Chicken and Bacon Fiesta Ranch Ziti

First, put a pot of water on the stove and bring it to a boil. Add pasta and cook the pasta to al dente, according to package directions. When it’s done, drain the pasta and set aside.

At the same time, get the bacon cooking over medium heat in a large skillet. While the bacon is cooking, cut the raw chicken into bite-sized pieces.

Once the bacon is well browned and crispy, place it on a plate lined with paper towels to drain the fat. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat, and put the chicken into the skillet. Brown the chicken until done, about 6 to 8 minutes.

Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken into a large bowl, leaving the juices in the skillet. With the heat still at medium, add the olive oil and milk to the skillet, whisking while you do so. Sprinkle in the flour and dip mix, continuing to whisk. Cook until it begins to thicken, then add the chicken.

Pick up the bacon inside of the paper towels, crumple the towels together to crush the bacon into small pieces, and add it to the skillet. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and heat until it has completely melted.

Add the pasta into the sauce and mix to combine. If desired, garnish with additional Parmesan and watch the family come back for seconds!