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
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb chicken breast boneless and skinless
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ⅔ cups heavy cream
- ⅔ 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
Instructions
- 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.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer:
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Nicole
How did u guys get flavor into the sauce?
Julia
The sauce gets its flavor from all the ingredients in this recipe: chicken, bacon, minced garlic, broccoli, etc. Also, make sure to season your sauce with salt and pepper, to taste. This is just like basic alfredo sauce but with chicken, broccoli, and bacon added. So all the ingredients add flavor to the sauce.
Mike
It was delicious, my family likes more cheese so is used equal parts of mozzarella, parm to the cream/milk.
Taylor
I was wondering if spaghetti squash would be a decent substitute for the pasta?
su
made this for lunch today. Both my nephew and niece love love love it!
Julia
So glad your family has enjoyed it!
Amber
Made this last night for dinner and just had leftovers for lunch. Absolutely delicious!
Julia
Amber, so glad you liked it! 🙂
Joana
I hate bacon can i substitute with something else
Julia
Use prosciutto or pancetta.
Jen
This was SO good!!! My husband couldn't stop raving about it. My 3 year old even loved it! I used some of the bacon grease to cook the chicken in. It gave it a great flavor. We will absolutely make this again. Love it!
Mindy
I made this last night and use zucchini noodles. It was delicious! I love the combination of bacon and creaminess.
Julia
Thank you, Mindy! I am glad you enjoyed the recipe! Using zucchini noodles sounds delicious! I agree with you: I love the combination of bacon and creaminess myself and use it a lot! 🙂
Denyelle
This was a really good recipe! I love anything quick and easy that my kids will all eat. We drizzled some honey on top, too, and it really complimented the flavor. Thanks for the recipe!
Anna
Cooked it. Loved it!!
Julia
Thank you! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Teresa
I just made this dish literally & I must tell y'all this is one of those dishes that will not disappoint & it must be kept in your week night meal plan oh I did tweak just a little by adding a Cajun seasoning called " Slap ya mama " it's really good but Lord knows I wouldn't dare! Thanks Julia just subscribed can't wait to try more mout Meals!
Julia
Thank you, Teresa, for taking time to leave such a nice comment and for subscribing! Enjoy the recipes! Cajun seasoning is always great with chicken pasta - great addition of extra flavor! 🙂
Tinisha Flythe
Was the cajun seasoning added to the chicken or the pasta sauce? I was thinking season the chicken with it.
Julia
I didn't use Cajun seasoning in this recipe. But if I did I would season the chicken with it, and then cook the chicken in olive oil.
Heather
OMG!!!! This was one of the best meals I have made/eaten in so long. My teenager(you know they are always picky): "Dude!! Dude this is awesome we have to some some for -insert girlfriends name-" will make this again for sure.
Julia
Thank you, Heather! So glad you and your teenager have enjoyed this recipe! 🙂
Peggy
Just made this, and it was wonderful..... next time, I am going to double the sauce recipe.
Julia
Peggy, so glad you liked the recipe!
Krista
Made it this evening for dinner and it was amazing!!!
Julia
Thank you, very glad you liked it! 🙂
April Sanchez
Sooooo I totally forgot the shredded Parm and GRATED Parmesan & Romano... would it be a horrible substitution?
April Sanchez
I meant I have grated instead....
Julia
Whether it's shredded or grated doesn't matter - both will work! 🙂