Easy Chicken Broccoli Pasta with Bacon – made with creamy alfredo sauce! This simple recipe is packed with protein and veggies!
There are so many ways to combine chicken and pasta. One of my most favorite recipes ever is sun-dried tomato chicken pasta. I am also partial to chicken and bacon pasta with tomatoes and spinach. Chicken, veggies, pasta and cream sauce are always an excellent combination.
This pasta dish has all of my favorite ingredients: creamy broccoli, bacon, and chicken breast. Everything is combined together in a delicious creamy Parmesan sauce.
Chicken Broccoli Pasta with Bacon
- Moist and juicy chicken. This Chicken Broccoli Pasta with Bacon is one of the best ways to cook chicken breast! The chicken breast is flavorful and juicy as it is smothered in a silky creamy sauce that keeps it moist and tender. You will never want to eat a boring chicken breast after cooking it this way. Your family will love it!
- Perfect for leftover cooked chicken. This is also a great recipe for using any leftover cooked chicken that you might have in your fridge. Just combine it with broccoli, pasta and the creamy sauce, and your dinner is ready!
- Creamy alfredo sauce. Chicken broccoli pasta is tossed in a creamy sauce made with heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. The sauce is super easy to make and requires just a few simple ingredients.
- Protein and veggies. I personally prefer to add more stuff to just plain creamy pasta. That’s why this recipe is loaded with seared chicken breast, broccoli, and cooked bacon. This is a great recipe for those who want protein (chicken) and veggies in their dinner.
FAQ
- What pasta can I use in this recipe? Use any type of long pasta. You can use fettuccine, spaghetti, or linguine.
- What is fettuccini? Fettuccine is a type of pasta that is long, flat, and wide. It’s very popular in Italy, and in the US, too.
- What is a good substitute for broccoli in pasta? If you don’t have broccoli, you can use asparagus or spinach.
Ingredients you will need:
- olive oil
- salt and pepper
- garlic
- heavy cream
- milk
- Parmesan cheese shredded
- fettuccine pasta (for a gluten-free version, use gluten-free brown rice fettuccine)
- boneless and skinless chicken breasts
- broccoli
- bacon
How to make Chicken Broccoli Pasta with Bacon
- First, cook the chicken breasts seasoned with salt and pepper in a large skillet on medium heat. You can also use leftover cooked chicken. Slice the chicken into thin slices.
- Next, in the same skillet make the cream sauce. Add minced garlic with heavy cream and milk. Bring to boil and reduce to simmer. Stir in the cheese. Keep stirring until it completely melts into a creamy sauce.
- Then, cook the pasta according to instructions. Drain.
- Finally, combine everything together: cooked pasta, cooked bacon, broccoli, and cream sauce. Mix.
- Season with salt and pepper. Top with sliced cooked chicken.
Side dishes
- Baguette
- Italian garlic bread
- Tomato Cucumber Avocado Salad
- Cranberry Spinach Salad with Cashews and Goat Cheese
- Spinach Salad with Strawberries and Toasted Almonds
- Beet Salad with Spinach
More Chicken Broccoli Pasta Recipes
- Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Pasta
- Chicken Broccoli Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce
- Chicken Broccoli Spaghetti with Golden Mushroom Sauce
Chicken Broccoli Pasta with Bacon is an easy dinner that a whole family will love! Great recipe for those who want protein (chicken) and veggies in their creamy pasta.
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb chicken breast boneless and skinless
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2/3 cups heavy cream
- 2/3 cups milk
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese shredded
- 8 oz fettuccine pasta (for gluten free version, use gluten free brown rice fettuccine)
- 2 cups broccoli florets , blanched
- 7 strips bacon
Heat olive oil on medium-high heat in a large skillet. Season chicken breast with salt and pepper. Add chicken to the skillet.
Cook chicken breast on high heat for 2 to 4 minutes on each side, until browned. Remove the skillet from heat and keep the chicken covered. The chicken will continue cooking in its own steam until no longer pink. Remove chicken from the skillet. You can also use pre-cooked chicken. Cut chicken into thin slices.
Add minced garlic to the same (now empty) skillet, with oils and bits left from cooking the chicken.
Add heavy cream, milk, bring to boil. Reduce to simmer. Add cheese and stir till it completely melts into a creamy sauce.
- Cook pasta according to instructions. Drain.
Add cooked pasta, cooked bacon, cooked broccoli to the creamy sauce and mix everything in.
Season with salt and pepper to taste. Top with sliced cooked chicken.
My parmesan cheese separated from the sauce and was clumpy. Any idea what I did wrong?
From my experience with Alfredo Sauces, once you add the cheese don’t let it boil. Keep it on a low flame and keep stirring until all the cheese has melted. Hope this helps !
Yes, keep the sauce simmering while adding the cheese and stirring it in.
Make sure the sauce is hot enough before you add the cheese. The sauce should be simmering (boiling on low) before you add the cheese.
Just made this tonight. I didnt blanch the broccoli which gave it a little crunch. I do gotta say it was AMAZING.
So happy you liked this dish! 🙂
I’ve made this recipe a few times now and it is delicious! Generous serving portions and/or great for leftovers! Very flavorful.
So glad you enjoyed this recipe! Thank you for the comment!
This sounds delish!! Just a question though, could you prepare this ahead of time, put the entire dish in a 9×13 pan cover and reheat?? Or is it only good if you prepare just before serving?
It’s best to serve it immediately. But if you want to serve it as a pasta bake, that will work too! Reheat it gently in the oven, without overcooking to make sure the sauce does not separate.
Was delicious. On a side note, I don’t understand how food bloggers don’t lose their minds with some of the comments people leave. “What type of wine?” Did you even read the recipe? Nowhere does it mention wine. “Can I use just heavy cream instead of milk?” You’re an adult, do what you want. Do you really think not using plain milk is going to ruin the recipe? How have people been able to survive this long without dying off is beyond me.
I agree with you.
I agree! 🙂
I agree 100% Jessica!
I love this recipe, but i have one question. I much is 1 portion ? 1 cup ?
The whole recipe makes 4 servings, not sure if it’s 1 cup or a little bit more.
Can I substitute the milk for more heavy cream? I’m not allowed to drive yet, doctors orders. & my husband gets off from work late was hoping to have dinner ready once he gets home. But if i need milk I will make something else and save this recipe for later this week
You can use heavy cream if you don’t have milk. If you use only heavy cream (without milk), then use only half the amount of cheese.
Instead of milk can I add more heavy cream. Wanted to make this recipe today but don’t have any milk and I’m still not allowed to drive (doctors orders) & husband gets off late from work today.
When and how much wine type and when added
There is no wine in the recipe
Correct! There is no wine in the recipe.