Description
Creamy chicken bacon spinach penne delivers comfort and flavor in one satisfying dish. Southern Italian culinary traditions inspired this hearty meal that combines rich proteins with fresh greens you will crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless, cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 6 bacon slices (cooked and crumbled)
- 8 oz (226 g) penne pasta
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
- 2 cups spinach (fresh, chopped)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 3 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter
- salt (to taste)
- black pepper (to taste)
- basil or parsley (fresh, chopped, for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Boil penne in heavily salted water until al dente, then drain and set aside, preserving its perfect texture.
- Protein Perfection: Sear seasoned chicken pieces in a large skillet over medium-high heat until golden brown and fully cooked, then transfer to a separate plate.
- Bacon Transformation: Crisp bacon in the same skillet, carefully managing rendered fat, and crumble into rustic pieces once achieved.
- Aromatic Foundation: Utilize bacon drippings to sauté minced garlic, then introduce spinach leaves, wilting them gracefully while adding cherry tomatoes to soften and release natural sweetness.
- Creamy Fusion: Stream heavy cream and chicken broth into the skillet, melting Parmesan cheese and butter to create a velvety sauce that coats ingredients with luxurious complexity.
- Final Assembly: Reunite chicken, pasta, and crumbled bacon with the creamy vegetable mixture, gently tossing to ensure comprehensive flavor distribution and sauce coverage.
- Garnish and Serve: Optional herb embellishment with fresh basil or parsley adds a vibrant finishing touch, presenting a harmonious and indulgent culinary masterpiece.
Notes
- Pasta Water Magic: Always salt your pasta water generously to infuse flavor from the first cooking stage, creating a more delicious base for your dish.
- Chicken Cooking Tip: Ensure chicken reaches internal temperature of 165°F to guarantee safe and juicy meat, preventing dryness while maintaining tenderness.
- Fat Management Strategy: Drain excess bacon fat but keep enough to build deep, rich flavor profiles without making the dish overly greasy.
- Sauce Consistency Hack: Stir Parmesan slowly and steadily into cream sauce to prevent clumping, creating a smooth, silky texture that coats pasta perfectly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 726
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1024 mg
- Fat: 43 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 53 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 176 mg