Instant Pot Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

Anytime I crave a comforting dinner that my family will unanimously love, I decide to make this Instant Pot Chicken Bacon Rancha Pasta. It’s creamy, cheesy, loaded with smoky bacon, tender chicken, spinach, and perfectly cooked noodles. I also need to mention that it takes under 30 minutes to make and just 4 minutes to pressure cook.

You probably can tell that I love cooking pasta in my Instant Pot. I find the practice effortless and the results always beyond my expectations. After a long day, all I want is a hearty meal on the table, but without spending hours preparing it. I know I can rely on a good and satisfying pasta dish, since this is something that we all love in our family. This Tuscan chicken pasta and Philly cheesesteak pasta are among our favorites.

This cheesy and savory dish transforms a regular weeknight meal into a cozy dinner. The velvety smooth sauce made with cheddar and Ranch dressing coats every ingredient in an irresistible blanket of creamy goodness. I am a massive fan of the famous combination of cheddar cheese, bacon, and Ranch dressing; to me, this is the definition of nostalgic, good-for-your-soul food. If you are looking for a crowd-pleasing meal that takes minutes to make and is bursting with flavor, you must try this one.

Why you will love this recipe 

• It is addictive: Nicknamed crack pasta, it has three addictive ingredients: cheese, bacon, and ranch dressing. Put these three ingredients in almost anything (especially chicken), and it will be hard to resist.   
• Effortless: In under 30 minutes, I can have enough to feed the whole family, with leftovers for later. All it takes is searing some ingredients in the pot, and then you just pressure cook everything for 4 minutes.
• One pot: I use only one pot, so cleaning up is both fast and easy. This is a key point in my book, as after a long day, I am not looking to do more dishes.
• Tastes delicious: The most important thing, though, is that this meal is full of flavors, featuring a creamy, rich sauce, crispy bacon, and juicy chicken. 

What you will need

• Meat: I prefer using organic, boneless, skinless chicken breast because it is lean, easy to prepare, and tastes great. For the most decadent bacon flavor, I fry mine up in the Instant Pot just before adding the onion and garlic. This adds to the flavor of the other ingredients as well. 
• Seasonings: Garlic powder, onion powder, and dried paprika are added to the salt and pepper in the seasoning mix because they are easier to distribute than fresh. 

For the pasta

• Pasta: For this recipe, I typically use medium-sized shells because they hold a generous amount of sauce and cheese, with plenty of room for chicken and bacon as well. 
• Wet ingredients: Chicken broth is a better choice than water for flavor, but be sure to use low-sodium broth, as it may be too salty otherwise. I also add heavy cream to make the cheese sauce creamier. 
• Dry ingredients: I chop one small onion for flavor and texture, and saute it in the bacon grease with the minced garlic cloves. I also add fresh spinach to the pasta at the end to give it a pop of color and flavor. Chopped cooked bacon is also added for extra texture and taste. 
• Seasonings: Ranch seasoning mix is the main ingredient for seasoning. I use my blend, which is made with powdered buttermilk, dried dill, and several other herbs and spices. 
• Cheese: I shred my fresh cheddar cheese and also use room-temperature cream cheese. It must be brick-style, full-fat cream cheese. Avoid low-fat, fat-free, or whipped cream cheese. 

How to make 

Brown the chicken: First, I set the Instant Pot to sauté while I mix the chicken seasonings in a large, shallow bowl. Then, I add the oil to the pot and toss the chicken in the seasoning to coat it on both sides before placing it in the hot oil. After cooking it on both sides for two minutes until it is golden brown, I remove the chicken and set it on a plate, covering it with foil. 

Fry the bacon: Next, I cook the bacon until it is crispy and set it aside.

Deglaze: I drain the bacon grease except for one tablespoon, which I use to cook the diced onion and minced garlic for two minutes, stirring occasionally. After, I pour in the broth and use a wooden spoon to scrape the bits from the bottom of the pot to avoid a burn notice. 

Cook the pasta: Next, I pour in the pasta, ranch seasoning mix, and heavy cream, stirring gently before topping with the chicken and cubed cream cheese. Now, I cover and seal the lid without stirring, setting it for four minutes on high pressure. 

Melt the cheese: When it is done, I do a quick release and remove the cover. I take out the chicken with tongs and place it on a cutting board. I add cheese to the pot and gently stir it to combine for about a minute. Then, I add the spinach, stir it in, and turn off the pot. 

Add bacon: Finally, I chop the chicken into cubes, return it to the pot, add the chopped bacon, and stir it again before serving. 

Serve: Garnish with chopped green onions and serve.

Expert tip

The best pasta shape for this recipe

Even though I prefer shells for this recipe, many people use penne because it has long, wide tubes with ridges that hold extra sauce and cheese on the outside, while its hollow tubes allow for more sauce and cheese to be inside. The angled tubes allow meat to get inside them as well, so you can savor a taste of everything in every bite. Other good choices include ziti, fusilli, rigatoni, and the old-fashioned favorite, elbow macaroni. Some of the newer or less common noodles, such as campanelle, cavatappi, trottole, and cellentani, are also excellent choices.  

More tips to consider:

• The pasta needs to be completely submerged in liquid so it cooks properly. 
• Do not use powdered (grated) Parmesan cheese. That is not real cheese. 
• Using precooked bacon makes this recipe so much easier. Microwavable bacon is easy, too. 
• Better yet, using leftover chicken and leftover bacon makes this recipe super easy and practical. 
• Rotisserie chicken is a perfect choice for this dish. 
• Avoid using pre-cooked pasta, as it will become mushy.

Recipe variations and add-ins:

• Chicken thighs: Instead of using chicken breasts, I sometimes use chicken thighs for a richer, meatier flavor.
• More veggies: To make this dish even heartier, I like to add more vegetables, such as peas, corn, carrots, and green beans. 
• Different cheeses: Besides cheddar and cream cheese, other cheeses that would work in this dish include Monterey Jack, pepper Jack, Swiss, Colby, and mozzarella. 
• Healthier bacon: To make this a healthier choice, I sometimes use turkey bacon instead of regular bacon. 
• Spicy crack pasta: Those who enjoy spicy food love it when I add some red pepper flakes to this addictive dish. 

Serving suggestions:

No matter how I serve this, it always needs a side of some bread to soak up the delicious sauce. My homemade breadsticks are perfect for this! They are so buttery, soft, and easy to make with just a few basic ingredients that most people already have in their pantry. Garlic bread would also make a delicious accompaniment to this dish. My kids, especially, love cheesy garlic bread made with my homemade Amish bread. 

A salad is typically my first choice to serve before the main entrée. Either a big fresh garden salad with the works or a caprese salad made with heirloom tomatoes, mozzarella, basil leaves, and balsamic vinegar. With all that going on, there is no need for a side dish, but I may offer some steamed broccoli or cauliflower. For dessert, my cherry Amaretto tiramisu is a favorite among my family and friends because it is sweet but not overly so. I love it because it is no-bake and easy to make. 

How to store leftovers:

• Refrigerate: Leftovers will last up to four days in the fridge in an airtight container.   
• Freezing: To keep it longer, I freeze leftovers in freezer bags for up to three months.   
• Defrost: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator for the best flavor.
• Reheating: Reheating is easy in the microwave for 60 to 90 seconds or in a pot on the stove over medium-low heat for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until it is warmed through.    

Frequently asked questions

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