Description
Creamy chicken and bacon pasta combines hearty flavors in one delightful Italian-inspired dish. Silky sauce, crispy bacon, and tender chicken meld perfectly, offering a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 lb (454 g) chicken (skinless, boneless chicken breasts or tenderloins)
- 6 bacon strips (cooked, drained off fat, and chopped)
Pasta and Vegetables:
- 10 oz (283 g) penne pasta (for gluten-free version, use gluten-free brown-rice penne)
- 5 tomatoes (medium, chopped in large cubes)
- 3 cups fresh spinach or 1 cup cooked spinach
- 5 garlic cloves (minced)
Seasonings and Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (thyme, oregano, basil – combined)
- salt to taste
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (crushed)
- 1.5 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese (shredded, divided into ½ cup for sauce and ½ cup for serving)
Instructions
- Sear chicken in olive oil at medium-high heat for 4 minutes on first side. Season uncooked side with paprika, Italian seasoning, and salt. Flip and cook additional 3 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low-medium, cover chicken, and continue cooking until center is no longer pink. Transfer chicken to a warm plate and set aside.
- Pour heavy cream into the same skillet and bring to rapid boil. Immediately add Parmesan cheese, reducing heat to low-medium. Stir continuously until cheese melts and sauce becomes smooth and creamy, approximately 1-3 minutes.
- Incorporate chopped tomatoes, fresh spinach, minced garlic, and crushed red pepper into the cream sauce. Stir on medium heat until spinach wilts and integrates into the sauce.
- Add one-third of sliced chicken and half the cooked bacon to the sauce. Gently mix all ingredients and remove from heat.
- Simultaneously, boil water in a large pot and cook pasta according to package instructions, typically 10-15 minutes. Drain pasta thoroughly.
- Combine pasta with sauce in the skillet, reheating on low temperature. For serving, top with remaining chicken strips and bacon pieces.
- Finish dish by sprinkling additional Parmesan cheese over the pasta just before serving.
Notes
- Customize spice levels by adjusting crushed red pepper for those who love heat or prefer milder flavors.
- Swap chicken with tofu or plant-based protein for vegetarian alternatives while maintaining creamy sauce texture.
- Use whole wheat pasta to boost nutritional value and add extra fiber to the dish.
- Cook bacon separately and drain thoroughly to reduce excess grease and achieve crispy texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 595 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 42 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg