This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my full Disclosure Policy for details.
Chicken, bacon and a creamy homemade alfredo sauce make Chicken Bacon Pasta a family favorite!
Have you ever had a recipe that was born of desperation? I wanted something different from the same old pasta dishes that we usually have, so I started throwing things into a skillet and that’s how Chicken Bacon Pasta was created!
Honestly, there’s nothing new about the combination of chicken and bacon. But when you add it to my easy homemade alfredo sauce, it turns into something a little bit magical.
The first few times I made this recipe, I used jarred alfredo sauce. It’s certainly a bit faster to do that, but the flavor of this homemade sauce is just SOOOOO much better. I’ve also used jarred sauce to help stretch my homemade sauce a bit.
Just promise that you’ll try it at least once with homemade alfredo sauce. You don’t even need that many ingredients to make it!
I try to keep heavy cream in my refrigerator all the time. If I have that and some Parmesan cheese, I know I can add some great flavors to any dish! I’ve also started keeping bacon in the freezer all the time. If I’m running low on groceries, I usually have enough on hand to make some Chicken Bacon Pasta.
Start by cooking the bacon in a skillet and setting it aside to drain. If there’s a lot of grease in the pan, you can pour some of it off, but save a little bit of bacon grease for cooking the chicken breast!
Cook the chicken breast, garlic and spices together in the pan and then add the bacon back into the skillet.
In a separate pot, add the butter and cream. This can be cooking while you’re working on the chicken. After the cream and butter has simmered for a bit, then add the cheese and simmer for a couple more minutes.
When the alfredo sauce is done, pour it into the skillet with the bacon and chicken. Let it simmer together for a few minutes.
Stir in cooked pasta of your choice. I really like cavatappi pasta for this recipe, but rotini, bow tie, mini lasagna or penne all work great as well. Each one soaks up the sauce a bit differently, so go with what you prefer.
The rich, creamy sauce just works so well with the bacon and chicken! My kids gobble this up and then we enjoy leftovers for lunch the next day. If spaghetti night is getting a little boring, try changing things up with Chicken Bacon Pasta. You won’t regret it!
If you’re looking for something more “one pot” for pasta night, you should try One Pot Pasta made with kielbasa. It’s great for on the stovetop or in the pressure cooker, too.
Chicken Bacon Pasta (with homemade alfredo sauce)
Ingredients
For the sauce
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup white cheese blend Parmesan, Romano, Gouda, etc.
For the pasta
- 1 pound cavatappi noodles cooked
- ½ pound bacon cooked and crumbled or chopped up
- 1-2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast cubed
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 2 tsp oregano
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
Sauce
- In a saucepan, add butter and cream over med/high heat until butter is melted and cream begins to froth and bubble. Reduce heat and simmer 6-8 minutes, stirring often. Add in cheese and heat until melted, then simmer LOW for 2-3 minutes. Stir frequently.
Pasta
- In a large pot, start the water to boil the pasta. Once boiling, add pasta and cook as directed on package. (Work on the sauce and meat mixture while the water is heating.)
- In a large skillet cook the bacon until crispy. Remove and set aside to drain on paper towels. (Pour out most of the grease, but don’t wipe the pan clean.) Chop or crumble bacon after it's cooled.
- Next, cook the chicken, seasonings and garlic in the same pan with the bacon grease. Once the chicken is cooked (no pink) add the bacon pieces back to the pan.
- When the sauce is done, pour it over the chicken mixture and simmer together for 2-3 minutes. Then drain the noodles, and add them to the skillet. Stir together.
- Top with a sprinkle of parsley and additional cheese if desired. Serve with garlic bread and salad for a great meal!
Notes
- To cut calories, use half and half instead of heavy cream.
- Don't have quite enough butter or cream on hand? You can use what you have and supplement the rest with jarred alfredo sauce!
- Add mushrooms for a delicious extra boost of flavor.
- To make a cheesy and hearty "pasta bake" just add a little extra sauce, stir in some mozzarella cheese and bake for 10-15 minutes.
Nutrition
- Chocolate Orange Cookies - November 2, 2024
- Nutella Banana Bread - October 14, 2024
- Bacon Onion Dip - September 13, 2024
Leave a Reply