Ultimate Griddle Meal – Chicken Bacon Ranch Tortellini on the Blackstone Griddle
Looking for an easy, family-friendly meal that’s quick to prepare, full of flavor, and sure to be a hit with both kids and adults? The Chicken Bacon Ranch Tortellini made on the Blackstone griddle is the perfect solution. This recipe combines succulent chicken, crispy bacon, cheese-filled tortellini, fresh spinach, and a creamy ranch dressing to create a dish that’s as hearty as it is delicious. It’s all cooked on the griddle, making cleanup a breeze and providing an unbeatable flavor profile from the searing griddle heat.
Whether you’re cooking for a weeknight family dinner or serving guests, this griddle meal is quick, customizable, and full of rich, savory flavors. In this guide, I’ll walk you through every step of making the best Chicken Bacon Ranch Tortellini that you’ll ever cook on your griddle.
Why Cook on the Blackstone Griddle?
If you’ve never used a Blackstone griddle for cooking before, you’re missing out. Not only is it versatile, but the even heat distribution allows for perfect searing and browning, ideal for dishes like this one where you want everything to be cooked perfectly. The Blackstone griddle allows you to combine multiple ingredients, like the chicken, bacon, onions, and spinach, all at once, making cooking fast and easy. Plus, you get that delicious, smoky flavor that comes from using a griddle, which can’t be replicated with a regular stove.
The Flavor Combination
The flavor profile of this dish is absolutely irresistible. You’ve got the savory chicken, the salty bacon, and the creamy ranch dressing all coming together to create an explosion of flavors in each bite. The addition of spinach not only adds a touch of earthiness to the dish but also packs in some extra vitamins and nutrients. The mozzarella cheese provides a gooey, melty layer that ties everything together. This is one of those dishes that makes you feel like you’re at a restaurant, even when you’re cooking it right in your backyard on the griddle.
Ingredients Breakdown
Before diving into the instructions, let’s take a look at the key ingredients that make this Chicken Bacon Ranch Tortellini so special:
- Bacon: Bacon is a quintessential addition to any griddle meal. It adds a crispy texture and rich, smoky flavor that perfectly complements the other ingredients. You’ll need 8 to 10 slices of bacon for this recipe, so be sure to have enough on hand.
- Frozen Cheese Tortellini: Cheese-filled tortellini adds a satisfying bite to the dish. The tender pasta works wonderfully as a base to soak up the flavors from the ranch dressing and other ingredients. You’ll want to thaw the frozen tortellini beforehand, but don’t cook it yet—this will be done on the griddle.
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts: Chicken breast is lean and easy to work with, and it pairs well with the richness of the bacon and cheese. Cutting it into 1-inch pieces ensures it cooks quickly and evenly on the griddle.
- Onion: The diced onion provides a subtle sweetness that balances the richness of the bacon and cheese. Cooking it on the griddle gives it that perfect charred flavor that brings out its natural sweetness.
- Spinach: Fresh spinach adds color and nutrients to the dish. It cooks quickly and blends well with the rest of the ingredients. The spinach is also a great way to add a little extra green to this otherwise indulgent dish.
- Garlic: Minced garlic gives the dish a fragrant and flavorful boost. Garlic and ranch dressing are a match made in heaven, and this combination will fill your kitchen with an irresistible aroma as it cooks.
- Ranch Dressing: This creamy dressing ties all the flavors together, creating a velvety sauce that coats the tortellini and other ingredients. It’s the key to making this dish so comforting and satisfying.
- Mozzarella Cheese: Mozzarella adds a soft, melty texture that pairs perfectly with the ranch dressing. It’s the perfect cheese to melt over this dish for that gooey, cheesy finish.
- Old Bay Seasoning: Old Bay brings a unique blend of spices, adding a little kick and depth to the flavor. If you don’t have Old Bay, you can substitute it with any seasoning blend of your choice.
- Kosher Salt and Pepper: Basic seasonings like salt and pepper are essential to bring all the flavors together. Feel free to adjust the seasoning to taste.
Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the Griddle and Cook the Bacon
The first step in making this Chicken Bacon Ranch Tortellini is to cook the bacon. Preheat your Blackstone griddle to medium heat. Lay the bacon slices on the griddle and cook them for about 3-4 minutes on each side or until they’re crispy and golden brown. Once the bacon is cooked, remove it from the griddle and set it aside to cool. After it cools, crumble the bacon into small pieces. Set aside for later.
Step 2: Cook the Tortellini
While the bacon is cooking, you can prep the frozen cheese tortellini. Since the tortellini is frozen, you’ll want to thaw it beforehand. Once the bacon is out of the way, add the thawed tortellini to the griddle. Cover the tortellini with a foil pan or a melting dome, and add a little water under the cover to create steam. Allow the tortellini to cook for 2 to 3 minutes, flipping them halfway through. Once they’re done, set the pan aside.
Step 3: Sauté the Chicken and Onion
Now, it’s time to cook the chicken and onion. Add a small amount of cooking oil to the griddle, and then place the chicken pieces and diced onion on the griddle. Season with kosher salt, pepper, and a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes. Cook the chicken and onions for 3 to 4 minutes, flipping them with your spatula until the chicken is fully cooked through and the onions begin to soften and caramelize.
Step 4: Add Spinach and Garlic
Once the chicken and onions are cooked, add the fresh spinach and minced garlic to the griddle. Stir everything together and let it cook for another 3 to 4 minutes. The spinach will wilt quickly, and the garlic will release its aromatic flavor.
Step 5: Combine with Ranch Dressing, Cheese, and Bacon
Next, add the ranch dressing, shredded mozzarella cheese, Old Bay seasoning, and bacon crumbles to the griddle. Use your spatula to mix everything together. Stir the ingredients until the cheese melts and the ranch dressing creates a creamy sauce that coats everything. Taste the mixture and adjust the seasoning with more kosher salt, pepper, or Old Bay seasoning if necessary.
Step 6: Serve and Enjoy!
Once everything is cooked and well combined, scoop the Chicken Bacon Ranch Tortellini into a serving dish. Let it cool for a few minutes so the sauce can thicken up slightly before serving. This dish is best served hot and can be enjoyed on its own or with a side of garlic bread or a simple salad.
Quick and Easy Chicken Bacon Ranch Tortellini Recipe
Ingredients:
- 8 to 10 slices of bacon
- 1 20-ounce bag of frozen cheese tortellini (thawed, not cooked)
- Cooking oil of choice
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into 1-inch pieces)
- 1 onion (diced)
- Kosher salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes (to taste)
- 8 ounces fresh spinach (chopped)
- 5-6 cloves garlic (minced)
- 16-ounce bottle ranch dressing
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning (or seasoning blend of choice)
Instructions:
- Preheat the griddle to medium heat. Cook bacon for 3-4 minutes on each side, then crumble and set aside.
- Cook thawed tortellini on the griddle for 2-3 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Add oil to the griddle and cook chicken and onion with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes for 3-4 minutes.
- Add spinach and garlic, then cook for another 3-4 minutes.
- Add ranch dressing, mozzarella cheese, Old Bay seasoning, and bacon crumbles. Stir to combine and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Serve and enjoy your Chicken Bacon Ranch Tortellini!
Enjoy your flavorful griddle meal, the perfect combination of crispy bacon, tender chicken, melty cheese, and savory ranch dressing. This Chicken Bacon Ranch Tortellini is sure to be a new family favorite!
