheese, and ranch seasoning mix. Whisk continuously until the mixture is smooth and the cream cheese is fully melted.
Add cheese: Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until it melts completely and the sauce becomes creamy.
Combine chicken and pasta: Add the cooked chicken and drained penne pasta back into the skillet with the sauce. Toss gently to combine all ingredients and coat evenly with the sauce. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes to marry the flavors.
Adjust consistency: If the sauce is too thick, gradually add some of the reserved pasta water until the desired consistency is reached.
Garnish and serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on top for a pop of color and freshness. Serve the Crack Chicken Penne warm and enjoy.

Notes

Reserve pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency if it becomes too thick.
You can substitute penne with any other pasta of choice such as rigatoni or fusilli.
For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
Adding a pinch of red pepper flakes can give this dish a slight kick if desired.
Make sure not to overcook the chicken strips to keep them tender and juicy.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: creamy chicken pasta, crack chicken, penne pasta recipe, cheesy chicken pasta, ranch chicken pasta