Chicken Ranch Pasta Bake (Printable Version)

Tender chicken, creamy ranch sauce, and melted mozzarella in a golden baked pasta dish. Ready in 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, approximately 8-10 minutes. 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 fully combined.
04 - Add cooked pasta and diced chicken to the sauce mixture. Stir thoroughly to coat all ingredients evenly.
05 - Fold 1.5 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese into the pasta mixture until well distributed.
06 - Pour the entire mixture into the prepared 9x13 inch baking dish. Distribute evenly.
07 - Sprinkle remaining 0.5 cup mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese evenly over the top of the casserole.
08 - Bake in preheated 400°F oven for 20-25 minutes until cheese is melted and top is golden brown.
09 - Remove from oven and allow to stand for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh chives or green onions before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It uses up leftover chicken without making it taste like leftovers at all.
  • The creamy ranch sauce is ridiculously comforting and coats every piece of pasta.
  • Everything goes into one dish, which means less cleanup and more time on the couch.
  • Kids actually ask for seconds without complaining about vegetables.
02 -
  • Do not overcook the pasta before baking or it will turn mushy and lose its shape in the casserole.
  • Make sure your chicken is fully cooked and seasoned before adding it, because it won't pick up much flavor once mixed in.
  • If the sauce looks too thick, add a splash more milk until it's smooth and coats the back of a spoon.
03 -
  • Use rotisserie chicken and pre-shredded cheese if you need dinner on the table fast, but shred your own mozzarella if you have the time for the best melt.
  • Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce if you like a hint of heat that wakes up the creamy ranch.
  • Cover the dish with foil for the first 15 minutes of baking if the top is browning too fast, then uncover to finish.
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