Prep Time: 20 mins | Cook Time: 20 mins | Total Time: 40 mins | Servings: 4
Every single bite of this creamy, delicious dish is happiness! All good things in one plate that comes together easily and quickly!
Ingredients
Main Ingredients:
6 bacon strips
2 tbsp olive oil
1 lb boneless and skinless chicken (thick in size, such as chicken breasts)
salt and pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp butter
3 garlic cloves (minced)
4 small tomatoes (diced)
2 c. spinach
1 1/2 tsp paprika
1 tsp Italian seasoning (more, if desired)
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp salt
1.5 c. heavy cream
1 c. Parmesan cheese shredded (more for garnish)
Pasta:
10 ounces penne pasta
2 tbsp Parsley (chopped)
How to make Creamy Chicken Pasta with Bacon
BACON:
Step 1: To a skillet, add the bacon and cook until crispy.
Step 2: Once cooked, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain the excess grease.
Step 3: Then, chop the bacon into inch pieces.
CHICKEN:
Step 1: Pat dry the chicken with a paper towel. Then, season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder and set aside.
Step 2: In a large deep skillet, heat the olive oil. Once hot, add the chicken breasts and cook for about 4 minutes on each side over medium-high heat until nicely brown. Adjust the heat to the medium of the chicken is still pink in the middle and continue to cook the chicken, covered. Take out of the pan and slice the chicken.
Step 3: To the pot, add the butter and melt. Add in the chopped garlic and cook for about a minute or two until aromatic.
Step 4: Add the tomatoes to the pot and continue to cook for about 3 minutes over medium-high heat until the tomatoes have released their juices. Then, add in the fresh spinach and cook further until wilted.
Step 5: Decrease the heat and stir in the paprika, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, and salt.
Step 6: Add in the heavy cream and the Parmesan cheese gradually until the cheese has melted and the sauce is creamy.
PASTA:
Step 1: Cook the pasta in a large pot with boiling water following the package directions. When done, drain the pasta but do not rinse.
Step 2: Into the sauce, add the chicken, bacon, and pasta. Then, the chopped parsley. Stir well until everything is coated in sauce. If needed, season with more salt.
TO SERVE:
Step 1: If desired, enjoy with extra shredded Parmesan and red pepper flakes.
Nutrition Facts:
Amount Per Serving: Calories 768 | Fat 38g58% | Saturated Fat 14g88% | Cholesterol 133mg44% | Sodium 1427mg62% | Potassium 1499mg43% | Carbohydrates 56g19% | Fiber 5g21% | Sugar 6g7% | Protein 50g100% | Vitamin A 8655IU173% | Vitamin C 44.1mg53% | Calcium 477mg48% | Iron 4.2mg23%

Ingredients
- Main Ingredients:
- 6 bacon strips
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb boneless and skinless chicken (thick in size, such as chicken breasts)
- salt and pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp butter
- 3 garlic cloves (minced)
- 4 small tomatoes (diced)
- 2 c. spinach
- 1 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning (more, if desired)
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1.5 c. heavy cream
- 1 c. Parmesan cheese shredded (more for garnish)
- Pasta:
- 10 ounces penne pasta
- 2 tbsp Parsley (chopped)
Instructions
BACON:
Step 1: To a skillet, add the bacon and cook until crispy.
Step 2: Once cooked, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain the excess grease.
Step 3: Then, chop the bacon into inch pieces.
CHICKEN:
Step 1: Pat dry the chicken with a paper towel. Then, season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder and set aside.
Step 2: In a large deep skillet, heat the olive oil. Once hot, add the chicken breasts and cook for about 4 minutes on each side over medium-high heat until nicely brown. Adjust the heat to the medium of the chicken is still pink in the middle and continue to cook the chicken, covered. Take out of the pan and slice the chicken.
Step 3: To the pot, add the butter and melt. Add in the chopped garlic and cook for about a minute or two until aromatic.
Step 4: Add the tomatoes to the pot and continue to cook for about 3 minutes over medium-high heat until the tomatoes have released their juices. Then, add in the fresh spinach and cook further until wilted.
Step 5: Decrease the heat and stir in the paprika, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, and salt.
Step 6: Add in the heavy cream and the Parmesan cheese gradually until the cheese has melted and the sauce is creamy.
PASTA:
Step 1: Cook the pasta in a large pot with boiling water following the package directions. When done, drain the pasta but do not rinse.
Step 2: Into the sauce, add the chicken, bacon, and pasta. Then, the chopped parsley. Stir well until everything is coated in sauce. If needed, season with more salt.
TO SERVE:
Step 1: If desired, enjoy with extra shredded Parmesan and red pepper flakes.