Creamy Chicken and Bacon Pasta
Ingredients:
°6 strips bacon
°2 tablespoons olive oil
°1 pound boneless skinless chicken (large as chicken breasts)
°salt and pepper
°1 teaspoon garlic powder
°1 tablespoon butter
°3 cloves garlic (chopped)
°4 small tomatoes (diced)
°2 cups spinach
°1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
°1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (more, if desired)
°1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
°1/2 tsp salt
°1.5 cups thick cream
°1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (more for garnish)
+Pasta:
°10 oz. penne pasta
°2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Instructions:
BACON: Add bacon strips to skillet and cook until crisp. Transfer the cooked bacon to a serving dish lined with paper towels. Cut into 1-inch pieces
CHICKEN: Dry the chicken with paper towels and season with salt, pepper and garlic. Set aside.
Heat the olive oil in a large deep pan. Add the chicken breasts and cook on each side over medium-high heat for about 4 minutes per side (for a total of 8 minutes) until golden brown. If the chicken is still pink in the centre, reduce the heat to medium and cook covered for several minutes until it is no longer pink in the centre. Remove chicken from pan and slice.
Add the butter to the hot pan and once it melts, add the chopped garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
Add the tomatoes and cook for 3 minutes over medium-high heat until the tomatoes release their juice. Add the fresh spinach and cook until it wilts.
Reduce heat and season with paprika, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes and salt. Stir.
Then add the thick cream and slowly add the parmesan – until the cheese melts and makes the sauce creamy.
Enjoy !