Description
This creamy chicken pasta with bacon and spinach is a comforting and flavorful dish combining tender chicken breast, crispy bacon, and fresh spinach in a rich, creamy sauce. Cooked all in one skillet, this recipe is quick and perfect for a hearty weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein & Meat
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, diced
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
Vegetables & Herbs
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
Pantry & Dairy
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups uncooked penne pasta (or any short pasta)
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the bacon: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Remove it from the skillet and set aside, leaving the bacon drippings in the pan.
- Sauté the chicken: Using the same skillet with the bacon drippings, season the diced chicken breast with salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat until browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Remove the chicken and set aside.
- Sauté garlic and deglaze: Add the minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in the chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the skillet to loosen any browned bits for extra flavor.
- Cook the pasta: Stir in the uncooked penne pasta along with paprika and dried Italian herbs. Bring the mixture to a simmer, cover, and cook according to the pasta package instructions until al dente, usually about 10-12 minutes.
- Add cream, chicken, and spinach: Reduce the heat to low and stir in the heavy cream, cooked chicken, and roughly chopped spinach. Mix until the spinach wilts and all ingredients are well combined and heated through.
- Finish with bacon: Fold in the reserved crispy bacon just before serving to add smoky crunch and extra flavor.
Notes
- For a lighter option, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk, but the sauce will be less rich.
- You can swap penne pasta with any short pasta like rigatoni, rotini, or fusilli.
- Fresh spinach can be replaced with kale or Swiss chard if preferred.
- Make sure to monitor the pasta while cooking to avoid overcooking and maintain an al dente texture.
