This Creamy Chicken Bacon And Spinach Pasta is one of our all-time favorite dinner recipes. Tender, juicy chicken is over pasta in a rich, creamy sauce with spinach and bacon.
An excellent easy weeknight or weekend dinner recipe for the whole family. Yum!
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Why This Chicken and Bacon Pasta is Yummy
- It's so flavorful and will take you less than 30 minutes to make-even faster if you have prepped ingredients ahead. Cook bacon and chicken, make the sauce, and cook the pasta in it.
- If you love easy Chicken skillet recipes try these no less flavorful dinners such as Creamy Cheddar Chicken, Spicy Rigatoni and Chicken Pasta In White Wine Sauce.
- Easy Ingredients. I have (almost) always all of these ingredients in the kitchen, so it's super easy to throw together a perfect meal.
How To Make It
- Prep the Ingredients: Wash and dry the spinach in a salad spinner. Rinse and pat dry the chicken, then slice each breast in half lengthwise. If they're still thick, gently pound them with a rolling pin in a zip-lock bag or plastic wrap.
- Season the Chicken: Sprinkle both sides with paprika, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Once hot, cook chicken for about 5 minutes on each side until golden. If it sticks to the pan, cook a bit longer.
- When done, place chicken on a paper-towel-lined plate, let rest, and then slice into thin strips or bite-sized pieces. The internal temperature should reach at least 165°F. Set aside.
- Cook the Bacon: Wipe out any dark bits from the skillet, then cook the bacon until it's as crispy as you like. Set aside.
Quick tip: For a more flavorful and satisfying dish, cook the bacon, guanciale (which has more fat), or pancetta first. Once cooked, remove it from the pan and use the rendered fat to cook the chicken.
- Make the Creamy Sauce: In the same skillet with bacon drippings, sauté the onion for a couple of minutes, then add garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add Broth, Cream, and Pasta: Pour in the broth and simmer for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low, add the cream, and stir in the uncooked pasta. Simmer until pasta is al dente, about 10-15 minutes.
- Finish the Sauce: Stir in Parmesan, spinach, and a spoonful of butter if you like extra creaminess.
- Toss until spinach is wilted and pasta is fully coated in the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a bit of water.
- Serve: Top with sliced chicken, fresh herbs, extra Parmesan, and red pepper flakes if desired. Enjoy right away for the best texture!
Storing Instructions
- To Store. Place leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. This dish is best enjoyed fresh, but storing it properly will help maintain its flavor.
- To Freeze. Freezing isn't recommended, as cream-based sauces can separate and lose their creamy texture.
- To Reheat. Warm leftovers on low heat on the stovetop, adding a splash of milk or cream to restore the sauce's smoothness. Avoid boiling to keep the sauce from separating.
This recipe makes about 4-5 servings. Enjoy!
🥓 Make Next: Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken
Tips
- Tender chicken - Avoid overcooking the chicken by using a kitchen thermometer to check for doneness-165°F is perfect. No thermometer? No problem! Simply cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise or slice them into thin strips to speed up cooking, and taste a small piece to check doneness. For even cooking, lightly pound each breast before you start.
- Herbs - Swap dried herbs for Italian seasoning if you prefer-a great herb blend really elevates pasta dishes!
- Spinach - Baby spinach works best, especially for kids who may not love large, wilted leaves. You can also finely chop regular spinach to "hide" it in the dish-this trick often works for picky eaters!
- Gluten-Free Pasta - Barilla is a favorite, but you can use any gluten-free pasta you like. Other great pasta options include angel hair, fettuccine, spaghetti, elbows, or rotini.
- Bacon Substitutes: Try guanciale or pancetta for a delicious twist!
Serving Suggestions
This pasta is best enjoyed on its own; however, an easy green salad, Avocado Corn Salad, or Marinated Vegetable Salad would add that delicious cherry on top!
Creamy Chicken Pasta: FAQs
You can use regular milk or plant-based milk instead of heavy cream, though it won't be as creamy.
To help thicken the sauce, add 1-2 tablespoons of flour when you add the oil and butter to create a roux. This will give you a richer, thicker sauce.
You can freeze creamy sauce, but when reheating, it may separate and not be as thick and flavorful as it was when first made.
Easy Chicken Recipes
For more easy gluten-free chicken dinner recipes, check out my Chicken recipe index.
Some of our family's favorite pasta recipes we make on permanent rotation include the famous Old Fashioned Hamburger Casserole, Mexican style Chicken Fajita Pasta, Crack Chicken Noodle Soup and our latest favorite Chicken Tetrazzini.
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Recipe Card
Creamy Chicken And Bacon Pasta
Ingredients
Method
- Prep the ingredients: Wash and dry the spinach in a salad spinner. Rinse and pat dry the chicken, then slice each breast in half lengthwise. If they're still thick, gently pound them with a rolling pin in a zip-lock bag or plastic wrap.5 cups fresh spinach
- Season the chicken: Sprinkle both sides with paprika, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper.1 pound large boneless skinless chicken breasts , 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, ½ teaspoon dried basil, black pepper, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Cook the chicken: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Once hot, cook chicken for about 5 minutes on each side until golden. If it sticks to the pan, cook a bit longer. When done, place chicken on a paper-towel-lined plate, let rest, and then slice into thin strips or bite-sized pieces. The internal temperature should reach at least 165°F. Set aside.good quality olive oil
- Cook the bacon: Wipe out any dark bits from the skillet, then cook the bacon until it's as crispy as you like. Set aside.6 slices bacon
- Make the creamy sauce: In the same skillet with bacon drippings, sauté the onion for a couple of minutes, then add garlic and cook for another minute.½ of medium yellow onion, 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- Add broth, cream, and pasta: Pour in the broth and simmer for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low, add the cream, and stir in the uncooked pasta. Simmer until pasta is al dente, about 10-15 minutes.10 oz your favorite short pasta , 12 oz heavy cream, 3 cups broth
- Finish the sauce: Stir in Parmesan, spinach, and butter if you like extra creaminess. Toss until spinach is wilted and pasta is fully coated in the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a bit of water.2 tablespoon butter, 5 cups fresh spinach, 1 cup parmesan cheese
- Serve: Top with sliced chicken, fresh herbs, extra Parmesan, and red pepper flakes if desired. Enjoy right away for the best texture!
Nutrition
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on the products used.
Full Nutrition Disclaimer can be found here.
Leni
My family loves it! Made it many times. The list of recipe does not have garlic in it although it is mentioned in the instructions. I add 4 cloves of minced garlic.
Dorothy Starns
Made this dish for my very picky granddaughters ; and they loved it. The adults enjoyed it as well. The sauce is very tasty. I love one skillet dinners.
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
yes Dorothy! Thank you, and so glad your granddaughters loved it. It means a lot to me!
Jill Dummer
I'm confused a little bit. Step 7 says add uncooked pasta. Step 10 suggested adding water from the pasta to thin out sauce if to thick?
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
sorry, that's a mistake. We cook the pasta directly in the skillet and to thin out the sauce just add water or milk.
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
Delicious and kid-approved chicken dinner!
Beth
This looks wonderful and so tasty! My family is definitely going to love this recipe! I'm putting the ingredients on my list now! So excited!
Julia
thank you so much, hope you gonna love this one!
Michelle
Yum! I love that this pasta is like a full meal in one pot!
Julia
absolutely I agree with you Michelle, a proper delish meal 🙂 Thank you!
Erica
This looks amazing! I bet my kids would even eat it. Going to have to try this for next week's meal plan!
Julia
thank you Erica, hope they will love it!
Frank Favorito
This is a great recipe. Care must be taken when cooking pasta of any kind this way so it doesn't clump together. It is a little harder to stir. I do prefer to cook the bacon first or sub pancetta, then cook the chicken in the bacon grease. Usually no extra salt is needed ( heart healthy). My only addition is a little white wine to the sauce.
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
thank you Frank for the tips, this is indeed healthier!
Dannii
Oh wow. What an epic pasta dish. Super comforting.
Julia
thank you Dannii
Greg
How much garlic?
Julia
Thank you for pointing this out, I've now edited the recipe card. It should be 2 teaspoons of minced garlic. Fresh is best!
Liz
wow this sounds sooooo good! the yummy creamy sauce is making my mouth water!
Julia
the sauce is unbelievably good! thank you 🙂