Chicken Bacon Spinach Penne

This Chicken Bacon Spinach Pasta recipe has penne that’s tossed in a creamy Alfredo sauce with spinach and tomatoes. This restaurant quality meal will be a huge hit at your dinner table.
“This tastes like it’s from a restaurant!”- The first time my husband uttered these words to me was when I served him this Chicken Alfredo Pasta for the first time. I’ll never forget it.

Let it be known, this recipe will blow your mind.

Cooking the chicken and the bacon in the pan before preparing the sauce makes this the BEST Alfredo sauce with the most flavor.

How to Make Extra Creamy Alfredo Sauce
Refrain from adding cold ingredients into warm pasta when you prepare it. This includes the cheese, half and half, and/or milk. The consistency will be super creamy if you follow this instruction.
Purchase a block of high-quality Parmesan cheese. Always shred the cheese yourself, it will taste and melt much better.
Let the cheese come to room temperature before adding it to the warm (not hot!) base.
Add the cheese gradually as opposed to all at once.

Freezer

Cream based sauces don’t reheat as well as the consistency changes due to the composition of the dairy. However you can still freeze this, just note it won’t be exactly the same once reheated.
Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Ingredients:

8 ounces penne pasta
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Salt and black pepper to taste
Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

Cook the Pasta: Cook the penne pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.

Cook Chicken: In a large skillet, cook the chicken pieces over medium-high heat until they are no longer pink in the center. Season with salt and black pepper. Remove from the skillet and set aside.

Prepare Bacon: Cook the bacon until crispy, then crumble it into small pieces. Set aside.

Sauté Garlic and Spinach: In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant. Add chopped spinach and cook until wilted.

Add Cherry Tomatoes: Add halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until they start to soften.

Make Alfredo Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth, and bring the mixture to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted. Add the butter and continue to stir until the sauce is smooth and creamy.

Combine Ingredients: Add the cooked penne pasta, cooked chicken, and crumbled bacon to the skillet. Toss everything together until well combined and heated through.

Adjust Seasoning: Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and black pepper as needed.

Garnish and Serve:Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired. Serve the Chicken Bacon Spinach Penne hot, and enjoy!

Tips:

Vegetarian Option: Omit the chicken and bacon for a vegetarian version, or substitute with plant-based alternatives.

Cheese Variations: Experiment with different cheeses, such as mozzarella or Asiago, to add a unique twist to the Alfredo sauce.

Customize Vegetables: Feel free to add other vegetables like mushrooms, bell peppers, or sun-dried tomatoes for added flavor and color.

This Chicken Bacon Spinach Penne dish offers a perfect balance of flavors and textures, making it a crowd-pleaser for family dinners or gatherings. It’s a versatile recipe that you can easily customize to suit your preferences.

Enjoy the delicious combination of chicken, bacon, and spinach in a creamy Alfredo sauce!

Chicken Bacon Spinach Penne

Recipe by Alexandra

0.0 from 0 votes

Course: All Word Recipes

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

30

minutes

Cooking time

40

minutes

Calories

300

kcal

Total time

1

hour 

10

minutes

Cook Mode

Keep the screen of your device on

Ingredients

• 8 ounces 8 penne pasta

• 2 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces

• 6 slices 6 bacon, cooked and crumbled

• 2 cups 2 fresh spinach, chopped

• 3 cloves 3 garlic, minced

• 1 cup 1 cherry tomatoes, halved

• 1 cup 1 grated Parmesan cheese

• 1 cup 1 heavy cream

• 1/2 cup 1/2 chicken broth

• 2 tablespoons 2 unsalted butter

• Salt and black pepper to taste

• Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)

Directions

• Cook the Pasta: Cook the penne pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
• Cook Chicken: In a large skillet, cook the chicken pieces over medium-high heat until they are no longer pink in the center. Season with salt and black pepper. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
• Prepare Bacon: Cook the bacon until crispy, then crumble it into small pieces. Set aside.
• Sauté Garlic and Spinach: In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant. Add chopped spinach and cook until wilted.
• Add Cherry Tomatoes: Add halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until they start to soften.
• Make Alfredo Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth, and bring the mixture to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted. Add the butter and continue to stir until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
• Combine Ingredients: Add the cooked penne pasta, cooked chicken, and crumbled bacon to the skillet. Toss everything together until well combined and heated through.
• Adjust Seasoning: Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and black pepper as needed.
• Garnish and Serve:Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired. Serve the Chicken Bacon Spinach Penne hot, and enjoy!

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