Creamy Bacon Chicken Pasta with Spinach
Creamy Bacon Chicken Pasta with Spinach
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 12 ounces bow tie pasta
- 1 tablespoon salt, for pasta water
For the Creamy Sauce
- 6 slices bacon, diced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, as needed
- 1 yellow onion, medium, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 2 cups shredded cooked rotisserie chicken
- 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 5 ounces baby spinach
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the bow tie pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining. Drain the pasta and set aside.
⏱️ 12 min
- 2
While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced bacon and cook until crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside on a paper towel-lined plate, leaving about 1 tablespoon of bacon fat in the skillet. If there is less than 1 tablespoon, add olive oil to make up the difference.
⏱️ 8 min
- 3
Add the chopped yellow onion to the skillet and sauté over medium heat until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 1 minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 6 min
- 4
Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, to deepen its flavor. Pour in the beef broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Bring to a gentle simmer.
⏱️ 3 min
- 5
Reduce the heat to low and stir in the heavy whipping cream. Let it gently simmer for 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to slightly thicken.
⏱️ 3 min
- 6
Add the shredded cooked rotisserie chicken, halved cherry tomatoes, and baby spinach to the sauce. Stir gently until the spinach wilts, which should take about 2-3 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
⏱️ 3 min
- 7
Add the cooked and drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss to combine, ensuring the pasta is well coated. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency. Stir in most of the crispy bacon, reserving a little for garnish.
⏱️ 2 min
- 8
Serve immediately, garnished with the remaining crispy bacon. Enjoy!
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Creamy Bacon Chicken Pasta with Spinach
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 12 ounces bow tie pasta
- 1 tablespoon salt, for pasta water
For the Creamy Sauce
- 6 slices bacon, diced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, as needed
- 1 yellow onion, medium, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 2 cups shredded cooked rotisserie chicken
- 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 5 ounces baby spinach
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the bow tie pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining. Drain the pasta and set aside.
⏱️ 12 min - 2
While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced bacon and cook until crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside on a paper towel-lined plate, leaving about 1 tablespoon of bacon fat in the skillet. If there is less than 1 tablespoon, add olive oil to make up the difference.
⏱️ 8 min - 3
Add the chopped yellow onion to the skillet and sauté over medium heat until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 1 minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 6 min - 4
Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, to deepen its flavor. Pour in the beef broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Bring to a gentle simmer.
⏱️ 3 min - 5
Reduce the heat to low and stir in the heavy whipping cream. Let it gently simmer for 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to slightly thicken.
⏱️ 3 min - 6
Add the shredded cooked rotisserie chicken, halved cherry tomatoes, and baby spinach to the sauce. Stir gently until the spinach wilts, which should take about 2-3 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
⏱️ 3 min - 7
Add the cooked and drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss to combine, ensuring the pasta is well coated. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency. Stir in most of the crispy bacon, reserving a little for garnish.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
Serve immediately, garnished with the remaining crispy bacon. Enjoy!
⏱️ 1 min