Creamy Chicken Pasta with Bacon
Ingredients
For the Main Ingredients:
- 6 bacon strips
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- 1-pound thick, boneless and skinless chicken
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tbsp. butter
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 small tomatoes, diced
- 2 cups spinach
- 1-½ tsp. paprika
- 1 tsp. Italian seasoning, more, if desired
- ¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
- ½ tsp. salt
- 1-½ cups heavy cream
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded, more for garnish
For the Pasta:
- 10 ounces penne pasta
- 2 tbsp. parsley, chopped
Instructions
To prepare the bacon:
- Add bacon strips to the skillet and cook until crispy.
- Transfer cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined platter that will absorb extra grease.
- Chop into 1 inch pieces; set aside.
To prepare the chicken:
- Paper towel dry the chicken and season with salt, pepper and garlic powder; set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet.
- Add chicken breasts and cook, on medium high heat, for about 4 minutes per side until nicely browned; if chicken is still pink in the center, reduce heat to medium and cook covered for several minutes until no longer pink in the center.
- Remove chicken from pan and slice.
- Add butter to the hot pan and once it melts, add chopped garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add tomatoes and cook for 3 minutes, on medium high, until tomatoes release their juices.
- Add fresh spinach and cook until it wilts.
- Reduce the heat and season with paprika, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes and salt; mix thoroughly.
- Add heavy cream while still cooking on low heat.
- Once heavy cream is slightly simmering, slowly add Parmesan cheese; stir on low simmer until smooth.
How to prepare the pasta:
- In the meantime, bring a large pot of salted water to boil; add pasta and cook according to instructions.
- Remove from the stove top and drain the pasta, but do not rinse.
- Add sliced chicken, bacon and pasta.
- Next, add chopped parsley and stir until fully coated in sauce.
- Season with more salt if necessary.
To serve:
- Serve with additional shredded Parmesan and red pepper flakes, if desired.
