My First Recipe - Chicken Ranch Pasta

Chicken Ranch Pasta

First of all, is anyone else as excited about summer as I am? Granted, living in the South during the summer is NOT the best -
BUT I always have more time to cook!

This recipe is a favorite of mine and my family's, and we cook it often. If you're like me, you think
bacon sprinkled on top of anything is yummy!

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked chopped chicken
1/3 cup cooked chopped bacon
2 cups milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or your favorite cheese)
2 Tbsp dry ranch dressing seasoning mix (We LOVE Hidden Valley)
1 Tbsp flour
1 Tbsp butter
8 ounces penne pasta 

Instructions:

It's a lot easier to cook the pasta first, as you will need it. Boil the pasta noodles accordingly (it usually takes me about
20 minutes) then drain and set to the side.
In the same or a new pot, melt your tablespoon of butter, then add the flour, stirring together. Do this for about 1 minute.
Slowly add in your milk, and stir until your sauce thickens (3-4 minutes).
Now add your ranch dressing powder and your cheese (ANY cheese tastes great in this!)
Stir until ALL the cheese is melted.
Now add your chicken and stir. Mix with pasta and sprinkle bacon on top - YUM!

**ALTERNATIVES**

If you do not want to buy chopped up chicken that you have to cook yourself,
buy an already cooked Rotisserie chicken, and just tear off shreds of chicken and add it
to your pasta. We have done it this way before and you can't tell any difference,
and the chicken has more flavoring!

ENJOY!

As always, all recipes can be found here:
Recipes