Prep Time: 20 mins | Cook Time: 20 mins | Total Time: 40 mins | Servings: 4
Pasta with bacon in a scrumptious creamy sauce. What a treat!
Ingredients
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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 (or more, if desired)
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp salt
1.5 c. heavy cream
1 c. Parmesan cheese shredded (or more for garnish)
Pasta:
10 ounces penne pasta
2 tbsp Parsley (chopped)
How to make Creamy Chicken Pasta with Bacon
Step 1: Bacon: In a skillet, add the bacon strips and cook until crispy. Once done, place the cooked bacon on a paper towel-lined platter to drain before cutting the bacon into inch pieces.
Step 2: Chicken: Pat dry the chicken with a paper towel. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, then aside.
Step 3: In a large deep skillet, heat the olive oil. Once hot, sear the chicken breasts for about minutes on each side over medium-high heat until nicely browned. Adjust the heat to medium if the chicken is still pink in the middle. Cover the skillet and cook for a few minutes until no longer pink. When done, take the chicken out of the pan and slice.
Step 4: Into the hot pan, melt the butter, then add in the chopped garlic. Cook for about a minute or two until aromatic.
Step 5: Add in the tomatoes and continue to cook for another 3 minutes over medium-high heat until the tomatoes release all their juices.
Step 6: Add in the fresh spinach and cook further until wilted.
Step 7: Decrease heat. Add in sprinkles of paprika, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, and salt. Stir.
Step 8: Add in the heavy cream and gradually add in the Parmesan cheese. Cook until the cheese has melted and the sauce is creamy.
Step 9: Pasta: Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling water following the package directions. Drain but do not rinse.
Step 10: Into the sauce, add the sliced chicken, bacon, and pasta followed by the chopped parsley. Stir well until completely coated with the sauce. Adjust the seasoning according to taste.
Step 11: Serve: Enjoy with more shredded Parmesan and red pepper flakes.
Nutrition Facts:
Amount Per Serving: Calories 768 | Fat 38g 58% | Saturated Fat 14g 88% | Cholesterol 133mg 44% | Sodium 1427mg 62% | Potassium 1499mg 43% | Carbohydrates 56g 19% | Fiber 5g 21% | Sugar 6g 7% | Protein 50g 100% | Vitamin A 8655IU1 73% | Vitamin C 44.1mg 53% | Calcium 477mg 48% | Iron 4.2mg 23%

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 (or more, if desired)
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1.5 c. heavy cream
- 1 c. Parmesan cheese shredded (or more for garnish)
- Pasta:
- 10 ounces penne pasta
- 2 tbsp Parsley (chopped)
Instructions
Step 1: Bacon: In a skillet, add the bacon strips and cook until crispy. Once done, place the cooked bacon on a paper towel-lined platter to drain before cutting the bacon into inch pieces.
Step 2: Chicken: Pat dry the chicken with a paper towel. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, then aside.
Step 3: In a large deep skillet, heat the olive oil. Once hot, sear the chicken breasts for about minutes on each side over medium-high heat until nicely browned. Adjust the heat to medium if the chicken is still pink in the middle. Cover the skillet and cook for a few minutes until no longer pink. When done, take the chicken out of the pan and slice.
Step 4: Into the hot pan, melt the butter, then add in the chopped garlic. Cook for about a minute or two until aromatic.
Step 5: Add in the tomatoes and continue to cook for another 3 minutes over medium-high heat until the tomatoes release all their juices.
Step 6: Add in the fresh spinach and cook further until wilted.
Step 7: Decrease heat. Add in sprinkles of paprika, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, and salt. Stir.
Step 8: Add in the heavy cream and gradually add in the Parmesan cheese. Cook until the cheese has melted and the sauce is creamy.
Step 9: Pasta: Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling water following the package directions. Drain but do not rinse.
Step 10: Into the sauce, add the sliced chicken, bacon, and pasta followed by the chopped parsley. Stir well until completely coated with the sauce. Adjust the seasoning according to taste.
Step 11: Serve: Enjoy with more shredded Parmesan and red pepper flakes.