Smoky Cheddar Ranch Chicken & Beef Sausage Pasta
This Smoky Cheddar Ranch Chicken & Beef Sausage Pasta is a hearty, flavor-loaded skillet meal made with juicy chicken, smoky beef sausage, a ranch-spiked creamy cheddar sauce, and tender pasta. Perfect for busy weeknights with minimal cleanup!
Equipment
- Large Skillet
- Pot for Boiling Pasta
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast cut into bite-sized pieces
- 12 oz beef smoked sausage sliced
- 12 oz pasta such as penne or rotini
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- 1 packet ranch seasoning mix
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 green onions sliced
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil. Add the chicken pieces and sear without stirring for 2–3 minutes. Add the sliced sausage and cook until both are golden and cooked through.
- Meanwhile, boil the pasta in salted water until just al dente. Drain and reserve some pasta water.
- Push the meat to one side of the skillet. Sprinkle in ranch seasoning and smoked paprika. Pour in the chicken broth and milk, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Stir in the cream cheese and let it melt into a smooth sauce.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss everything together. Sprinkle the cheddar cheese over and stir until creamy and gooey.
- Top with sliced green onions and serve hot.
Notes
Customize by swapping in different cheeses, adding vegetables like spinach or roasted broccoli, or using buffalo ranch seasoning for a spicy version. Reserve some pasta water to thin the sauce if necessary. Leftovers make a great pasta bake!