Chicken Ranch Pasta Bake (Printable)

Tender chicken, penne pasta, and creamy ranch sauce baked with mozzarella cheese until golden and bubbly.

# What You 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 tsp garlic powder
07 - 1/2 tsp onion powder
08 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
09 - 1/2 tsp dried parsley
10 - 1/2 tsp dried dill

→ Cheese

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

→ Garnish

13 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives or green onions

# How-To Steps:

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. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together ranch dressing, sour cream, 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. Stir thoroughly to coat all pasta evenly.
05 - Fold in 1.5 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese, distributing evenly throughout the pasta mixture.
06 - Pour the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Spread evenly and top with remaining 0.5 cup mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
07 - Bake for 20-25 minutes until cheese is fully melted and the top is golden brown.
08 - Remove from oven and allow to stand for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh chives or green onions before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It uses pantry staples and leftover chicken, so you can throw it together on a weeknight without a special grocery run.
  • The creamy ranch sauce clings to every piece of pasta and creates those crispy, cheesy edges everyone fights over.
  • It reheats beautifully, which means lunch the next day tastes just as good as dinner.
02 -
  • Don't skip the resting time after baking, or your first scoop will be a soupy mess instead of a neat, cheesy square.
  • If your sauce looks too thick before baking, add a splash more milk because it will thicken as it bakes.
03 -
  • Use a mix of freshly grated mozzarella and pre shredded for the best melt and convenience, the fresh stuff melts smoother.
  • If you want extra crispy cheese on top, broil the dish for the last 2 minutes of baking, but watch it closely so it doesn't burn.
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