Chicken and Bacon Pasta with Spinach and Tomatoes in Garlic Cream Sauce

Chicken and Bacon Pasta with Spinach and Tomatoes in Garlic Cream Sauce

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
40 mins

Let's be honest.  Chicken pasta recipes can get boring.  Not in this recipe!  You'll fall in love with the flavors in this Chicken and Bacon Pasta with Spinach and Tomatoes in Garlic Cream Sauce and will be surprised how easy it is to make it!

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian, Mediterranean
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 1028 kcal
Author: Julia

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 lb chicken (chicken breasts or tenderloins)
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (thyme, oregano, basil - combined)
5 tomatoes (medium, chopped in large cubes)
1 cup spinach cooked
5 garlic cloves minced
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes , crushed
6 bacon strips , COOKED, DRAINED OF FAT, AND CHOPPED
1 1/3 cups half and half
1 1/3 cups Parmesan cheese , shredded
10 oz penne pasta (for gluten-free version, use gluten-free brown-rice penne)
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated, for serving

Instructions

In a large skillet, on high heat, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil until hot. Add chicken and cook on one side on high heat for 1 minute. While it cooks, sprinkle the uncooked sides of the chicken with paprika and Italian seasoning. Flip the chicken over, and cook on the other side for 1 minute on high heat. Reduce heat to medium, flip chicken over again and cook, covered, for several minutes until no longer pink in the center. Remove chicken from the pan and keep chicken warm.

To the same pan (but without chicken), add chopped tomatoes, spinach, garlic, crushed red pepper, 1/3 of the chicken (sliced into small strips) and half the bacon (already cooked and drained of fat).

Mix everything.

Add half and half and bring to boil. Only after half and half starts boiling, add grated Parmesan cheese - immediately reduce to simmer and stir, while simmering, until the cheese melts and makes the sauce creamy, only about 1 minute (at most 2 minutes). Then, immediately remove from heat. Season with more crushed red pepper and salt, if needed.

In the mean time bring a large pot of water to boil, add pasta and cook it according to instructions. Drain the pasta, rinse with cold water and drain again.

Add pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Add remaining half of bacon (cooked and drained of fat). Season with more salt if necessary. Slice the remaining 2/3 of chicken into thin strips. To serve, top the pasta with chicken strips and grated Parmesan cheese.

Recipe Notes

WHAT IS HALF AND HALF? To make 1 cup of half and half, combine 1/2 cup of milk and 1/2 cup of heavy cream (or heavy whipping cream).

Nutrition Facts

Chicken and Bacon Pasta with Spinach and Tomatoes in Garlic Cream Sauce
Amount Per Serving
Calories 1028 Calories from Fat 531
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 59g 91%
Saturated Fat 23g 115%
Cholesterol 167mg 56%
Sodium 1086mg 45%
Potassium 1017mg 29%

Total Carbohydrates 66g 22%
Dietary Fiber 4g 16%
Sugars 6g
Protein 55g 110%
Vitamin A 61.4%
Vitamin C 32.6%
Calcium 69.2%
Iron 19.3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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