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.
Ingredients
- 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
Instructions
- 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.
- Vegetable Integration: Immerse broccoli florets into the boiling pasta water during the final two minutes, preserving a vibrant, crisp-tender texture.
- Bacon Transformation: Render bacon slices in a spacious skillet over medium heat, transforming them into golden, crispy fragments while extracting rich, savory drippings.
- 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.
- Sauce Crafting: Reduce skillet heat and introduce heavy cream, shredded cheese, and minced garlic, whisking continuously to orchestrate a silky, luxurious sauce.
- Pasta Fusion: Drain pasta and broccoli thoroughly, then gently incorporate them into the creamy cheese mixture, ensuring comprehensive coating of every ingredient.
- 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