This is no ordinary bowl of pasta! The taste of chicken and bacon, along with a deliciously creamy sauce, elevates your favorite type of pasta to new heights.
Pasta has always been among my favorite foods. That’s not just because of its taste but also its simplicity. You just can’t get much simpler than boiling water, cooking pasta in it, and picking out your favorite sauce to pour on top. But if you’re a pasta lover looking to go the extra mile, this recipe for chicken and bacon pasta is a great find. It involves not only cooking the pasta but also cooking chicken and bacon separately, then combining several ingredients to create the creamy sauce. When you finish and everything comes together, it’s all worth it! You’ll have one of the most delightful bowls of pasta you’ve ever enjoyed.
It doesn’t seem like adding small pieces of chicken and a little bacon to a bowl of pasta would be enough to spice things up. But the true brilliance of this recipe is the creamy sauce. The onion, paprika, and Italian seasoning combine with heavy cream and Parmesan cheese to create a rich sauce that covers a wide range of the flavor spectrum. Of course, the bacon and chicken also bring flavor to the dish. But to me, they are mostly there to soak up more of the amazing sauce that makes this recipe so special.
Tips for perfect pasta
With so much emphasis on the sauce, it’s easy to take for granted cooking the pasta. My best advice is to cook the pasta al dente. The phrase al dente means “to the tooth” in Italian. It describes the ideal texture of pasta being firm when bitten, with a slight resistance rather than being soft or mushy. To get it just right, you’ll have to bite into a few pieces. Start tasting two or three minutes before the package’s minimum recommended cooking time—most indicate a range of time, so use the lower end as your first checkpoint.
It’s okay to slightly undercook the pasta because it will continue to cook a little more in the skillet while you’re tossing the sauce around until it covers everything. If you boil it for too long, it could become too soft in your dish. Also, it’s important to drain the pasta thoroughly. Otherwise, you risk making the sauce too watery. This recipe is meant to create a thick and creamy sauce.
How do I store leftovers?
Let leftover chicken and bacon pasta cool to room temp, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days—although the sooner you eat it, the better. You can freeze leftovers in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave until steaming hot throughout.
Serving suggestions
Serve chicken and bacon pasta alongside a Mediterranean Low-Carb Broccoli Salad or this Caprese Salad Recipe for a light meal. Adding a vegetable side dish like Instant Pot Butternut Squash or Sautéed Spinach can be a good idea, too. You also can’t go wrong with a side of Garlic Toast.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces pasta penne or fettuccine
- 6 slices bacon chopped
- 1 pound chicken breast boneless, skinless, cut into bite-size pieces
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
- Fresh parsley chopped, optional (for garnish)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy, about 8-10 minutes, then set it aside.
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Add olive oil to the skillet, if needed, and cook the chicken until golden and fully cooked, about 7-10 minutes. Remove and set aside with the bacon.
- In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and chopped onion. Sauté until the onion is soft and the garlic is fragrant, about 5-10 minutes. Then mix in the onion powder, paprika, and Italian seasoning.
- Pour in the heavy cream and gradually add the Parmesan cheese. Stir until the sauce begins to thicken, about 2 minutes. Add the reserved pasta water slowly until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
- Return the chicken and bacon to the skillet, then add the drained pasta. Toss everything together until well coated with the sauce. Remove from heat.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and additional Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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