Meet the chicken pasta recipe of your dreams! Creamy Chicken Alfredo with sun dried tomato, spinach and bacon, you’ll love how the seasoned shredded chicken acts like a mop for the alfredo sauce. A quick 20 minute dinner!
Chicken Pasta recipe – loaded!
This is the pasta you make when you’ve had a bad day and you need a pick me up.
This is the pasta you make when you’ve had a great day, and want to finish on a high note.
This is the pasta you make when you need a quick dinner that everyone will devour.
And this is the pasta that you make just because there are few things in this world that can rival the feeling of complete and utter satisfaction as you slurp down a big bowl of creamy chicken pasta!
What you need
Here’s what you need. Just a quick note on a few of the items:
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Wine – the secret ingredient! Wine gives the sauce that extra little something-something that gives the creamy Alfredo Sauce a restauaranty edge. If we’re going to make a luxe creamy pasta, let’s do it right! Non alcoholic sub – more chicken broth.
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Parmesan – make sure it’s either freshly grated OR use the store bought finely shredded parmesan that looks like small thin batons. Do not use the store bought sand-like parmesan, it doesn’t melt properly in the sauce.
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Sun Dried Tomato – you can skip this if you want, but it does give this pasta recipe an extra little za-za-zoom! I use the healthy no-oil strips, but you can absolutely use the type sold in jars in oil.
You’ll love how the seasoned shredded chicken acts like a mop for the creamy alfredo sauce!
Shredding the chicken is not something I’ve done for pastas I’ve previously shared. It works really well for this chicken pasta because the creamy sauce kind of clings to the chicken, making the overall eating experience even juicier and more slurp-worthy (if that were possible! 😂).
Quick 20 minute chicken dinner
This is terrifically quick and easy to make with a nice flow to it. Cook the chicken while the pasta cooking water comes to the boil. Then make the sauce while the pasta is cooking.
You’ll have dinner on the table in 20 minutes, and plates mopped clean minutes thereafter. How good is that??! ~ Nagi x
PS If you’re worried that this is a bit more indulgent that your usual midweek pasta, don’t let that stop you. It’s totally worth it – and you can eat air for dinner tomorrow 😉
More creamy pasta recipes
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Fettuccine Alfredo – classic fettuccine with Alfredo sauce
Watch how to make it
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Chicken Pasta recipe of your dreams!
Ingredients
- 300g / 10 oz fettuccine (Note 1)
- 30g / 2 tbsp butter , separated
- 2 chicken breasts , cut in half horizontally
- 1/2 tsp each salt and pepper
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1/2 cup (125ml) dry white wine (sub more chicken broth)
- 1/2 cup (125ml) chicken stock / broth , low sodium
- 1 1/4 cups (315ml) cream , thickened / heavy (Note 2)
- 3/4 cup (75g) parmesan , finely shredded (Note 3)
- 70g / 2.5oz baby spinach
- 100 g / 3oz sun dried tomato strips (Note 4)
Serving:
- 120g / 4oz bacon , cooked and crumbled
- More parmesan
- Parsley , for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water for time per packet minus 1 1/2 minutes.
- Just before draining, scoop out a mugful of pasta cooking water. Then drain pasta.
Chicken:
- Sprinkle both sides of chicken with salt and pepper.
- Melt half the butter in a large skillet over hig heat.
- Add chicken and cook for 2 minutes on each side until deep golden.
- Remove chicken onto plate, rest for a few minutes then shred with 2 forks.
Alfredo Sauce:
- Turn down heat to medium high. In the same skillet, add remaining butter and garlic.
- Cook garlic for 30 seconds until golden, then add wine.
- Simmer rapidly, stirring to scrape the brown bits off the bottom of the pan. Once mostly evaporated, add chicken broth, cream, parmesan and sun dried tomato.
- Simmer on medium for 3 - 5 minutes, stirring leisurely, until it reduces and thickens.
Essential Tossing:
- Add spinach, chicken and cooked pasta.
- Toss for 1 1/2 - 2 minutes on the stove, until sauce thickens and coats the pasta strands (see VIDEO). Use pasta cooking water if needed if it gets too thick.
- Serve immediately with parmesan, crumbled bacon and parsley (if desired).
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
Another weekend of fun at Rick Stein’s Bannisters in Port Stephens! The RecipeTin Family took our mother up for a belated Mother’s Day weekend away. This photo was taken from outside her room – top floor, stunning views, huge sunny terrace and an extra large room.
In fact, everyone stayed up in the “good” rooms while I was relegated to the a ground floor room for easy pooping access to the lawn for Dozer. 😩
Jen says
Making this again (every few weeks since I discovered it). Easy, quick and so delicious that I feel like I went out for dinner. Whole family eats it and I always make extra so I can take it to work for my night shift the next day. Reheats well.
Annette says
This ticked all the boxes for me! Flavour plus!! My third recipe from Recipetineats and third success. Thanks Nagi, you’ve got me cooking again.
Mary Tognazzini says
I ALWAYS HAVE CAN MILK BUT NOT ALWAYS HEAVY CREAM OR BUTTERMILK. CAN I SUB OR WILL IT ADD TO MUCH TASTE?
Nagi says
Hi Mary – do you mean evaporated milk? That will work fine here 🙂 N x
Seda Sokulgan says
That looks really delicious ! Will try it out sometime. What can I use instead of the wine ? More broth ?
Kendra says
This is the third recipe ive tried on your website. Like the others it was absolutely delicious! You are now my go to person to find quick and easy and tasty recipes .
Ingrid Grundling says
Made this recipe this week, and loved it! Definitely added to my list of favourites.
Thanks for an amazing blog with delicious recipes…and updates of Dozer!
Jennifer Robinson says
Made this tonight but used leftover rotisserie chicken. Added in chili flakes, pinch of nutmeg, roasted garlic (this was in addition to the fresh garlic), fresh thyme and sautéed cremini mushrooms. Was a good base recipe and family is already requesting it again.
Donna Shields says
Awwwesome. Keeper for sure.
Andrea says
Oooooh thanks for sharing this amazing recipe. Husband loved it and so did extremely fussy teenage daughter, who incidentally said it was better than restaurant.
Debby says
Can you use regular tomatoes instead of sun Dried ?
Nagi says
Hi Debby, not for this one sorry – you really need the strong flavour of the sun dried tomatoes here. N x
Louise Whyte says
Love your page
Nagi says
Thanks so much Louise!! N x
Charlie says
Cooked this for dinner tonite and it was so bloody nice . It’s a keeper
Alyssa says
Could you use house sherry cooking wine instead of white?
Nagi says
Hi Alyssa, you can, it will be slightly sweeter though. N x
Jaki Hardy says
3rd time making this and everyone agrees it’s restaurant quality and even better in some cases! Husband makes it perfect every time only with a little more wine as he knows me too well!! Thank you for sharing x
Joanie says
I made this tonight and my husband’s verdict was ‘Spectacular!’. The sun dried tomatoes were a welcome flavour boost.
So so yummy, will be making this again 😁😁
Thanks for sharing this recipe 👏🏽👏🏽
Leslie Rogers says
Wish me luck going to make this for my picky daughter and grandson tonight! I will let you know the results….lol
Leslie Rogers says
It was outstanding!!!!! No leftovers… Lol
Nagi says
Fingers crossed Leslie!!! N x
Mi says
Hi Nagi,
Thanks for another great recipe.
You mention not to use fresh pasta…. why is this? Thank you
Nagi says
Hi Mi, I find fresh pasta too delicate here and it falls apart – N x
Michelle Jenkins says
OMG, made this tonight for dinner and it spook yum. I did use chicken thighs and velvetted them because I don’t like dry meat. I used Pesto instead of sun dried tomatoes because that is what I prefer. It was mouth watering delish. Another winner. Thanks Nagi.
Nagi says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Michelle! N x
Kathryn says
This dish is amazing and easy. What’s better than that?!?! I’ll tell you…even my kids loved it!
Nagi says
That’s the BEST Kathryn!!! N x
Heidi Holmes says
I never comment on these things, but Nagi I’ve cooked so many of your recipes I thought it’s time I should. They have all been 5 star. And this dish …… amaaaaaaaazing! The whole family got excited this morning when I announced I was making this for dinner tonight (again 😂).