This Creamy Chicken and Bacon Pasta is one for all those days when nothing but a creamy pasta will do. It’s unapologetically indulgent, and loaded with all the essential food groups – cream, parmesan, chicken and BACON. Very little prep, on the table in 20 minutes!
Luxuriously rich Creamy Chicken and Bacon Pasta
I’ve been crowned the Queen of Creamy-Without-Cream*, but today I’m dethroning myself temporarily just so I can share this Creamy Chicken and Bacon Pasta with you without an inkling of guilt.
We’ve made it to the end of the year, and the month of December is about indulgences. I’ve been very sensible in the past and shared real Alfredo recipes, made the real proper Italian way. That recipe uses just 1/2 cup of cream for 250g / 0.5 lb of pasta.
This recipe uses 3/4 cup of cream for 180g / 6 oz of pasta. I was very honest with you right from the outset….this is indulgent!
* I have been known in the past for self proclaimed titles (such as Roast Queen). However, on this particular occasion, it was in fact the editor of Super Food Ideas magazine who pointed out my fetish for creamy-without-cream. I feel that provides some level of authority for this title!
I actually photographed and filmed the recipe video about a month ago. I’ve been waiting for the right time to share it. I feel like making it to the end of the year, relatively unscathed, warrants some form of celebration.
After all, it is the month for excessive food indulgences, right? The month where even when we’re absolutely determined to eat healthy, there are treats at every turn enticing us. Office occasions, food gifts, gatherings with families and friends.
This is just one more enticement to add to that list. 😈
All that creamy sauce. All. That. CREAMY. SAUCE!!!
I do feel a bit guilty sharing such an indulgent treat with you. So I promise you, I have a big healthy fix coming up soon. Maybe even this Wednesday!
In the meantime, just think back to all you have achieved in 2016. Even if you didn’t make a dent in your list, ignore the fails and focus on the successes. Give yourself a pat on the back, a praise.
Then treat yourself to THIS Creamy Chicken and Bacon Pasta! 😉 – Nagi xx
More ways to get your creamy pasta fix!
Baked Mac and Cheese – and try the Shrimp version!
Browse all pasta recipes
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Watch and weep that you can’t reach through the screen…
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Creamy Chicken and Bacon Pasta
Ingredients
- 6 oz / 180 g fettuccine or other long strand pasta
- 3/4 cup pasta cooking water , scoop out just before draining
- 5 -7 oz / 150 – 200 g bacon , chopped
- 6 oz / 180g chicken breast , cut in half horizontally (1 large)
- 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper , for seasoning chicken
Creamy pasta sauce
- 1 tbsp (15 g) unsalted butter
- 2 garlic cloves , finely minced
- 1/2 small onion , finely chopped (brown, white or yellow)
- 3/4 cup heavy cream / thickened cream (or any full fat cream)
- 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper , for sauce
- 1/2 cup finely shredded parmesan (or 1/4 cup store bought grated) (Note 2)
To Serve
- Fresh parsley
- Parmesan
Instructions
ABBREVIATED RECIPE
- Cook pasta per packet minus 2 minutes, reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining. Cook bacon, then chicken, sauté garlic and onion, simmer with cream, 3/4 cup pasta water, parmesan, salt and pepper. Toss with pasta 1 1/2 minutes, TASTE to check for salt. Serve with parmesan.
FULL RECIPE
- Cook pasta – Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add pasta and cook for time per packet MINUS 2 minutes (finishes cooking in Sauce).
- RESERVE water (important!) – SCOOP OUT 1 cup (250ml) of pasta cooking water, then drain.
- Cook bacon – Meanwhile, heat the oil in a non-stick pan and cook bacon until golden. Remove and drain on paper towels, reserve bacon fat in pan.
- Cook chicken – Season chicken on both sides with the salt and pepper. Cook in the bacon fat for 2 minutes on each side. Remove, then cut into thick slices when cool enough to handle (do this while sauce is simmering).
- Wipe pan (optional) using paper towels to keep sauce pretty and white, and for a buttery clean tasting sauce rather than very bacon-y (Note 3).
- Sauté onion – Over medium heat using the same pan, melt the butter. Add garlic and onion, cook for 3 – 4 minutes until onion is light golden and soft.
- Make sauce – Add cream, about 3/4 cup pasta water, parmesan, salt and pepper. Stir, then simmer for 2 minutes until it reduces slightly – the sauce will still be a too thin, don't worry, it thickens in the next step.
- Add pasta and toss gently in the sauce for about 1 1/2 minutes, still on the stove. The sauce will thicken and coat the pasta rather than pooling in the pan. Do this step until you get the sauce consistency you want. If your sauce gets too thick, add a splash of pasta water.
- Toss and taste – Toss through bacon and chicken. Taste and add more salt if needed (depends on bacon saltiness).
- Serve – Serve immediately, garnished with parmesan and parsley!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
Just making sure we don’t forget he’s down there on the floor…..
Loved this. Used gluten free fettuccine due to dietary restrictions, added mushrooms and reduced garlic to taste. Doubled the recipe and got 7 good sized servings which made it very cost-effective.
Probably need to be a bit more specific with your recipe? You say cut the chicken horizontally and that’s it? So what then? Do you slice it up cooked or what?
And what are you cooking bacon in? Put it in a dry pan and it will stick and burn.
I’m not an idiot, but probably need to be a bit more concise for others.
Delicious and so easy to make!
Made this tonight! Delightful. I added one mini orange bell pepper which brought a slight sweetness to it.
Thanks for making the instructions so clear.
Trying y
This today
My go to EASY and QUICK dinner! This is a winner everytime
Fantastic! My husband has an autoimmune disease and I cooked this with gluten free pasta. Really hard to get gluten free fettuccine but used penna and it was great! Well done you for a lovely tasty meal!
I made this last week and it was scrumptious!! Turned out absolutely perfect! Thanks Nagi
Awesome, simple to follow & always a winner with friends
So good!! All of my family members gave it a 10/10! I used leftover grilled chicken cut into pieces. Thanks!
Absolutely delicious, I’ve made this a few times now. I also add a bit of paprika and Italian herbs to the chicken when seasoning.
Such a simple recipe and always loved by everyone I serve it to. 10/10
Tasted lovely..bit on the creamy side for me. TBF I like the look and taste of creamy dishes but a little is enough for me. Absolute hit with everyone else round the dinner table including me just in small amounts.
Love your recipes, this is my go to site for foodspiration. Sid enjoyed his bacon and chicken cooked in bacon too 🐾
Delicious. I added diced zucchini and a touch of chicken stock to make it a bit more liquid because I used 500g of chicken and a 330g box of GF pasta.
Made this with some leftover supermarket rotisserie chicken and some expensive Lewis Road cream I needed to use up. It was delicious. I’m a big eater but I felt a bit guilty eating one portion of this. The recipe makes a very generous serving. I’m sure I could have fed at least 3, maybe 4, people with this quantity.
Forgot my stars
Thanks for this info!
husband and son loved it! I am not a white sauce person but this was actually really, really good. I added some mushrooms too. Thanks Nagi, as always!
How do I change recipe for more portions, it says tap or hover, but when I try that via mobile nothing happens? Is this the problem I’m using my mobile for recipes… thanks
I have 7 kids but they love this
This recipe was absolutely delicious and quick to come together! I used a protein farfalle and some half and half as I didn’t have quite enough heavy cream. Still turned out perfectly and the family were scraping plates. Thank you!
This is such a yummy and easy hit with the family!!! Absolutely so delicious- I added some peas which was delicious!
Someone is ripping off your name on Facebook. RecipTin using your photo
Once again another delicious recipe & so quickly. Made exactly to recipe resulting in 2 good size portions but then I would expect nothing less from Nagi.
Thank you once again.