Creamy Crack Chicken Pasta Crispy Beef Bacon Herbs (Printable Version)
Decadent pasta featuring tender chicken, rich cream cheese sauce, crispy beef bacon, and aromatic fresh herbs.
# What You 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 in sauce. Stir in spring onions, half the crispy beef bacon, and half the fresh herbs. Divide onto plates and top with remaining beef bacon and herbs. Serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sauce achieves this impossible balance where its rich enough to feel indulgent but somehow doesnt leave you needing a nap afterward
- Beef bacon brings a deeper smokiness than regular bacon, making this feel like something youd order at a restaurant but can actually make on a Tuesday
02 -
- I learned the hard way that cold cream cheese creates disastrous lumps that no amount of whisking can fix
- The pasta water trick genuinely transforms thin sauces into restaurant quality creaminess
03 -
- Cook your pasta 1 minute less than the package instructions since it will continue cooking in the sauce
- The sauce thickens as it stands, so have that pasta water ready even after serving