Served warm or cold, this quick and easy recipe for Chicken Ranch Pasta is sure to become a family favorite.
Growing up, there were a handful of recipes that my mom (a wonderful cook by the way) would fall back on when she needed something quick and easy to throw together for dinner. This Chicken Ranch Pasta recipe was one of them.
I’m a huge fan of easy meals, especially in this stage of life with five kiddos. This pasta dish is such a great recipe that the whole family enjoys. Well, I guess I may have a few kids who try to pick out the broccoli, but in general I think it’s a really kid-friendly dish.
Chicken Ranch Pasta is perfect for an easy weeknight meal. Containing only five ingredients, it’s likely you won’t need to run to the grocery store because you probably already have everything you need for this recipe in your pantry and fridge!
What else do I love about this Chicken Ranch Pasta recipe? Well, I love that it’s a complete meal containing protein, carbs, and veggies! And while it’s yummy any time of year, it’s especially great for the summer when you don’t want to use the oven.
I love that it can be served hot or cold, whichever you prefer. Sometimes I think this recipe tastes even better the next day!
You may also be interested in this recipe: Easy Pizza Pasta Salad
The Simple Ingredients
Okay, so like I said, the best part is that all you need are five basic ingredients for this one-pot meal: pasta, chicken, broccoli, ranch dressing, and Parmesan cheese. I know that there are versions out there that include cream cheese but this version is a bit lighter which I like.
Pasta:
I typically use rotini or penne pasta. The rainbow colored rotini adds some nice color to the dish so that’s probably my favorite to use. Bowties would also work! The best pasta is whatever pasta you like best. 🙂
If you’re cooking your pasta ahead of time cook to al dente and then toss it with a tiny bit of olive oil so that it doesn’t stick together.
Chicken:
This recipe is a great way to use up leftover chicken. You can shred or chop up rotisserie chicken, leftover baked chicken, fried chicken, grilled chicken, etc. You can bake or boil some skinless chicken breasts (boil them in chicken broth for more flavor) and shred them up for this recipe as well.
Broccoli:
You can use frozen or fresh broccoli, whichever you have on hand or prefer. Either way you’ll want to steam or roast it first.
Ranch dressing:
I use actual Ranch dressing for this dish (not to be confused with Ranch seasoning / Ranch dressing mix.)
I’m personally not a huge fan of Ranch dressing on a regular salad but somehow the ranch flavor is perfect for this recipe. If the ranch flavor is still stronger than you prefer you could always add a bit of garlic powder for an additional flavor. (In my opinion garlic is always a good idea!)
Parmesan cheese:
I feel like anything with parmesan cheese is the ultimate comfort food haha. For this recipe I’ve always used grated parmesan cheese because that’s what I keep on hand, but you could use fresh as well I’m sure.
Try the recipe as is, then next time try it with one of these variations:
- Add a bit of cream cheese or sour cream for a richer dish.
- Add bits of crispy bacon for extra color and flavor.
- Top with cheddar cheese for a more cheesy ranch chicken pasta.
- Add in other favorite veggies like fresh bell peppers, lightly cooked and chopped green beans, etc.
- Garnish with some fresh parsley.
How to Make Chicken Ranch Pasta
Bring water to boil in a large pot. Cook pasta until al dente (I usually do medium-high heat so that my pot doesn’t boil over.) Drain pasta and then return it to the pot.
Add in one cup of Ranch dressing, two cups shredded or chopped chicken, two cups cooked broccoli, and a liberal amount of parmesan cheese and mix.
No need to use a casserole dish or serving dish if you don’t want – just serve it straight from the pot!
Store in the fridge in an airtight container for 5 days or so.
Note: You can always save out a cup of pasta water so that you can add a bit to the dish if you feel like it’s too dry, but honestly I’ve never found that to be an issue.
Looking for more easy recipes? Check out all my easy budget-friendly meal plans here.
5 Ingredient Chicken Ranch Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 oz. pasta, cooked (rotini or penne are good choices)
- 2 c. broccoli, cooked
- 2 c. chopped/shredded chicken (rotisserie chicken adds great flavor!)
- 1 c. ranch dressing
- 1 1/2 tbsp. Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Toss everything together.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate and serve cold.
If you’re wondering what to serve with your Chicken Ranch Pasta I think that garlic bread or French bread make a great side.
If this looks yummy to you I’d love for you to pin it on Pinterest. And hey, follow my account while you’re over there. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by today!
Here are more of my favorite recipes that are perfect for busy weeknights.
