Creamy Bacon & Chicken Pasta
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This Creamy Bacon & Chicken Pasta is about to be your new weeknight obsession. It's rich, satisfying, and comes together with simple ingredients you probably already have on hand. It's the ultimate comfort food that disappears fast!
Quick Look: Creamy Bacon & Chicken Pasta
- 🕒 Total Time: 45 minutes
- 👥 Servings: 6 servings
- 📊 Calories: 535 per serving
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Be sure to try my Creamy Tuscan Chicken Orzo or my Lighter Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli for two more delicious pasta dishes!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's High Protein & Balanced - this one is more nutritionally balanced to than your average pasta dish, thanks to grilled chicken and a sauce that's creamy without being heavy.
- The Flavor is Bursting - this pasta is smoky, creamy, garlicky, and savory in every bite. It tastes like something you'd order at a restaurant, but it's totally weeknight-friendly.
- So Easy to Make! - One pan for the sauce, one pot for the pasta, and dinner is done in no time with minimal effort!
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Select Ingredients
- Chicken breasts - For best results, I recommend slicing these thin before cooking! You can use pre-cooked chicken, but be sure to season it really well.
- Pasta - penne works great in this recipe but you can swap it out for another shape if you have something else on hand. Gluten-free pasta works well too.
- Tomatoes - use sliced cherry tomatoes or cut large tomatoes into chunks for a chunkier texture.
- Parmesan - I recommend grating your own parmesan for a better melt!
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Recipe Tips & Variations
➡️ Cook the Bacon Ahead of Time - I prefer to bake mine in the oven, but to save time, you can try the microwavable bacon. The bacon adds great flavor to this recipe so don't skip it!
➡️ Make it Gluten-Free - If you need gluten-free, you can use a gluten-free noodle in this recipe. The rest of the ingredients should naturally be gluten free but double check your seasonings.
➡️ Storage Tip - This Creamy Bacon & Chicken Pasta keeps well in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. The sauce will thicken as it chills, so when you reheat it, you may want to add a splash of milk, cream, or chicken broth to bring back the texture.
How to Make Creamy Bacon & Chicken Pasta
Step 1: In a large skillet, cook seasoned chicken for 4-5 minutes per side. Remove from pan and cover to keep warm.
Step 2: Meanwhile, prepare and cook the penne pasta. Once pasta is cooked, drain and set aside.
Step 3: In the chicken pan, add the tomatoes, garlic, half of the bacon, and spinach. If there is not enough oil leftover, add extra olive oil. Saute for about 2-3 mintues.
Step 4: Add the half and half and bring to a light boil. Reduce the heat to simmer and add the parmesan cheese, stirring until completely melted. Remove from heat.
Step 5: Add the cooked noodles to the sauce skillet and stir well.
Step 6: Top with sliced, cooked chicken, remainder of the bacon, and additional parmesan cheese. Serve warm!
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Chicken thighs stay extra juicy. Just adjust the cook time so they're fully cooked through.
You can swap the half and half for a milk or use a mix of half and half and chicken broth. Greek yogurt can also add creaminess, but stir it in off the heat to prevent curdling. This will change the flavor somewhat.
In my opinion, it tastes best fresh, but you can absolutely store it in the refrigerator and reheat! You may want to add some half and half, milk, or broth to the mixture when reheating to help the texture.
Check out my meal planning app Wholesome Meals Made Easy for more easy, healthy recipes your whole crew will actually love. It's like having a dietitian in your back pocket - quick, balanced, and family-approved!
High Protein Pasta Recipes
If you tried this Creamy Bacon & Chicken Pasta or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below! Thanks for visiting today!
Creamy Bacon & Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 lb Chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 5 Tomatoes medium, chopped in large cubes
- 1 cup Baby spinach
- 5 Garlic cloves minced
- 6 Bacon strips cooked, drained of fat, chopped
- 1 ⅓ cup Half and half
- 1 ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese Shredded
- 10 fl oz Penne pasta
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese for topping optional
Instructions
- In a large skillet, on high heat, heat 1 tablespoons of olive oil until hot. Add chicken and cook on one side on high heat for 4-5 minutes. While it cooks, sprinkle the uncooked sides of the chicken with paprika and Italian seasoning. Flip the chicken over, and cook on the other side for 4-5 minutes on medium-high heat. Ensure chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken from the pan and keep chicken warm.
- In the meantime bring a large pot of water to boil, add pasta and cook it according to box instructions. Drain the pasta, rinse with cold water and drain again.
- To the same skillet (but without chicken), add chopped tomatoes, spinach, and half the bacon (already cooked and drained of fat). Mix everything.
- Add half and half and bring to boil. Once boiling, add shredded parmesan cheese and immediately reduce to simmer. Stir while simmering, until the cheese melts and makes the sauce creamy, only about a minute. Then, immediately remove from heat.
- Add cooked, drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Add the remaining half of bacon (cooked and drained of fat). Season with more salt if necessary. Slice the cooked chicken and place on top of the pasta. Top with shredded parmesan cheese if you'd like. Enjoy!
This tastes like it came straight from my favorite Italian restaurant! It's so incredibly delicious and I love that it's high protein!