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. 😩
Donna says
Hi, Nagi,
I know I will lose some flavor, but I think I am going to try this with rotisserie chicken. We buy the ones from Costco and they are HUGE, and I am always looking for ways to use them up!
Thanks!
Donna
Nagi says
It will be great Donna!!
Colin Smith says
I cut the recipe in half because there’s only 2 of us & that was ample. I added some fried smoked streaky bacon, a finely cut red pepper & button mushrooms cut into 4 and let me tell you all it was yum yum
Nagi says
Sounds divine Colin! – N xx
Kimberly W. says
This was a huge hit tonight. I have made many of your recipes everyone of them being recipe box keepers. Thank you for the recipe I will be making this again.
Nagi says
Thanks so much for the feedback Kimberly!
Kate says
Made this last night, and it was amazing! Entire family loved it, picky eater kid and almost-vegetarian kid both wanted seconds which never happens unless I’m making one of your dishes, Nagi! Thank you!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Nagi says
Woah, sounds like you nailed it Kate!
alimak says
It’s Nagi night tonight!! We’re making this again, along with your rocket salad (Me making salad? Unbelievable!!) and following with the butterscotch self saucing pud – YUM to all three. x
Nagi says
Perfect combo Alimak!
Claudia says
LOVED IT!
Nagi says
Wahoo! That’s great Claudia!
Morgan says
Hiii I was wondering is there a way this could be prepped in the slow cooker for very shredded chicken?
Holly says
I really don’t have words for the deliciousness this dish contains. It’s the kind of pasta you know you want in your head but can never execute in real life. But thanks to you Nagi, now I can! Even the leftovers were divine! Thank you!
Nagi says
That’s so wonderful to read Holly!!!
Lynne says
Such a simple and tasty recipe!!!
Nagi says
I’m so glad you love it Lynne!!
Matthew Scholl says
It was delicious, definitely adding this into my recipe rotation. Didn’t take long to make either, thank you!
Nagi says
Woot!!! That’s great Matthew!
Claire says
This looks so yummy!! I’m going to attempt tonight but I honestly hate cooked spinach. I am into the idea of switching it out for another veggie though – what would you suggest as a swap?
Nagi says
Hi Claire, just leave it out!
Karen says
I made this last night for my fussy family and it was a huge hit!
They had always screwed their faces up just at the thought of sun dried tomatoes, but I was salivating at this recipe and was determined to make it. So I strategically chopped the sun dried tomatoes up really small so they didn’t know what the red bits were. They gobbled it up and kept commenting on the amazing flavour 😂.
Thank you for your amazing recipes
Nagi says
I love it Karen! 😂
Kerry says
Made this tonight, minus the wine, my partner said, “if I’d just eaten this in a restaurant, I’d be recommending the restaurant to everyone I know” Loved it
Nagi says
That’s the best compliment Kerry! Thanks so much!!
Kellie Bright says
Hi Nagi, whereabouts in the supermarket (Coles) would I find these sundried tomato strips you mention? I can only think of the ones in jars or the ones from deli. Cheers.
Sue R says
Kellie, the jars are near the olives and gherkins etc..
Nagi says
Hi Kellie – yes I by the ones in the jars!
Joanne says
Yum!!! One of my faves!! Kids love it too!! Only downside is it’s so good we don’t leave any leftovers!! 😂
Nagi says
Wahoo, that’s great Joanne!!
Linda says
Just made this for dinner tonight, great recipe and even better taste! Even the hubby liked it.
mandy brooks says
oh yum Nagi!
Maylen says
I just made this recipe! Totally love it. My husband love it too. Thanks so much
Nagi says
Perfect Maylen!!
Jessica T says
Wow this really is the pasta of our dreams. Sooo delicious. Leftovers tasted even better! Thank you Nagi x
Nagi says
WOOT!!
Melinda says
This is so delicious! You have great food recipes.
Nagi says
Thanks so much Mel!