Chicken bacon ranch pasta

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
3 tablespoons flour
6 strips bacon
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 cups uncooked pasta (rotini, penne, rigatoni, bow tie, etc.)
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
2 cups half and half (can substitute whole milk)
2 tablespoons dry ranch dressing seasoning mix

Instructions:

Shred the cheddar cheese and set it aside at room temperature to allow it to melt smoothly.
Let the bacon sit at room temperature for 5 minutes before frying. Cut the bacon into smaller squares using kitchen scissors.