Description
This Hidden Valley Ranch Chicken Pasta is a creamy, flavorful comfort dish that combines tender chicken, ranch seasoning, and cheese for a quick and satisfying weeknight meal. It’s rich, easy to prepare, and customizable with simple ingredient swaps for any diet.
Ingredients
-
8 oz (225 g) penne or rotini pasta
-
1 lb (450 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
-
2 tbsp olive oil
-
1 packet (1 oz / 28 g) Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning mix
-
2 cups (480 ml) chicken broth
-
1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
-
1 cup (100 g) shredded cheddar cheese
-
½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese
-
2 cloves garlic, minced
-
Salt and black pepper, to taste
-
Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
-
Season the cubed chicken with salt, pepper, and a teaspoon of ranch mix.
-
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sear chicken until golden brown and cooked through, about 4–5 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
-
In the same skillet, sauté garlic until fragrant. Pour in chicken broth and scrape the pan to deglaze.
-
Stir in heavy cream and remaining ranch mix; whisk until smooth and simmer for 3–4 minutes.
-
Cook pasta in salted water until al dente, drain, and reserve ½ cup of pasta water.
-
Add cooked pasta and chicken to the skillet, followed by cheddar and Parmesan cheese. Stir until melted and creamy.
-
Adjust consistency with pasta water if needed, then garnish with chopped parsley and serve hot.
Notes
For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half or evaporated milk for the cream.
Add broccoli, bacon, or spinach for extra flavor and texture.
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Reheat with a splash of milk or broth to refresh the sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1 ½ cups)
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 980 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 145 mg