Cheddar Bacon Ranch Chicken Pasta

I've been trying to use up some food that I have on hand before purchasing more ingredients. So, when going through different pins, I found one for Cheddar Bacon Ranch Chicken Pasta from Cassie Craves.

This was a very easy recipe to make and had a nice, subtle flavor to it. It almost reminded me of a grown-up version of macaroni and cheese...except with more flavor and a bit more hearty.

Cheddar Ranch Chicken Pasta

that I made.

Cheddar Bacon Ranch Chicken Pasta
(adapted from Better Homes and Gardens)

Ingredients:

1 pound mostaccioli or other short pasta
6 strips of bacon, diced (I didn't include the bacon)
1 tablespoon butter
2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, cut into bite-size pieces
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 packet ranch dressing mix
2 cups milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Cook the pasta according to package directions in boiling salted water; drain, return to pot, and keep warm.

2. Meanwhile, cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Drain all but one tablespoon of bacon drippings from the pan. (Note: Since I didn't use bacon I used a small amount of vegetable oil instead to cook the chicken.)

3. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Add the butter to the reserved bacon drippings, then add the chicken to the same skillet. Cook until tender, no longer pink, and slightly browned.

4. Sprinkle the flour and ranch dressing mix over the chicken, stirring to coat evenly. Stir in the milk, and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened and bubbly. Stir in the cheddar cheese and half of the reserved bacon; cook and stir until the cheese is melted. Taste for seasoning and adjust as needed.

5. Serve each plate of pasta with more bacon sprinkled over the top. Green onions also would be a delicious topping.