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Pasta Chicken

Chicken and Bacon Pasta with Spinach and Tomatoes in Garlic Cream Sauce

Published: Feb 09, 2018 | 584 Comments

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Chicken and Bacon Pasta with Spinach and Tomatoes in Garlic Cream Sauce –  an Italian-inspired dish with lots of vegetables!  Sliced chicken breast and bacon are tossed with veggies and penne pasta in a delicious, creamy, homemade Alfredo sauce made with Parmesan cheese.

chicken bacon pasta with spinach tomatoes

Craving an easy-to-make comfort food that a whole family will love?  Then, make this chicken and bacon pasta! Cream sauce absorbs the wonderful flavors from the ingredients in the recipe, and with every single bite, you get all the goodness and all the flavors!  This is one of the best chicken pasta recipes you’ll ever try!

Cooking Tips:

  • Use thin chicken breasts or chicken tenderloin meat.  Either cut of meat will work.
  • Use shredded Parmesan cheese. Do not use grated Parmesan cheese, use the shredded kind. What I usually do is buy a block of Parmesan cheese and shred it myself.  Freshly shredding the cheese results in the best sauce texture. You can, however, use store-bought pre-shredded Parmesan cheese.  Just do not use the grated kind.
  • You can use cooked spinach, frozen spinach, or fresh spinach. All will work.
  • Make this chicken pasta gluten free. All you need to do is use gluten-free brown-rice penne pasta instead of regular penne. You can also use gluten-free quinoa pasta or lentil pasta.

chicken bacon pasta with tomatoes, spinach

What is half-and-half?

  • Half-and-half is the US milk product that combines 1/2 whole milk and 1/2 heavy cream or whipping cream to form a lighter cream (unlike heavy cream).
  • Substitute 1/2 cup of milk + 1/2 cup of heavy cream for 1 cup of half-and-half.
  • If you live in the UK, half and half would be the equivalent of single cream. Alternatively, you can mix half double cream and half regular milk (if you live in the UK).

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How to cook pasta al dente

  • To cook pasta al dente (which literally means “to the tooth” or firm to bite), cook pasta about 2 minutes less than indicated on the package instructions.

Do you rinse pasta?

  • If using gluten free pasta, rinse it with cold water after cooking to prevent it from getting mushy.
  • If using regular, wheat pasta, do not rinse it with cold water. Rinsing pasta with cold water removes the starch which helps absorb the sauce.

How to store and reheat leftover chicken pasta:

  • You can store this chicken pasta refrigerated in an air-tight container for up to 4 days.
  • Reheat the pasta gently on stove top on medium-low heat, without simmering.
  • Or microwave for 1 minute, checking for doneness every 30 seconds. Make sure the sauce does not overheat and separate.
  • Keep in mind that reheating the cream sauce on high heat will cause the cream to separate.
  • I do not recommend freezing this dish. If you freeze it, the creamy sauce might not have the same texture when you reheat it. It might separate.

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Let’s be honest.  Chicken pasta recipes can get boring and repetitive.   Not in this recipe! Here, you sear the chicken (with spices), then mix it with vegetables, bacon, and coat it in garlic cream sauce. So good!   This chicken and bacon pasta recipe is so easy to make and uses such basic ingredients, that you can easily make it on a regular busy weeknight!

Deliciously creamy homemade alfredo sauce perfectly combines all the flavors in this chicken and bacon pasta: garlic, spinach, tomatoes, and lots of spices!  So tasty, you might want to double the recipe!

How to make chicken pasta

1) In a large skillet, on high heat, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil until hot. Add chicken breasts (or tenderloins) and cook on one side on high heat for 1 minute.

2) While the chicken cooks, sprinkle the uncooked sides of chicken with paprika and Italian seasoning.

3) Flip the chicken over, and cook on the other side for 1 minute on high heat. Reduce heat to medium, flip the chicken over again and cook, covered, for several more minutes until no longer pink in the center. Remove the chicken from the pan and keep the chicken warm.

cooking chicken on stove top for pasta recipe

4) To the same pan (but without chicken), on medium heat, add chopped tomatoes, spinach, garlic, crushed red pepper, 1/3 of the chicken (sliced into small strips) and half the bacon (it should be already cooked and drained of fat).

5) Mix everything well.

combining vegetables, tomatoes, spinach, bacon, and chicken for pasta dinner recipe

6) Add half and half to the skillet and bring to boil. Only after half and half starts boiling, add shredded Parmesan cheese:

adding cream and cheese to the vegetables, bacon, and chicken

7) Immediately reduce the sauce to simmer and stir, while simmering, until the cheese melts and makes the sauce creamy, only about 1 minute (at most 2 minutes). Then, immediately remove from heat. Season with more crushed red pepper and salt, if needed.

creamy tomato sauce with spices, cheese - for pasta recipe

8) In the meantime, bring a large pan of water to boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain

9) Add cooked pasta to the skillet with the sauce.

10) Add remaining half of bacon (already cooked and drained of fat).

11) Season with more salt if necessary.

12) Slice the remaining 2/3 of chicken into thin strips.

13) Top the pasta with chicken strips and finely shredded Parmesan cheese.

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What to serve with the chicken pasta:

A salad, of course!   I would serve a very simple and basic salad (that you don’t even need a recipe for) with greens, such as spinach salad or arugula salad with toasted nuts, such as almonds or pecans, with a dressing made with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Or, you can also use creamy dressing, in which case add tomatoes and avocados to your greens.

If you want a more sophisticated salad, I would serve this chicken pasta with my absolute current favorite avocado salad with mozzarella and basil pesto.  I also highly recommend this amazing beet salad with spinach, goat cheese, and cashews, and a beautiful strawberry spinach salad.

chicken and bacon pasta, pasta with vegetables, how to make chicken pasta

Other Chicken Pasta Recipes:

I love making chicken pasta recipes with cream-based sauces.  Here are a few of my favorites:

  • Combine basil pesto with sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, chicken and short pasta (penne) in this delicious Mushroom Chicken Pasta with creamy Pesto sauce and sun-dried tomatoes
  • Make the pasta that tastes just like spinach artichoke dip and add chicken to make it dinner worthy using this recipe for Spinach and Artichoke Chicken Pasta with Bacon and Tomatoes in Asiago Cream Sauce
  • Chicken, bacon and green peas go really well together with the creamy and spicy tomato and cream based sauce here: Spicy Chicken Pasta with Bacon and Peas
  • One of the all-time favorite pasta recipes on my site is this Chicken Mozzarella Pasta
4.89 from 120 votes
Chicken Pasta with Bacon, spinach, tomatoes
Print
Chicken and Bacon Pasta with Spinach and Tomatoes in Garlic Cream Sauce
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
40 mins
 

Chicken pasta recipes can get boring.  Not this Italian-inspired recipe!  You'll fall in love with the flavors in this Chicken Pasta with Bacon, Spinach, and Tomatoes in Garlic Cream Sauce.  Easy weeknight dinner that the whole family will love!  Sliced chicken breast and bacon are tossed with veggies and penne pasta in a delicious, creamy, homemade alfredo sauce made with Parmesan cheese.

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian, Mediterranean
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 1028 kcal
Author: Julia
Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 lb chicken (chicken breasts or tenderloins)
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (thyme, oregano, basil - combined)
  • 5 tomatoes (medium, chopped in large cubes)
  • 1 cup spinach cooked
  • 5 garlic cloves minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes , crushed
  • 6 bacon strips , COOKED, DRAINED OF FAT, AND CHOPPED
  • 1 1/3 cups half and half
  • 1 1/3 cups Parmesan cheese , shredded
  • 10 oz penne pasta (for gluten-free version, use gluten-free brown-rice penne)
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese , shredded, for serving
Instructions
  1. In a large skillet, on high heat, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil until hot. Add chicken and cook on one side on high heat for 1 minute. While it cooks, sprinkle the uncooked sides of the chicken with paprika and Italian seasoning. Flip the chicken over, and cook on the other side for 1 minute on high heat. Reduce heat to medium, flip chicken over again and cook, covered, for several minutes until no longer pink in the center. Remove chicken from the pan and keep chicken warm.
  2. To the same pan (but without chicken), add chopped tomatoes, spinach, garlic, crushed red pepper, 1/3 of the chicken (sliced into small strips) and half the bacon (already cooked and drained of fat). Mix everything.
  3. Add half and half and bring to boil. Only after half and half starts boiling, add shredded Parmesan cheese - immediately reduce to simmer and stir, while simmering, until the cheese melts and makes the sauce creamy, only about 1 minute (at most 2 minutes). Then, immediately remove from heat. Season with more crushed red pepper and salt, if needed.

  4. In the mean time bring a large pot of water to boil, add pasta and cook it according to instructions. Drain the pasta, rinse with cold water and drain again.
  5. Add pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Add remaining half of bacon (cooked and drained of fat). Season with more salt if necessary. Slice the remaining 2/3 of chicken into thin strips. To serve, top the pasta with chicken strips and shredded Parmesan cheese.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

WHAT IS HALF AND HALF? Substitute 1/2 cup of milk + 1/2 cup of heavy cream for 1 cup of half-and-half.

Nutrition Facts
Chicken and Bacon Pasta with Spinach and Tomatoes in Garlic Cream Sauce
Amount Per Serving
Calories 1028 Calories from Fat 531
% Daily Value*
Fat 59g91%
Saturated Fat 23g144%
Cholesterol 167mg56%
Sodium 1086mg47%
Potassium 1017mg29%
Carbohydrates 66g22%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 55g110%
Vitamin A 3070IU61%
Vitamin C 26.9mg33%
Calcium 692mg69%
Iron 3.5mg19%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Filed Under: Bacon, Cheese, Chicken, Dinner, Gluten Free, Parmesan, Pasta, Recipe, Spinach, Tomatoes, Vegetables Published: Feb 09, 2018 584 Comments

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Helena

    Jan 19, 2021 at 4:35 pm

    I’ve been making this since it was published. It is the biggest request of all my family members (sister’s going away party, mom’s church meeting, family dinners) over the years!

    Reply
  2. Jane

    Jan 14, 2021 at 5:41 pm

    This is fantastic! I did use a large can of diced tomatoes and added a small jar of quartered artichokes. Very good!

    Reply
  3. Laura McCormick

    Jan 01, 2021 at 8:30 pm

    This looks delicious and going to try it this weekend.

    Reply
  4. Mavis

    Dec 29, 2020 at 4:29 am

    This is a delicious meal, will definitely be a favourite. I used chickpea pasta instead. I also add 1/4 cup white wine. And Just winged the recipe for my liking added mushrooms, smoked paprika, garlic and onion granules. I got easily 7 meals out of this dish

    Reply
    • Julia

      Dec 30, 2020 at 7:03 pm

      Mavis, I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe! 🙂 Love the chickpea pasta – what a great choice! Love your other variations, too.

      Reply
      • Yolanda Skaaf-Willits

        Jan 08, 2021 at 11:02 pm

        I’m trying to figure out what I did wrong. I followed the recipe as written but the sauce was liquid…like soup. Also, my spinach (fresh) was clumpy. I was able to rescue the dish by adding corn starch and more cheese at the end but, if I knew I’d need to do that, I would have preferred to add it in the beginning instead of the end. Nevertheless my family enjoyed it very much.

        Reply
  5. Jorgia

    Dec 19, 2020 at 7:28 pm

    This recipe is lovely! I added a few more things and it’s one of my favourites. I’m a private chef and applause anyone that can make a tasty dish for crowd pleasers. I recently went to a high end prestigious hotel restaurant and ordered a similar pasta dish. Honestly I was so disappointed I didn’t eat it. Love love love this recipe and thank you.
    Cheers

    Reply
    • Julia

      Dec 22, 2020 at 6:18 pm

      Jorgia, your comment made my day! Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing such positive and uplifting feedback! 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the recipe.

      Reply
  6. Haley

    Dec 13, 2020 at 4:47 pm

    10/10 flavour… would suggest using all cream instead of half and half — none the less, DELICIOUS

    Reply
    • Julia

      Dec 21, 2020 at 10:51 pm

      So glad you enjoyed this recipe! Using cream always makes the cream sauce better – so I agree with you! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Denise A Zadina

    Dec 06, 2020 at 9:33 pm

    Made this tonight. Very tasty, but next time I’ll cut the amount of half and half. It was a bit too watery for my taste. I may also use canned tomatoes as winter tomatoes aren’t great.

    Reply
    • Julia

      Dec 10, 2020 at 9:46 pm

      Hi Denise! Glad you tried this recipe and liked it! If the sauce is too watery, you can bring it to a boiling point, reduce to a low simmer and cook the sauce, constantly stirring until the cheese melts. Or, you can use heavy cream, for thicker sauce.

      Reply
      • Deborah Monroe

        Feb 05, 2021 at 4:30 pm

        The tomatoes I just bought are awful. Mushy and tasteless. Can I use canned tomatoes? How many cans

        Reply
  8. Donna

    Dec 05, 2020 at 2:32 pm

    Loved it with Italian bread

    Reply
    • Julia

      Dec 11, 2020 at 12:08 am

      This pasta is meant to be served with Italian bread – what a lovely combination!

      Reply
  9. Jillian

    Nov 09, 2020 at 11:51 am

    Hello is is 1028 kcal per serving or is is that many calories divided by the number of servings you make from the dish? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Julia

      Nov 14, 2020 at 7:34 pm

      Hi Jillian! It’s 1028 calories per 1 serving. There are 4 servings in this recipe.

      Reply
  10. Kelly

    Oct 21, 2020 at 8:41 pm

    Even my picky eaters loved it!

    Reply
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