Crack Chicken Penne

My crack chicken penne recipe is a comforting dish that combines chicken, pasta, and crispy bacon with a super creamy, cheesy sauce.

📝 Ingredients

• 8 slices bacon, (diced)
• 2 uncooked boneless skinless chicken breast, (cut into 1 inch cubes)
• 1/2 cup onion, (diced)
• 3/4 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 (1-ounce) packet dry ranch seasoning
• 4 cups low sodium chicken broth
• 12 ounces dried penne pasta
• 8 ounces cream cheese, (cut into cubes, at room temperature)
• 1 (10.5-ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup mozzarella, (shredded and divided)
• 1 cup sharp cheddar (shredded and divided)
• 1 tablespoon parsley, (chopped)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1In a 12-inch skillet cook diced bacon (8 slices), over medium heat, until crispy, Remove cooked bacon with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate. Set aside 1/2 cup of bacon to use as garnish. Drain and discard (or better, save for another use) all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat.
2. 2Add chicken cubes, chopped onions (1/2 cup), Cajun seasoning (3/4 teaspoon), and black pepper (1/4 teaspoon) to skillet and brown for 4-6 minutes. (Chicken doesn't need to be cooked through at this point).
3. 3Sprinkle chicken with a packet of ranch seasoning. Pour in chicken broth (4 cups) and bring to a boil, scrapping the bottom of the skillet to dislodge all the brown bits in the skillet.
4. 4Add penne (12 ounces), lower heat to low, cover, and simmer until the pasta is al dente, 15-18 minutes.
5. 5Uncover skillet then stir in cream cheese (8 ounces) and cream of chicken soup (1 can), stiring until smooth and there are no more lumps.
6. 6Stir in 1/2 cup mozzarella, 1/2 cup cheddar, and cooked bacon (except 1/2 cup reserved)
7. 7Remove the skillet from heat, then sprinkle it with the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella, 1/2 cup cheddar, and reserved 1/2 cup bacon. Cover with lid and allow to sit until the cheeses melt. Sprinkle with parsley (1 tablespoon) and serve.