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Instant Pot Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is a tasty, cheesy one-pot meal. This easy pasta recipe has a ton of flavor, and is fast to make. If your bacon is cooked, it is a dump and start recipe. Pressure cooker chicken bacon ranch pasta is filling and yummy!
Originally published 1/5/18, Recipe has been updated
Instant Pot Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
So you like bacon, I mean, of course you do, and you want to make something tasty with it. How about Instant Pot Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta! This recipe has lots of flavor, and is very hearty. Best of all, it has bacon in it!
Well, I was going to say it’s a one-pot meal, but bacon is better!
I wanted to bring you something a little more hearty. This is like a loaded mac and cheese, with chicken, bacon, and lots of flavor!
There’s always room for more pasta, and if it’s easy to make, and loaded with great flavor, there’s a better chance of the family liking it!
Why cook a pasta dish in the Instant Pot?
I love to cook pasta in my Instant Pot. To me, not having to drain the water, and the pasta soaking up the flavor, are the two big reasons to cook pasta in the pressure cooker!
Plus this is a one-pot meal and it is done in about 30 minutes!
Which pasta works the best in this recipe?
I like to use penne, rotini, or ziti. You can use just about any pasta, as the chicken will cook in a short amount of time, so use what you have!
The ratio of pasta to liquid is important, so make sure you are using 16 oz for this recipe. You can’t go by the cup as different pastas have different shapes/sizes.
Using a nice thick-cut smoky bacon makes this recipe even better. If you don’t have that kind, any bacon you have will do.
Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
Instant Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta
Instant Pot Creamy Garlic Tuscan Chicken Pasta
Instant Pot Chili Mac
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Instant Pot Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
Ingredients
- 6 slices Thick Cut Bacon, cooked or uncooked, cut in bite-sized pieces
- 3 Tablespoons Butter, unsalted
- 4 cups Chicken Broth, low sodium
- ½ cup Heavy Cream or Half and Half, (more if you like it saucier)
- 1 packet Ranch Dressing Powder (3 Tbsp)
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 16 oz Penne Pasta (or rotini, ziti, etc.)
- 2 (8 oz) Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast (cubed slightly larger than bite sized)
- 8 oz Cream Cheese, cubed
- 1 cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare all of the ingredients before you start. Cut the bacon and chicken, have the butter measured. Shred the cheese, and measure out the ranch & garlic powders, broth, and pasta. It will make the cooking process much easier and faster. Less stress!
- If you have uncooked bacon: Turn on the Sauté function (Normal/Med heat). Add the chopped bacon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until done. Remove to a paper towel and drain all of the fat from the pot. Set aside.
- Add the butter and a splash or two of the broth to the pot and stir, scraping the bottom of the pot so you can to get up all of the brown bits (fond).
- Add the broth, heavy cream, ranch powder, and garlic powder, and stir well.
- Add the pasta and stir.
- Add the chicken and the cubes of cream cheese. Don't stir, but gently push down, using a spoon, to submerge the chicken and pasta.
- Cancel the Sauté function.
- Place the pressure cooker lid on the pot and turn the steam release knob to the Sealing position.
- Press Pressure Cook or Manual button, and then the + or - button to choose 5 minutes. Your pasta may need a different time. Usually half the time on the package directions.
- When the cooking cycle ends, do a controlled Quick Release of the pressure, just until you are sure no sauce will spew out with the steam, then turn the knob all the way and let it all out.
- When the pin in the lid drops down, open it and give the contents a stir. It will be fairly soupy at this point.
- Stir in the cheese and let it melt.
- Stir in the bacon. Mix well. It will thicken as it cools.
- Serve warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
RESOURCES TO MAKE Instant Pot Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Recipe and More
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Sandy I made this tonight for my wife she is 28 weeks pregnant and loved it. O and it’s a boy. We will be adding this recipe into the weekly rotation.
OMGosh Zach! Congratulations! I’m super happy that your wife liked this recipe (and baby). Thank you for your review! Let me know when the baby arrives! <3
Loved it, I would like to double the recipe. How much time should I add?
Hi Joanie, you don’t have to add time as the pasta cooks in the time given. It may take longer to come to pressure though, and be really careful when you release the pressure so none of the sauce spews out with the steam. It happens easier with a fuller pot!
Just made this last night and the family loved it. Will definitely have to make this again. Thanks for the recipe.
Hi Cyndi! I’m so glad that you and your family liked this recipe! Thank you for leaving a review!
I just made this, a good choice for my family as they don’t like onions. It turned out beautifully, the flavor was excellent. I am a little confused and kind of muddled along with the bacon. No where in the instructions does it say when to add the bacon pieces. I did right at the end. Also, it says bacon reserve. Is that the drippings that you add in? I did not since we are watching our diets. It was good without it. I did add in 3 celery stalks, diced. Family likes cooked celery, onions not so much. Lol. I’ll be making this again. Thanks!
Hi Lauri, I’m glad you and your family enjoyed this recipe. Just to clarify, the instructions say to add the reserved bacon, which means the bacon you had previously cooked and set aside. Definitely not the bacon fat! I’ll try and find a way to put emphasis on that so no one else is confused about it! Thank you for your review and feedback!
I think if it simply said add bacon pieces it would be clearer. What are the drippings you saved used for?
Okay, thank you. I don’t save the fat from this recipe, so I need to reword it so it doesn’t appear that way! Lol! Thanks!
Made this last night. It was awesome! I did find it a little soupy and would cut back on the broth next time. I can really see this as a kid pleaser. Any picky eater will devour this
This was super delicious and flavorful! I used chicken stock and 1 1/2 tablespoons of Hormel real crumbled bacon that I had leftover from a different recipe. I will definitely be making this again! Thanks for the great recipe, Sandy ???
Hey Kimster, thanks for the review! I’m glad this recipe worked for you!
This was super delicious and flavorful! I used chicken stock and 1 1/2 tablespoons of Hormel real crumbled bacon that I had leftover from a different recipe. I will definitely be making this again! Thanks for the great recipe!! ???
Can you make it without a pressure cooker?
Sure, Aimee, using a pot on the stove to cook the pasta, and another to cook the bacon and chicken. You won’t need all of the broth, but keep some in case it is too thick after adding the pasta and cheese.
What size Instapot is this recipe for?
Hi Kayla, all of my recipes are created for the 6 quart, unless otherwise stated. Thanks for stopping by!
I do not have the glass lid 🙁
What are my options?
Can I just place the regular lid on???
Hi Amy, any lid will do. If you use the pressure cooker lid, just make sure it is on venting.
I just put broth into microwave and brought it up to temp.. yum!
Great!
I made this tonight and everyone loved. So thank you for sharing.
I made this tonight, and it was delicious! They only thing I will change the next time I make it is less bacon, lol. I love bacon but it was a little over powering to me.
Hi Jess, thank you for your review, and the suggestion about less bacon. I appreciate you taking the time to review this recipe!