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 pasta
- 5 -7 oz / 150 – 200 g bacon , chopped
- 6 oz / 180 g chicken breast , cut in half horizontally
- 1 tbsp (30 g) butter
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1/2 small onion , finely chopped (brown, white or yellow)
- 3/4 cup (185ml) heavy cream / thickened cream
- 3/4 cup (185ml) pasta cooking water (Note 1)
- 1/2 cup FRESH grated parmesan (or 1/4 cup store bought grated) (Note 2)
To Serve
- Fresh parsley
- Parmesan
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add pasta and cook for time per packet MINUS 2 minutes (finishes cooking in Sauce).
- SCOOP OUT a mugful of pasta cooking water, then drain.
- Meanwhile, cook bacon until golden, drain on paper towels.
- Season chicken on both sides, cook in bacon fat, 2 minutes each side.
- Wipe pan – optional, to keep sauce pretty and white, and for a buttery clean tasting sauce rather than very bacony (Note 3).
- Over medium heat, melt butter. Add garlic and onion, cook for 3 – 4 minutes until onion is light golden and soft.
- Add cream, about 3/4 cup pasta water and parmesan. Stir, then simmer for 2 minutes until it reduces slightly – you don’t need to be exact here. Season with salt & pepper.
- Add pasta and toss gently in the sauce for about 1 1/2 minutes. The sauce will thicken and coat the pasta, do this step until you get the sauce consistency you want. If your sauce gets too thick, add a splash of pasta water.
- Toss through bacon and chicken.
- 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…..
Delicious…. added some mushrooms cause I had some that needed to be used up… rich and indulgent.. just what I was looking for cause I’ve been craving pasta from our favorite Italian place… this filled the void…. so good… thanks Nagi… another hit!!
You are a staple in my house…. lol 🤗 Your recipes are fantastic…. I have made countless amounts of them..you are my go to!!!
That’s awesome Darlana, thanks so much for letting me know! N x
This dish is amazing! It totally reminds me of a pasta dish at one of our local restaurants! I added a little extra bacon and it was to die for!!
Another winning dish for my girls (ages 7 & 5). Showed the video to my older daughter and she was super excited to have this for dinner. Used a rotisserie chicken for ease.
Friday night is pizza night in our house but my oldest daughters wants these leftovers instead.
Now that’s a winner Shelly!!
I made this using your method and ingredients. I only replaced garlic with regular onions and it was so delicious! I loved it! I am definitely making it again!
I’m so glad you loved it Yinka!
This was soooo good!! I used shallots instead of regular onion as I had extra to use up. It was delicious! My husband loved it too. Will definitely make again. I love your recipes! Thanks from an Australian living in the USA!
Sounds great Joy, I’m so glad you loved it – N x
Can you make this with leftover chicken?
If you’re using left over cooked chicken, I would only add it last minute to reheat – just so it doesn’t dry out 🙂
This was delicious and so easy to make, ill definitely be making this again.
That’s great Annette!
Chicken bacon pasta
Omg I just made this dish and it’s AMAZING. This will be a regular for. Sure. My son is shovelling it into his mouth.
Winner Nicole!!
I made this for my family and they loved it, especially my husband! Definitely going on our regular meal list.
Hello. Made it twice and both times the cream curdled. Any thoughts? The cream was within the best by date
My partner has made this now twice in one week and omg the recipe is amazing it’s actually tastes like when we go to the actual Italian thank you so much defo one of our top recipes to be making in the future. Saved me some money also cause rather than go out we can make this at home. 5 star recipe 😊😊
I’d been making a creamy chicken and bacon pasta for ages but it was just a bit bland. I tried your recipe and it is so much tastier! One of my favourites now—a regular weeknight staple! Thanks Nagi 🙂
Wahoo!!! That’s awesome Will 🙌
I’m too lazy to whip a pan and it’s still delicious and looks good!
Thanks!!
I made this for my boyfriend and I tonight and it was so YUM! Shredding the chicken made a huge difference to similar recipes we’ve used! Overall super delish and not too hard to make 🙂
I’m so glad you loved it Lucinda!
Simple and delicious. It was a big hit with my husband and son.
Yassss! 🙌 Great to hear Michele!
Wonderful recipe. Very happy with the flavours and texture!
Great Danielle!
Hi as I am in my late 70s I like to freeze some of ur meals I also cook for my daughter and her special needs son (my grandson)could u add in ur recipes if that recipe will freeze I try to do a weeks worth of meals and they live over an hrs drive away they also have my late husbands golden retriever (oscar)he is now over 14yrs just love ur recipes have frozen butter chicken lasagne sweet sour chicken want to try chicken pasta regards yvonne
Hi Yvonne, I’m so glad you’re loving my recipes, I’ll keep the freezing fact in mind! – N x
Can you use cream of chicken soup instead of cream?
I just made this for my mum, dad and brother.. and they all LOVED it! They could not say enough good things about it. Thankyou for helping me impress my family with your delicious recipe.
I just made this for my mum, dad and brother.. and they all LOVED it! They couldn’t say enough good things about it. Thankyou for helping impress my family with your recipe and it will definitely be a regular in our household! Thanks! 🙂