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Simply Delicious

Rancher's Wife Bake

ChickenOvenDiner-Style

Time: 50 minutes

Yield: 6 servings

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About

After a hard day working in the fields (or in an office), there's nothing like coming home to the lovely Rancher's Wife Bake! Loaded with all those down-home, comfy tastes — like bouncy pasta, crispy bacon, and shredded chicken — the creaminess and tanginess this main dish brings will fill your belly up and have you feelin' quite cozy. Ah, it's good to be home, and it's even better when the Rancher's Wife Bake is there waiting for you!

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Ingredients

  • 1/2 (16-ounce) package penne
  • 4 slices bacon, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, cubed and softened
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1 (1-ounce) packet ranch dressing and seasoning mix
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 cups rotisserie chicken, shredded
  • 2 cups low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided

Directions

Step 1 -Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Step 2 -Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

Step 3 -In a large pot of salted, boiling water, cook the penne to al dente, according to the package directions.

Step 4 -Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water and drain the rest. Return the cooked penne to the pot.

Step 5 -In a large skillet over medium heat, add the bacon pieces and cook, stirring often, until they are crisp, about 5 minutes.

Step 6 -Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked bacon pieces to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Reserve the drippings in the skillet.

Step 7 -In the same skillet over medium heat, add the garlic to the reserved drippings and cook, stirring constantly, until it is fragrant, about 1 minute.

Step 8 -Whisk the heavy cream and the cream cheese into the garlic. Cook, whisking frequently, until the cream cheese has melted and the mixture is smooth, about 2 minutes.

Step 9 -Transfer the skillet from the heat. Add the parmesan, the ranch dressing mix, the pepper, and the reserved pasta water to the cream cheese mixture and stir to combine.

Step 10 -Pour the sauce over the cooked penne and stir to coat.

Step 11 -Fold the shredded chicken and 1 cup of the mozzarella into the penne mixture.

Step 12 -Pour the penne mixture into the prepared baking dish and evenly sprinkle with the chopped bacon and the remaining mozzarella.

Step 13 -Bake the penne bake until it is golden and bubbly, about 20 minutes.

Step 14 -Serve.

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