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 long strand pasta
- 3/4 cup pasta cooking water , scoop out just before draining
- 5 -7 oz / 150 – 200 g bacon , chopped
- 6 oz / 180g chicken breast , cut in half horizontally (1 large)
- 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper , for seasoning chicken
Creamy pasta sauce
- 1 tbsp (15 g) unsalted butter
- 2 garlic cloves , finely minced
- 1/2 small onion , finely chopped (brown, white or yellow)
- 3/4 cup heavy cream / thickened cream (or any full fat cream)
- 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper , for sauce
- 1/2 cup finely shredded parmesan (or 1/4 cup store bought grated) (Note 2)
To Serve
- Fresh parsley
- Parmesan
Instructions
ABBREVIATED RECIPE
- Cook pasta per packet minus 2 minutes, reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining. Cook bacon, then chicken, sauté garlic and onion, simmer with cream, 3/4 cup pasta water, parmesan, salt and pepper. Toss with pasta 1 1/2 minutes, TASTE to check for salt. Serve with parmesan.
FULL RECIPE
- Cook pasta – Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add pasta and cook for time per packet MINUS 2 minutes (finishes cooking in Sauce).
- RESERVE water (important!) – SCOOP OUT 1 cup (250ml) of pasta cooking water, then drain.
- Cook bacon – Meanwhile, heat the oil in a non-stick pan and cook bacon until golden. Remove and drain on paper towels, reserve bacon fat in pan.
- Cook chicken – Season chicken on both sides with the salt and pepper. Cook in the bacon fat for 2 minutes on each side. Remove, then cut into thick slices when cool enough to handle (do this while sauce is simmering).
- Wipe pan (optional) using paper towels to keep sauce pretty and white, and for a buttery clean tasting sauce rather than very bacon-y (Note 3).
- Sauté onion – Over medium heat using the same pan, melt the butter. Add garlic and onion, cook for 3 – 4 minutes until onion is light golden and soft.
- Make sauce – Add cream, about 3/4 cup pasta water, parmesan, salt and pepper. Stir, then simmer for 2 minutes until it reduces slightly – the sauce will still be a too thin, don't worry, it thickens in the next step.
- Add pasta and toss gently in the sauce for about 1 1/2 minutes, still on the stove. The sauce will thicken and coat the pasta rather than pooling in the pan. Do this step until you get the sauce consistency you want. If your sauce gets too thick, add a splash of pasta water.
- Toss and taste – Toss through bacon and chicken. Taste and add more salt if needed (depends on bacon saltiness).
- Serve – 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…..
how many people does it serve
I made this recipe and was very excited about it, but….I had some l ds coming round so I blended the onion (hard to know with other people’s kids what they like), but the onion then became the dominant flavour in it. I was so disappointed and none of the kids ate it. Should’ve just chopped it like I normally would. The recipe definitely has potential if done right though.
I made this recipe and was very excited about it, but….I had some l ds coming round so I blended the onion (hard to know with other people’s kids what they like), but the onion then became the dominant flavour in it. I was so disappointed and none of the kids ate it. Should’ve just chopped it like I normally would. The recipe definitely has potential if done right though.
Wow… another amazing recipe, the kids devoured it. Thank you!
Anytime I’ve made creamy sauces in the past, it’s always split. These instructions are spot on and the pasta tastes delicious!
I only had chicken thigh on hand and it still worked great! Thank you, Nagi! x
This was such an amazing fun meal to make… I was looking for a way to get rid of some nice chicken and the family wanted pasta. My very picky husband actually loved and devoured this!!! Thanks so much and now I am following all of your Pinterest posts!
Paano if walang pong grated parmesan can we use other cheesse too?
Hi Nagi, we love your website. Both my wife and I are keen cooks and your website, along with Serious Eats are our 2 favourites. I would just like to bring to your attention a minor apparent omission in the recipe for Creamy Chicken and Bacon Pasta (to which I am adding mushrooms tonight). According to the recipe, the chicken breast is sliced in half, then fried. But the picture shows the chicken sliced. Perhaps, for the less experience cook, an instruction to slice it after frying, perhaps after resting for a bit.
Also, when my wife an I cooked this a few years ago, with a recipe we made up on the day, her inclusion of walnuts, especially with the mushrooms, was vey welcome. Green olives too provide provide a pleasing counterpoint to the other flavours.
Also, for tonight, my wife has requested that it include some of my home made roasted tomato passata, as she likes a tomato cream sauce.
Regards,
Michael.
Oooooo looks so good! Can I sub creme fraiche for the cream? Happened to be in fridge and wanna use it up. Thanks!
Very great recipe. I did make a couple modifications based on what I had on hand. I had a cut up rotisserie chicken, so I quickly fried it in the bacon oil just to warm thru and for the chicken to grab that bacon flavor. I also added a handful of spinach after adding the meat back and let it wilt. Soooo good! Thank you!
Sounds delicious Alexa!! Thanks for that tip! N x
It’s a great recipe. I did not have chicken on hand so didn’t add it.
While cooking I was making G&T .
And I needed something to deglaze the flavours stuck to the pan- gin did it.
Overall flavour and taste was YUMMY!!
Now that’s my kind of cooking….N x !!
I ❤️ to add mushrooms and spinach to mine…so it’s a little bit ‘good’! 😇 Lol. But then I add grated tasty to the sauce, parmesan goes on for serving!! It’s also nice if you toss some dried or fresh basil through. 😋
OH MY GOD. As per usual, Nailed it again from your recipe! They are fail proof. This pasta is so easy and so tasty and just to die for. My 14 year old son had 3 helpings!! I used Spaghetti (coz that’s all I had in the pantry) and I doubled the garlic, it was just Creamy, rich, delicious, no words. The house smelled like a restaurant. Oh my dear lord. Definetly family approved by husband and all kids (& me)! Husband had 2 serves too. Unfort there’s none left for tomorrow’s left overs. I used alot of pasta too, and it got absolutely smashed by the family! They have demanded this be made again, many times. Thank u! ❤ Such an amazingly easy dish and SO impressive! Yum!!!
Very simple but yummy recipe. I learned a new trick to add the pasta to the sauce before the meat. This made a huge difference in getting the sauce to integrate and stick to pasta. Thanks!
Amazing. So quick and easy too. A real winner!
Hi Nagi,
Just to let you know that what you cooked just excellent and truly tasty, for all what i have tried.
Once again thank you…and happy new year 2022, all the best with prosperous future.
Big hugs for Dozer🐶
Absolutely delicious. Thank you for the recipe.
I only had 4 slices of bacon on hand and no chicken but it was still delicious and enough for 2 people. A great way to use up a carton of cream. Thanks again Nagi!
Forgot to rate it…
OMG! This was absolutely amazing & really great portion size too! My son, who is the fussiest eater ever loved it & gave it 10/10!!
Thank you for this beautiful recipe. I made it tonight and it was delicious. I was hoping for left overs for tomorrow’s lunch, but no such luck!