Description
Creamy bacon and chicken mingle in this irresistible pasta dish that promises comfort and flavor. Hearty ingredients blend seamlessly, delivering a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein Ingredients:
- 2 large chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
Pasta and Base Ingredients:
- 3 cups (720 ml) cooked pasta (penne, rotini, or fettuccine)
- 225 g (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream or half-and-half
- ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese
Seasoning and Garnish Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley or green onions, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Boil pasta in a large pot of salted water until perfectly tender, ensuring each strand is cooked to a delicate al dente texture. Carefully drain in a colander and reserve for later assembly.
- Crisp bacon in a large skillet over medium heat, rendering the fat and transforming the strips into golden, crackling pieces. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease.
- In the same skillet with residual bacon drippings, sauté chicken pieces, seasoning generously with salt and pepper. Cook until the meat turns a rich, golden brown and becomes fully cooked through, with no trace of pink in the center.
- Lower the heat and introduce cream cheese into the skillet, stirring continuously to create a smooth, velvety sauce that coats the chicken beautifully. Add a splash of pasta water to help the cream cheese melt uniformly.
- Crumble the reserved bacon and sprinkle over the creamy chicken, gently folding to distribute the smoky, crisp bacon bits throughout the mixture.
- Combine the prepared pasta with the cream cheese and chicken mixture, tossing gently to ensure every pasta strand is lavishly coated with the rich, creamy sauce.
- Garnish with fresh chopped parsley or chives for a burst of color and a hint of herbaceous freshness before serving the dish piping hot.
Notes
- Perfectly cook pasta by salting water generously and stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Choose thick-cut bacon for extra crispiness and robust flavor that adds depth to the dish.
- Opt for room temperature cream cheese to ensure smooth, lump-free sauce incorporation when mixing ingredients.
- Consider using gluten-free pasta for a celiac-friendly version without compromising taste and texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg