Description
This Hidden Valley Ranch Chicken Pasta is a creamy, flavorful dish combining tender chicken breast pieces with al dente rotini pasta, all coated in a rich ranch-infused Parmesan cream sauce. Ready in just 25 minutes, it’s an easy and satisfying weeknight meal perfect for the whole family.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- Salt and pepper to taste
Pasta
- 8 oz rotini pasta
Sauce
- 1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning mix
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons butter (divided)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces, seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Cook the chicken: In a large skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook until they turn golden brown and are cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Cook the pasta: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook until al dente, about 8–10 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- Sauté garlic: In the same skillet, melt the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Make the ranch cream sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and stir in the Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning mix. Let it simmer gently over low heat for 2–3 minutes to combine flavors.
- Add Parmesan cheese: Stir in the shredded Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce becomes smooth. If the sauce is too thick, thin it out by adding reserved pasta water little by little.
- Combine pasta and chicken: Return the cooked pasta and chicken to the skillet. Toss everything together carefully to coat the pasta and chicken evenly in the creamy ranch sauce.
- Warm it through: Cook the combined dish for another 1–2 minutes, allowing it to heat through completely and for the flavors to meld.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle with chopped parsley if desired for freshness and color. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for best melting and flavor.
- Adjust the consistency of the sauce with reserved pasta water to your liking.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half but expect a less rich sauce.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stove or microwave.
- You can add steamed vegetables like broccoli or peas for added nutrition and color.
