Bacon Chicken Mushroom Pasta in Creamy Parmesan Sauce
Indulge in a culinary symphony of flavors with our Bacon Chicken Mushroom Pasta in Creamy Parmesan Sauce. This dish combines tender chunks of chicken breast and crispy bacon, enveloped in a velvety sauce made with rich heavy cream, savory Parmesan cheese, and aromatic garlic. Enhanced with a touch of dried thyme and a splash of dry white wine, each bite is a delightful balance of indulgence and comfort. Perfectly paired with your favorite pasta shape and garnished with fresh basil, this recipe promises a memorable dining experience that’s sure to become a family favorite.
SIMPLE INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED:
- Bacon (16 oz): Crispy bacon fried until golden brown, then crumbled into small pieces, adding a smoky and delicious flavor to the dish.
- Chicken Breast (2 lbs): Tender chicken breast chunks providing protein and filling substance to the meal.
- Onion (1, chopped): Finely chopped onion adding sweet and savory flavor to the dish.
- Garlic (2 tsp minced, about 8 cloves): Minced garlic offering spicy and aromatic notes, enhancing overall flavor.
- Thyme (1 tsp dried): Dried thyme adding a natural and earthy flavor to complement other ingredients.
- Dry White Wine (½ cup): Tangy and rich wine adding depth of flavor to the sauce.
- Chicken Broth (1 cup): Savory liquid base enhancing richness and flavor of the sauce.
- Heavy Whipping Cream (1½ cups): Thick and creamy texture coating pasta and chicken beautifully.
- Parmesan Cheese (1 cup, grated): Sharp and salty cheese melting into sauce for a rich, cheesy taste.
- Pasta (8 oz, farfelle, rotini, penne, or shells): Cooked pasta adds a satisfying texture to the dish.
- Fresh Basil (garnish): Fragrant basil leaves are used as a colorful and flavorful garnish.
- Salt and Black Pepper (to taste): Seasonings enhance the overall flavor, adjust according to preference.
Reasons why you love this recipe:
- Delicious Flavor Mix: This recipe mixes tasty bacon, juicy chicken, mushrooms, and garlic in a creamy Parmesan sauce. It’s a yummy blend that everyone in the family will love, even the pickiest eaters.
- Feels Warm and Filling: Packed with chicken and pasta in a creamy sauce, this dish is super comforting and satisfying. It’s full of protein, so it keeps everyone feeling happy and full after dinner.
- Make It Your Own: You can change this recipe however you like! Add more or less seasoning, pick your favorite pasta, or toss in extra veggies. Plus, any leftovers are easy to heat up for a quick meal the next day, perfect for busy families.
HOW TO PREPARE CHICKEN PARMESAN PASTA?
Time needed: 45 minutes
- Cook Pasta
Cook the dry pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside. - Cook Bacon:
In a large skillet over medium heat, fry the bacon until crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet, drain excess fat on paper towels, and crumble it into small pieces. Set aside.
- Cook Chicken:
In the same skillet, using the bacon fat, add the cubed chicken breast. Season with salt and black pepper. Cook until the chicken is browned on all sides and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside. - Saute Onion, Mushroom, and Garlic:
In the same skillet, add chopped onion, mushrooms, and minced garlic. Saute until the onion becomes translucent and the garlic is fragrant. - Deglaze with Wine and Add Spices:
Pour in the dry white wine to deglaze the skillet, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Add the dried thyme and allow the wine to reduce by half. - Add Cream and Broth:
Pour in the heavy whipping cream and chicken broth. Stir well to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. - Add Cheese and Bacon:
Gradually add the Parmesan cheese to the sauce, stirring constantly until it melts and thickens the sauce. Add the crumbled bacon back into the skillet and stir to combine. - Combine Chicken, Pasta, and Sauce:
Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the creamy sauce and add chicken breast to the skillet. Toss everything together until everything is well coated in the sauce. - Serve:
Serve the creamy chicken bacon pasta hot, garnished with fresh basil leaves. Enjoy your indulgent and comforting meal!
FAQ – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Yes, you can use different types of mushrooms such as button mushrooms, cremini mushrooms, or shiitake mushrooms based on your preference or availability.
Achieving the right consistency for the sauce can be tricky. To prevent it from becoming too thick, you can add more chicken broth or pasta water gradually. Conversely, if it’s too thin, you can simmer the sauce for a bit longer to reduce it or add a slurry of cornstarch and water to thicken it.
While Parmesan cheese is traditional, you can experiment with other cheeses like Asiago, Romano, or even a blend of different cheeses to customize the flavor of the sauce to your liking.
To keep the sauce smooth, make sure the heat is low and don’t let it boil after adding the cream. Also, slowly mix the cream into the sauce while stirring a lot to keep it smooth.
You can get things ready before it’s time to eat. Cook the bacon, chicken, and mushrooms early, and keep them in the fridge. When you’re ready to eat, warm them up and put them together with the sauce and pasta.
To make the meal healthier, use turkey bacon instead of regular bacon, substitute half-and-half or milk for heavy whipping cream, and opt for whole wheat or gluten-free pasta. Additionally, you can add more vegetables like spinach or bell peppers for more nutrients.
WHAT DO YOU SERVE WITH PARMESAN cream CHICKEN skillet?
This hearty dish of bacon chicken mushroom with parmesan sauce pasta pairs well with a variety of side dishes and accompaniments. A simple side salad with a light vinaigrette provides a refreshing contrast to the richness of the pasta dish. Additionally, garlic bread or crusty Italian bread is perfect for soaking up any leftover sauce. For a more substantial meal, roasted vegetables such as broccoli, asparagus, or cherry tomatoes add color and texture while complementing the flavors of the main dish. Lastly, a glass of crisp white wine or sparkling water with lemon serves as a refreshing beverage to round out the meal.
MUSHROOM CHICKEN PASTA RECIPE SUBSTITUTIONS AND VARIATIONS:
- Vegetarian Option: Skip the chicken and add extra mushrooms or your favorite veggies like bell peppers, zucchini, or spinach for a veggie version.
- Different Protein: Swap the chicken for cooked shrimp, diced ham, or crumbled Italian sausage to change up the taste.
- Different Cheese: Try using Gruyere, Fontina, or Gouda instead of Parmesan for a new flavor in the sauce.
- Creamy Sauce Alternatives: Use half-and-half or whole milk instead of heavy whipping cream for a lighter sauce. Or try coconut milk or cashew cream for a dairy-free option.
- Gluten-Free Pasta: Use gluten-free pasta like rice, quinoa, or chickpea pasta to make it gluten-free while keeping the yummy flavors.
- Additional Herbs and Seasonings: Add fresh herbs like parsley, basil, or oregano, or spices like red pepper flakes or Italian seasoning to boost the flavor.
- Creamy Tomato Sauce: Mix Parmesan cheese with a tomato-based sauce for a creamy tomato sauce pasta variation.
- Spaghetti Squash or Zoodles: Swap regular pasta with spaghetti squash noodles or zucchini noodles (zoodles) for a low-carb alternative.
HOW DO YOU STORE AND REHEAT LEFTOVER creamy chicken bacon pasta?
To save leftover chicken mushroom pasta, let it cool down first. Then, put it in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge. You can store it there for 3-4 days. When you want to eat it again, you can warm it up in the microwave or in a pan on the stove. If it seems dry, you can add a bit of chicken broth or a splash of cream to make it moist. Stir it now and then until it’s hot.
CAN LEFTOVER CHICKEN bacon PASTA BE FROZEN FOR LATER CONSUMPTION?
To freeze extra bacon chicken mushroom pasta, let it cool first. Then place it in freezer-safe container or zip-top freezer bag. Make sure they’re sealed tight so the pasta stays fresh. Write the date and what’s inside in the containers, so you know what it is later. Keep the pasta in the freezer for 2-3 months. When you’re ready to eat it, thaw it in the fridge overnight. Then, warm it up in the microwave or on the stove. If it seems dry, add a bit of chicken broth or water. Stir it now and then until it’s hot.
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Bacon Chicken Mushroom Pasta in Creamy Parmesan Sauce Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Skillet
Ingredients
- 16 oz Bacon (fried and crumbled)
- 2 lbs Chicken Breast (2 large breasts) cubed into 1½" chunks
- 1 Onion (chopped)
- 16 oz Mushrooms (washed and sliced)
- 2 Tsp Garlic (minced) (about 8 cloves)
- 1 Tsp Thyme (dried)
- ½ Cup Dry White Wine
- 1 Cup Chicken Broth
- 1½ Cups Heavy Whipping Cream
- 1 Cup Parmesan Cheese (grated)
- 8 oz Pasta (farfelle, rotini, penne, or shells)
- Fresh Basil (garnish)
- Salt and Black Pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook the dry pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Cook Bacon: In a large skillet over medium heat, fry the bacon until crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet, drain excess fat on paper towels, and crumble it into small pieces. Set aside.
- Cook Chicken: In the same skillet, using the bacon fat, add the cubed chicken breast. Season with salt and black pepper. Cook until the chicken is browned on all sides and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Saute Onion, Mushroom, and Garlic: In the same skillet, add chopped onion, mushrooms, and minced garlic. Saute until the onion becomes translucent and the garlic is fragrant.
- Deglaze with Wine and Add Spices: Pour in the dry white wine to deglaze the skillet, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Add the dried thyme and allow the wine to reduce by half.
- Add Cream and Broth: Pour in the heavy whipping cream and chicken broth. Stir well to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low.
- Add Cheese and Bacon: Gradually add the Parmesan cheese to the sauce, stirring constantly until it melts and thickens the sauce. Add the crumbled bacon back into the skillet and stir to combine.
- Combine Chicken, Pasta, and Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the creamy sauce and add chicken breast to the skillet. Toss everything together until everything is well coated in the sauce.
- Serve: Serve the creamy chicken bacon pasta hot, garnished with fresh basil leaves. Enjoy your indulgent and comforting meal!