Velvety Bacon Chicken Pasta with Broccoli Recipe for Dinner

Comfort meets culinary magic in this creamy bacon chicken pasta with broccoli that promises to become your new favorite weeknight meal.

Rich, savory flavors dance across every tender bite of pasta.

Crispy bacon bits add a delightful crunch to the silky sauce coating each noodle.

Succulent chicken pieces mingle with bright green broccoli florets, creating a perfect balance of protein and vegetables.

The creamy sauce brings everything together with its luxurious, velvety texture that will make taste buds sing.

Fresh ingredients transform this simple dish into something extraordinary that everyone at the table will devour.

You’ll want to savor every single forkful of this irresistible pasta masterpiece.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Calories: 590 kcal

Servings: 4

Cheesy Bacon Chicken Pasta Ingredient Rundown

• Pasta: Provides hearty foundation for the dish, choose whole wheat or regular pasta depending on preference.
• Broccoli Florets: Adds vibrant green color and nutritional boost, select fresh, crisp broccoli with tight, deep green clusters.

• Chicken Breast: Lean protein that makes the meal satisfying, pick fresh, boneless chicken with minimal fat.
• Bacon: Delivers rich, smoky flavor and crispy texture, opt for thick-cut bacon for maximum crunchiness.

• Cheddar Cheese: Creates luxurious, melty coating that binds ingredients, select sharp or mild based on desired intensity.
• Cream: Ensures silky smooth sauce, use heavy cream for richer consistency or half-and-half for lighter version.
• Parmesan Cheese: Adds depth and salty undertone, choose freshly grated for most authentic flavor.
• Garlic: Provides aromatic base that elevates overall taste, use fresh cloves for most robust flavor.
• Salt and Pepper: Essential seasonings that balance and enhance dish's overall profile, use freshly ground black pepper for best results.

Tools to Make This Pasta Cheesy and Bold

• Large Pot: Essential for boiling pasta and cooking broccoli together.
• Colander: Perfect for draining pasta and broccoli quickly and easily.
• Cutting Board: Needed for chopping chicken and bacon into bite-sized pieces.
• Sharp Knife: Helps slice chicken and bacon precisely.
• Skillet or Frying Pan: Key for cooking bacon and chicken with seasonings.
• Wooden Spoon or Spatula: Great for stirring and mixing ingredients while cooking.
• Cheese Grater: Useful for shredding fresh cheese to melt over the dish.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Helps measure ingredients accurately.

Cook Pasta with Broccoli, Chicken, and Crispy Bacon

• Kickstart the Pasta Party

Fill a large pot with water, sprinkle in some salt, and bring it to a rolling boil. Drop in your pasta and let it dance around until it’s almost perfectly cooked. Toss the broccoli florets into the same pot for the final two minutes to get them tender and bright green.

• Sizzle the Bacon

Grab a skillet and transform those bacon strips into crispy, golden delights. Cook them until they’re crunchy and have released theiral flavor. Once done, set them aside on a paper towel to drain excess grease.

• Craft the Creamy Sauce

In the same skillet with those incredible bacon drippings, sauté some minced garlic until it’s fragrant. Pour in heavy cream and let it simmer gently. Sprinkle in your favorite cheese, stirring until it melts into a smooth, luxurious sauce.

• Combine and Conquer

Slice your cooked chicken into tempting strips. Add the drained pasta and broccoli into the cheesy sauce. Toss in the chicken and crumble those crispy bacon pieces over the top. Gently mix everything together so each bite is loaded with flavor.

• Serve and Celebrate

Dish out your creation onto plates, making sure everyone gets a perfect blend of pasta, chicken, broccoli, and that irresistible cheesy goodness. Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh herbs if you’re feeling extra fancy.

Tips to Keep the Sauce Creamy and Balanced

• Cook pasta al dente for the best texture, ensuring it's slightly firm to the bite and can absorb the creamy sauce without becoming mushy.
• Cook bacon in a cold skillet and gradually increase heat to render fat slowly, creating perfectly crispy pieces that add amazing crunch to the dish.
• Replace regular pasta with whole wheat or gluten-free alternatives, and use turkey bacon for a lower-fat version. Greek yogurt can substitute some of the cream for a lighter sauce.
• This dish can be prepared ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently with a splash of milk to restore the creamy consistency and prevent the sauce from separating.
• Skip the chicken and bacon, and add extra vegetables like roasted cauliflower, sun-dried tomatoes, or sautéed mushrooms to create a delicious meat-free version that's equally satisfying.

Serve Hot with Garlic Bread or Salad

• Cozy Family Dinner Centerpiece: Serve this hearty pasta directly in a large, rustic serving dish where everyone can easily scoop their portion, creating a warm and inviting meal experience.
• Elegant Side Pairings: Complement the rich flavors with a crisp garden salad dressed in light vinaigrette or roasted garlic bread to soak up the delicious cheesy sauce.
• Restaurant-Style Presentation: Garnish each plate with extra crispy bacon bits, freshly chopped parsley, and a sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese to elevate the visual appeal and add an extra layer of flavor.
• Personal Touch Finishing: Add a small side of red pepper flakes or hot sauce for those who enjoy a spicy kick, allowing each diner to customize their dish according to their taste preferences.

Store Pasta Without Losing Flavor

• Store leftovers in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking to maintain freshness and prevent bacterial growth.
• Make a double batch and portion into individual containers for easy grab-and-go lunches during busy workdays, staying ready with delicious meals.
• Cool the pasta completely before transferring to freezer-safe containers, where it can remain tasty for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently with a splash of milk to restore creamy texture.
• Warm leftovers in a skillet with a little extra milk or chicken broth to prevent drying, stirring occasionally to distribute heat evenly and maintain the dish's original luxurious consistency.

FAQs

• Is this recipe suitable for meal prep?

Yes, this cheesy bacon chicken pasta can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Simply reheat in the microwave or oven before serving.

• Can I use different types of pasta for this recipe?

Absolutely! While the recipe works great with traditional pasta shapes like penne or rotini, you can easily substitute with whole wheat pasta, gluten-free pasta, or even zucchini noodles for a lower-carb option.

• What if I don't have fresh broccoli?

Frozen broccoli works perfectly fine in this recipe. Just add it directly to the pasta water during the last 2 minutes of cooking, just like you would with fresh broccoli. No need to thaw beforehand.

• Is there a way to make this dish lighter?

You can reduce calories by using turkey bacon instead of regular bacon, opting for low-fat cheese, and using Greek yogurt in place of some of the cream. These simple swaps can make the dish more diet-friendly without sacrificing flavor.

Creamy Bacon Chicken Pasta With Broccoli Recipe

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4.8 from 22 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Savory Cheesy Bacon Chicken Pasta with Broccoli combines hearty protein and creamy cheese for a comforting meal. Rich flavors meld together, creating a satisfying dinner you’ll want to enjoy again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 (chicken breasts), diced
• 4 (bacon slices), chopped
• 1 cup (cheddar cheese), shredded
• ½ cup (Parmesan cheese), grated
• 300 g/10 oz (pasta), penne, rigatoni, or favorite shape
• 2 cups (broccoli florets)
• 2 (garlic cloves), minced
• 2 tbsps (olive oil or butter)
• 2 tbsps (unsalted butter)
• 2 tbsps (all-purpose flour)
• 2 cups (milk), warm
• ½ tsp (smoked paprika), optional
• Salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste

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Instructions

1. Boiling Preparation: Ignite a large pot with generously salted water, bringing to a vigorous boil and cook pasta until precisely al dente according to package instructions.
2. Vegetable Integration: Immerse broccoli florets into the boiling pasta water during the final two minutes, preserving a vibrant, crisp-tender texture.
3. Bacon Transformation: Render bacon slices in a spacious skillet over medium heat, transforming them into golden, crispy fragments while extracting rich, savory drippings.
4. Protein Searing: Utilize the reserved bacon fat to sauté chicken pieces, developing a golden exterior and ensuring complete internal cooking with no trace of rawness.
5. Sauce Crafting: Reduce skillet heat and introduce heavy cream, shredded cheese, and minced garlic, whisking continuously to orchestrate a silky, luxurious sauce.
6. Pasta Fusion: Drain pasta and broccoli thoroughly, then gently incorporate them into the creamy cheese mixture, ensuring comprehensive coating of every ingredient.
7. Final Embellishment: Scatter crispy bacon fragments across the dish, adding a smoky crunch, and optionally crown with fresh parsley or additional cheese before serving piping hot.

Notes

Optimize Pasta Texture: Cook pasta exactly al dente to prevent mushiness and maintain a perfect bite, stopping cooking right when pasta reaches firm center point.

Manage Bacon Fat Carefully: Save bacon drippings for extra flavor layering, but drain excess grease to prevent dish becoming overly greasy or heavy.

Control Sauce Consistency: Stir cheese sauce continuously and maintain low heat to prevent separation or burning, creating smooth creamy texture without clumping.

Protein Flexibility: Substitute chicken with turkey, tofu, or plant-based protein alternatives for dietary preferences while maintaining similar cooking technique and seasoning approach.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Boiling
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 596
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 550 mg
• Fat: 32 g
• Saturated Fat: 15 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 49 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 34 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg