Creamy Crack Chicken Pasta Beef Bacon (Printable)

Tender chicken and crispy beef bacon in a rich, creamy cheese sauce over penne pasta, topped with fresh aromatic herbs.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 2 large chicken breasts, diced
02 - 8 slices beef bacon, chopped

→ Pasta

03 - 12 oz penne or rigatoni pasta

→ Dairy & Cheese

04 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
05 - ½ cup heavy cream
06 - 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
07 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter

→ Vegetables & Herbs

08 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
10 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
11 - 1 tbsp fresh chives, chopped

→ Spices & Seasoning

12 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
13 - ½ tsp garlic powder
14 - ½ tsp onion powder
15 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Directions:

01 - Cook pasta according to package instructions in salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, add chopped beef bacon. Cook until crispy, about 5–6 minutes. Remove with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Pour off excess fat, leaving 1 tbsp in skillet.
03 - Season diced chicken with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
04 - In same skillet, add butter and seasoned chicken. Sauté for 4–5 minutes until golden and cooked through. Add garlic and cook 1 more minute.
05 - Lower heat. Stir in cream cheese and heavy cream, whisking until smooth and melted. Add reserved pasta water as needed for silky consistency.
06 - Mix in cheddar cheese until fully melted and incorporated.
07 - Add cooked pasta to skillet, tossing to coat thoroughly. Stir in spring onions, half the crispy beef bacon, and half fresh herbs. Divide onto plates and top with remaining beef bacon and herbs.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sauce clings to every piece of pasta like it was meant to be there, not sliding off into some lonely puddle at the bottom of your bowl
  • That beef bacon adds this incredible smoky crunch that keeps you reaching for just one more bite
  • Leftovers somehow taste even better the next day when the flavors have had time to really become friends
02 -
  • I once forgot to reserve pasta water and my sauce turned into this gloopy mess that wouldn't coat anything, so don't skip that step even if you think you won't need it
  • Beef bacon can go from perfect to burned in seconds, so stand right there and watch it like a hawk during those last 2 minutes
  • Room temperature cream cheese incorporates way faster than cold, so take it out of the fridge before you start boiling water
03 -
  • Grate your own cheese because the anti-caking agents in pre-grated cheese prevent it from melting into that silky sauce you're after
  • Don't overcrowd the pan when cooking the chicken or you'll end up steaming it instead of searing, and nobody wants gray, rubbery chicken in their luxurious pasta

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