A plate of chicken bacon ranch pasta.

Why you’ll love this chicken bacon ranch pasta

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This recipe started out as a reader request, and after figuring out that dairy free ranch mix does exist, I’ve been playing around with different recipes.

Normally, this pasta recipe is loaded with cream and cheese, but instead of substituting, I decided to go a little lighter for the dairy free version, making it a healthier option for weeknight dinners.

Not only is this a great family-friendly dinner, it’s also as tasty leftover, which makes it a great option for meal planning. I think it’s even good served cold, like a pasta salad

→ If you like this recipe, you should try these: creamy pasta carbonara / dairy free BLT pasta salad / caramelized shallot pasta / dill pickle pasta salad

A cast iron skillet with a dairy free pasta dish.
Close up of chicken bacon ranch pasta, showing the creamy dairy free ranch sauce and pieces of bacon.

Ingredient notes:

  • Dairy free milk – Use any unsweetened, plain dairy free milk alternative. We normally use almond or oat milk.
  • Ranch dip mix – Make sure to check the labels. Most brands have dairy, but I’ve found my store brand dip mix to be dairy free, otherwise there is dairy free ranch seasoning available online.
  • Dairy free sour cream – This ingredient is optional, but helps mimic the tangy taste of buttermilk and adds a little bit of creaminess to the recipe. You can also use unsweetened, plain coconut yogurt, or leave it out completely.

Making changes to a recipe can result in recipe failure. Any substitutions listed are simple changes that I believe will work in this recipe, but results are not guaranteed.

A plate of bacon and chicken pasta in a ranch sauce.
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Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

By: Melissa Belanger
This chicken bacon ranch pasta pairs the classic flavors you love – like pan seared chicken breast and crispy fried bacon – with a lighter, dairy free ranch sauce that’s still creamy and satisfying.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 8
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Ingredients 

  • 1 16- ounce package rotini pasta
  • 4 slices thick-cut bacon
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breast, pounded to an even thickness
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 1- ounce packet ranch dip mix*
  • 1 3/4 cup unsweetened dairy free milk
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons vegan sour cream, optional
  • Coarse salt
  • Black pepper
  • Fresh chives, for garnish

Instructions 

  • Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add your favorite pasta, with a generous amount of salt, and cook it according to the package directions for for al dente. Before draining, reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water.
  • Fry the bacon. Heat a large skillet to medium-high and cook the bacon until crispy. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate.
    Drain any excess grease into a bowl, leaving about 1 – 2 tablespoons in the pan.
  • Sear the chicken. Season chicken breast liberally with salt & pepper. Add the chicken the hot pan (with reserved bacon grease) and cook the chicken until golden brown for about 4 – 5 minutes per side.
    When the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pan and tent with foil to keep it warm.
  • Make ranch sauce. Add olive oil to the pan and allow it to heat up. To the same hot pan, add chopped onion and garlic. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until the onion has softened – about 5 minutes.
    Sprinkle with flour and ranch seasoning, and stir to coat the onions and garlic. Let the flour absorb the oils in the pan to create a roux, then slowly whisk in the dairy free milk.
    Allow the sauce to cook, stirring frequently, until it begins to thicken a little. Then, stir in lemon juice and dairy free sour cream.
  • Stir it all together. Slice the chicken and bacon before returning it to the pan. Then add the pasta, and stir to coat. Add pasta water, as needed to help the sauce adhere to the pasta. Garnish with chives before serving.

Notes

*Make sure you’re using a ranch packet that is dairy free. I usually pick up the store brand dip mix from my grocery store, but always read the labels to make sure the mix is dairy free.

Nutrition

Calories: 411kcal, Carbohydrates: 53g, Protein: 17g, Fat: 13g, Trans Fat: 0.03g, Cholesterol: 30mg, Sodium: 731mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin C: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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A woman wearing a pink sweater smiles excitedly while holding a plate of fresh salad with greens and strawberries, standing at a wooden table beside a delicious turkey salad sandwich.

Hi! I'm Melissa.

I create easy, dairy free recipes because I know how hard living without milk can be. I believe you can live a completely satisfying life without dairy, and I want to teach you how.

Read more about me

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1 Comment

  1. Stacy says:

    Hi,

    What if I can only get vegan ranch dressing? How much of that can I use. I can’t buy ranch mix because I can only find the e vegan kind online and I can’t use SNAP food benefits for that.

    Reply