One Pot Creamy Bacon Parmesan Chicken Pasta
One Pot Creamy Bacon Parmesan Chicken Pasta is a quick and hearty dinner combining crispy bacon, tender chicken, and pasta simmered in a luscious creamy Parmesan sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights, this dish is packed with smoky, cheesy flavor and minimal cleanup.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: One Pot Cooking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Not gluten free
Ingredients
Scale
Protein
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into pieces
- 6 slices of bacon
Dairy
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup heavy cream
Pasta & Grains
- 8 ounces penne or rigatoni pasta
Liquids & Oils
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Produce & Herbs
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Seasonings
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Bacon and Chicken: Fry the bacon in a large pot over medium heat until crisp. Remove the bacon and place it on paper towels to drain. Using the rendered bacon fat, sauté the chicken pieces in the same pot until they are golden brown and cooked through, infusing them with smoky flavor.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add minced garlic to the same pot and cook briefly until fragrant, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom to build complexity in the flavor.
- Add Pasta, Broth, and Cream: Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream, then stir in the pasta ensuring it is mostly submerged. Cover and let simmer until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
- Stir in Cheese and Bacon: Reduce the heat and mix freshly grated Parmesan cheese into the pasta until melted and creamy. Gently fold in the crispy bacon pieces for bursts of smoky crunch.
- Season and Serve: Taste the dish and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired, then serve immediately to enjoy the creamy texture and vibrant flavors.
Notes
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for better melting and richer flavor.
- Undercook chicken slightly in step 1 as it cooks further with the pasta.
- Stir frequently to prevent pasta from sticking and to incorporate flavors.
- Cook pasta to al dente texture to avoid mushiness after cooking in sauce.
- Adjust the amount of heavy cream for desired sauce thickness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 40g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 40g
- Cholesterol: 140mg
Keywords: one pot pasta, creamy chicken pasta, bacon pasta, Parmesan chicken, quick dinner, comfort food
