Chicken Bacon Spinach Penne
A creamy and savory pasta dish featuring tender chicken, crispy bacon, and fresh spinach, all tossed with penne pasta and a rich Parmesan sauce. Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: No bake
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the penne pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, cook the chicken pieces over medium-high heat until no longer pink in the center. Season with salt and black pepper. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Cook the bacon until crispy, then crumble it into small pieces. Set aside.
- In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant. Add chopped spinach and cook until wilted.
- Add halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until they start to soften.
- Pour in heavy cream and chicken broth, bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low, stir in grated Parmesan cheese until melted. Add butter and continue stirring until sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Add cooked penne pasta, cooked chicken, and crumbled bacon to the skillet. Toss everything together until well combined and heated through.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper as needed.
- Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired. Serve hot and enjoy!
Nutrition
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 760mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 150mg