This amazing dish will please the whole family so much that you will be asked to make it often. The penne pasta and crispy bacon are made in a creamy Alfredo sauce. Yum.
Alfredo Sauce:
2 T. all-purpose flour
3/4 c. heavy whipping cream
1/2 c. whole or 2% milk
3/4 c. salted butter
8 oz. block cream cheese
1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 t. garlic powder
Chicken Bacon Ranch Penne:
1 lb. penne pasta
1/2 lb. cooked chicken breast, chopped (rotisserie chicken is fine to use)
1/2 c. bottled prepared Ranch dressing
6 slices cooked bacon, chopped
1 c. freshly grated Mozzarella cheese
freshly chopped parsley, optional
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray; set aside.
Alfredo Sauce:
In a small bowl, combine flour, heavy whipping cream and milk; whisk until smooth and combined; set aside.
In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, add butter and cream cheese; whisk until melted. (When it starts to melt, it will look curdled at first, but it will gradually smooth out.)
Slowly add in flour/milk mixture to saucepan; whisk for a few minutes until mixture starts to thicken. When thickened and hot, remove from heat. Stir in Parmesan cheese and garlic powder until sauce is smooth and creamy; set aside.
Baked Penne:
Cook penne pasta in a large pot of well salted water until al dente; drain; return pasta to the pot. Add the cooked chicken, Alfredo sauce and Ranch dressing; stir to combine. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish; spread out evenly.
Sprinkle bacon and Mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.
Bake uncovered, for 25 minutes or until hot, bubbly and cheese is melted.
Remove from oven. Let stand 5 minutes.
Serve garnished with freshly chopped parsley.
6-8 servings.