Chicken and bacon pasta with milk

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Treat yourself to this delicious Creamy Bacon Ranch Chicken Pasta-which is creamy, decadent and ready in only 30 minutes!

Makes 8 ( 1 1/4 cup) servings

Do you love a good pasta dish? Be sure to check out these delicious low point pasta dishes as well:

Chicken and Veggie Fettuccine Casserole  

Chicken Stroganoff

Easy Creamy Chicken with Noodles

Lightened Up Mac n’ Cheese

What ingredients do I need to make this Creamy Bacon Ranch Chicken Pasta?;

• Skinless, boneless chicken breasts-cut into bite size pieces.
• Dry ranch dressing mix
• Center cut bacon or Hormel black label precooked bacon-chopped
• Barilla protein plus penne pasta or whole grain pasta if you have whole grain pasta as a zero point food
• Low sodium chicken broth
• Skim milk or unsweetened almond milk
• Reduced fat cream cheese, room temperature. I use Kroger light cream cheese.
• Non fat plain or Greek yogurt
• salt and pepper, to taste

How do I make this Creamy Bacon Ranch Chicken Pasta?

This dish can make it in the Instant Pot or on the stove. I have provided directions for both ways.

Spray the bottom of the instant with non stick cooking spray.

Set instant pot to sauté. Add diced chicken into pot and sauté until chicken is cooked and golden brown on both sides. Season with salt and pepper.

Add 3 cups chicken broth along with 1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk or skim milk, ranch packet and pasta.

 Turn off sauté.

Set instant pot set on manual high for 4 minutes-after it’s been cooked-allow for a natural release of pressure. (wait for the float valve to go down on its own. This can take anywhere from 5 minutes to 30 minutes, depending on how much liquid is in the Instant Pot. The more liquid you have, the longer it takes for the Instant Pot to release pressure on it’s own.)

Stir in reduced fat cream cheese (room temperature) that has been cut into cubes and stir in non fat Greek yogurt until cream cheese has melted and the yogurt is well combined.

Cook precooked bacon or center cut bacon.

( I use precooked bacon and cook in the microwave for 60 seconds-then crumble into pieces once it’s cooled.)

Sprinkle cooked, crumbled bacon over the top of the pasta.

Makes 8 ( 1 1/4 cup) servings

Ingredients:

• 3 (4 oz.) skinless, boneless chicken breasts, raw and cut into bite size pieces
• 1 ( 1.5 oz) packet ranch dressing mix
• 8 slices center cut bacon or Hormel black label precooked bacon, chopped
• 1 (14.5 oz.) box Barilla protein plus penne pasta or whole wheat pasta if you have whole grain pasta as a zero point food on the ww plan.
• 3 cups low sodium chicken broth
• 1 1/2 cup skim milk or unsweetened almond milk
• 6 oz. 1/3 less fat cream cheese, room temperature – I use Kroger light cream cheese
• 1/2 cup non fat plain or Greek yogurt
• salt and pepper, to taste

Instant Pot Directions:

1. Spray the bottom of the instant with non stick cooking spray. Set instant pot to sauté. Add diced chicken into pot and sauté until chicken is cooked and golden brown on both sides. Season chicken with salt and pepper.
2. Add 3 cups chicken broth along with 1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk or skim milk, ranch packet and pasta. Turn off sauté.
3. Set instant pot set on manual high for 4 minutes-after it’s been cooked-allow for a natural release of pressure. (wait for the float valve to go down on its own. This can take anywhere from 5 minutes to 30 minutes, depending on how much liquid is in the Instant Pot. The more liquid you have, the longer it takes for the Instant Pot to release pressure on it’s own.)
4. Stir in reduced fat cream cheese (room temperature) that has been cut into cubes and stir in non fat Greek yogurt until cream cheese has melted and the yogurt is well combined.
5. Cook precooked bacon or center cut bacon. ( I use precooked bacon and cook in the microwave for 60 seconds- then crumble into pieces once it’s cooled.)
6. Sprinkle cooked, crumbled bacon over the top of the pasta.

Stove Top Directions:

1. In a large cooking pot, cook penne pasta according to the directions on back of the pasta package. Drain. Set aside.
2. Spray a large skillet pan with non stick cooking spray. Add diced chicken and cook on medium high until chicken pieces are no longer pink. Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
3. Turn heat settings to low and stir in 1 cup chicken broth,  (if cooking on the stove-reduce you’ll reduce the chicken broth to 1 cup) and 1 cup skim milk or unsweetened almond milk, and ranch seasonings. Let it cook until it comes to a boil then reduce to a simmer until sauce thickens a bit.
4. Whisk in cream cheese and Greek yogurt until melted. Remove from heat. 
5. Pour mixture over cooked penne pasta. Stir until all ingredients have been incorporated.
6. Cook precooked bacon or center cut bacon. ( I use precooked bacon and cook in the microwave for 60 seconds) then crumble into pieces once it’s cooled.)
7. Sprinkle cooked, crumbled bacon over the top of the pasta. 

Makes 8 ( 1 1/4 cup) servings

3-10 PersonalPoints™ per serving*  

 *This number shows the PersonalPoints™ range. The points will vary based on your individualized plan. 

How do I know how many points this is on my WW individualized plan? 

Click the link below to go to the recipe builder. You’ll first need to sign into your WW account and then the recipe builder will upload. Be sure to edit the recipe with any ingredients that you use that are different. The recipe builder is the most accurate way to create, obtain, and track the Personal Points on your individualized plan. 

*The recipe builder link only works for WW members located in the United States. If you are located outside of the United States, you’ll need to access the WW app manually to create the recipe in the recipe builder. 

Notes:

• If cooking on the stove you’ll reduce the chicken broth to 1 cup vs. 3 cups in the instant pot. 

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 12 oz. skinless, boneless chicken breasts, raw and cut into bite size pieces
• 1 ( 1.5 oz) packet ranch dressing mix
• 1 (14.5 oz.) box Barilla protein plus penne pasta or Barilla whole grain penne
• 8 slices center cut bacon or Hormel black label precooked bacon, chopped
• 3 cups low sodium chicken broth
• 1 1/2 cup skim milk or unsweetened almond milk
• 6 oz. light cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/2 cup non fat plain or Greek yogurt
• Salt and Pepper, to taste

Instructions

Instant Pot:

1. Spray the bottom of the instant with non stick cooking spray. Set instant pot to sauté. Add diced chicken into pot and sauté until chicken is cooked and golden brown on both sides. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Add 3 cups chicken broth along with 1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk or skim milk, ranch packet and pasta. Turn off sauté.
3. Set instant pot set on manual high for 4 minutes-after it’s been cooked-allow for a natural release of pressure. (wait for the float valve to go down on its own. This can take anywhere from 5 minutes to 30 minutes, depending on how much liquid is in the Instant Pot. The more liquid you have, the longer it takes for the Instant Pot to release pressure on it's own.)
4. Stir in reduced fat cream cheese (room temperature) that has been cut into cubes and stir in non fat Greek yogurt until cream cheese has melted and the yogurt is well combined.
5. Cook precooked bacon or center cut bacon. ( I use precooked bacon and cook in the microwave for 60 seconds- then crumble into pieces once it's cooled.)
6. Sprinkle cooked, crumbled bacon over the top of the pasta.

Stove Top:

1. In a large cooking pot, cook penne pasta according to the directions on back of the pasta package. Drain. Set aside.
2. Spray a large skillet pan with non stick cooking spray. Add diced chicken and cook on medium high until chicken pieces are no longer pink. Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
3. Turn heat settings to low and stir in 1 cup chicken broth,  (if cooking on the stove-reduce chicken broth) and 1 cup skim milk or unsweetened almond milk, and ranch seasonings.
4. Let it cook until it comes to a boil then reduce to a simmer until sauce thickens a bit.
5. Whisk in cream cheese and Greek yogurt until melted. Remove from heat. 
6. Pour mixture over cooked penne pasta. Stir until all ingredients have been incorporated.
7. Cook precooked bacon or center cut bacon. ( I use precooked bacon and cook in the microwave for 60 seconds) then crumble into pieces once it's cooled.)
8. Sprinkle cooked, crumbled bacon over the top of the pasta. 

Makes 8 ( 1 1/4 cup) servings

3-10 PersonalPoints™ per serving*

*This number shows the PersonalPoints™ range. The points will vary based on your individualized plan.

Notes

If cooking on the stove-reduce chicken broth to 1 cup.

Smartpoints: GREEN: 9 SmartPoints per serving BLUE: 8 Smartpoints per serving PURPLE: 4 SmartPoints per serving if using 100% whole wheat pasta

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

The point values and nutritional information is estimated and figured based off the brand of ingredients I used for the recipe using the WW app and can vary depending on ingredients used.