Instant Pot Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is creamy, cheesy and full of the classic chicken bacon ranch flavor! Making this in the Instant Pot couldn’t be easier, this is a Dump and Start pasta dish that will be ready to eat in 20 minutes flat!
Chicken Bacon Ranch BLISS
If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you probably know that I worked at Subway while in high school. (Side note: you HAVE to try my copy cat version of their Raspberry Cheesecake Cookies. To-die-for.)
Every shift we could buy one item half off. Early on, the Chicken Bacon Ranch became a favorite of mine. A coworker even bet that I couldn’t down an entire Chicken Bacon Ranch footlong in my 15 minute break.. you know I wouldn’t bring that up if my barely-over-5-foot high school self didn’t succeed, right? 😉
As I was cooking the other day, some 8 years later (I don’t know how it’s been so long), an idea struck; Chicken Bacon Ranch PASTA. Aka marrying my favorite carb with my favorite sandwich.
The results were phenomenal.
Dump and Start Instant Pot Meal
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta falls into one of my favorite categories: Dump and Start.
Dump and Start meals are the best because there is NO prep work involved. You literally dump everything into the Instant Pot and go.
My Creamy Ziti recipe, which is a Dump and Start meal, is the most popular recipe on my site as of right now. That meal is seriously tasty, too. Just like Olive Garden’s 5 Cheese Ziti… Okay, I am getting side tracked here. 🙂
Tips for Successful Instant Pot Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
There are a few tips, must do’s, can not’s and just info that will make your life a little easier while making this Instant Pot Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta. Read on.. 🙂
- The chicken is cooked in the pot right alongside the pasta. Make sure the chicken is cut into 1 inch cubes to insure even cooking through all chicken chunks.
- The chicken chunks all do much better on the BOTTOM of the pot, underneath the pasta. If the chicken sits on top, the pasta directly underneath is pushed down and can’t move around and cook properly.
- Make sure that all pasta is COVERED with liquid. If it isn’t covered, it won’t cook properly.
- No, you can’t use regular milk or half ‘n half. If you are looking for a lighter alternative, check out this Skinny Alfredo recipe- just add ranch dressing mix, chicken and bacon!
- Microwave bacon has come a long way, buy some. Use it in this recipe. It will make your live a million times easier.
- Only use Shredded Parmesan Cheese- that is the real stuff. NOT Grated (powdered) Parmesan Cheese. The cheese is used to thicken the sauce at the very end, the powdered cheese won’t thicken the sauce at all. It would just result in lumpy, soupy pasta. Aka yucky.
- If you have any questions at all, comment below! I will comment back as soon as humanly possible. 😉
Instant Pot Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
(Printable Recipe Below)
Instant Pot Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is creamy, cheesy and full of the classic chicken bacon ranch flavor! Making this in the Instant Pot couldn’t be easier, this is a Dump and Start pasta dish that will be ready to eat in 20 minutes flat!
Ingredients
- 1 chicken breast cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp minced garlic dried
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 lb linguine noodles broken in half
- 2 tbsp dry ranch mix
- 3/4-1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup bacon prepped and crumbled
Instructions
- Combine broth, heavy cream, garlic, salt and pepper in the liner of the Instant Pot.
- Put the 1 inch cubes of chicken into the broth and cream mixture in the Instant Pot liner. Take care to distribute the chunks evenly around the liner.
- Place the broken pasta on top of the chicken in the liquid. MAKE SURE ALL NOODLES ARE COVERED WITH LIQUID. Move the pasta around until they are all covered.
- Secure lid in place, make sure the knob is set to seal. Cook on manual HIGH for 6 minutes NPR for 6 minutes and then QR.
- The sauce at this point will be very runny, don’t be scared. It is supposed to be that way. 🙂
- Stir in the dry ranch dressing mix, mix thoroughly.
- Gradually add in the shredded parmesan cheese. Add in small amounts at a time, stirring in-between each addition.
- Serve in bowls and top with crispy bacon bits. Enjoy!
Try these other Dump and Start Instant Pot meals!
Dump and Start Creamy Ziti
French Dip Sandwiches
Dump and Start Alfredo
I love connecting with my Readers!! Come over and find me on Facebook and Instagram!
[et_bloom_inline optin_id=”optin_2″]
Instant Pot Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 chicken breast cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp minced garlic dried
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 lb linguine noodles broken in half
- 2 tbsp dry ranch mix
- 3/4-1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup bacon prepped and crumbled
Instructions
- Combine broth, heavy cream, garlic, salt and pepper in the liner of the Instant Pot.
- Put the 1 inch cubes of chicken into the broth and cream mixture in the Instant Pot liner. Take care to distribute the chunks evenly around the liner.
- Place the broken pasta on top of the chicken in the liquid. MAKE SURE ALL NOODLES ARE COVERED WITH LIQUID. Move the pasta around until they are all covered.
- Secure lid in place, make sure the knob is set to seal. Cook on manual HIGH for 6 minutes NPR for 6 minutes and then QR.
- The sauce at this point will be very runny, don't be scared. It is supposed to be that way. 🙂
- Stir in the dry ranch dressing mix, mix thoroughly.
- Gradually add in the shredded parmesan cheese. Add in small amounts at a time, stirring in-between each addition.
- Serve in bowls and top with crispy bacon bits. Enjoy!
Cooking with Karli says
I’m not sure if it will work with the gluten free noodles. If you do end up trying, please let me know.