Fall-in-Love Marry Me Chicken Pasta with Bacon Recipe

Falling head over heels for this marry me chicken pasta promises a culinary romance that’ll sweep you off your feet.

Crispy bacon bits and tender chicken create an irresistible melody of flavors dancing across your plate.

Creamy sauce whispers sweet promises of comfort and indulgence.

Weeknight dinners never looked so seductive or felt so effortless.

Parmesan cheese sprinkled generously adds a tangy spark to each delectable bite.

Romantic yet simple, this dish speaks directly to passionate food lovers seeking something extraordinary.

Let’s dive into a recipe that might just inspire a proposal – or at least earn you serious kitchen kudos.

Ingredients for Marry Me Chicken Pasta with Bacon Recipe

• Chicken Breasts: Tender pieces of chicken that serve as the primary protein in this creamy pasta dish.
• Bacon: Crispy, flavorful meat that adds a rich, smoky element to the recipe.

• Penne Pasta: Classic pasta shape that holds the creamy sauce perfectly.
• All-Purpose Flour: Light coating that helps create a golden crust on the chicken.

• Heavy Cream, Chicken Broth: Creamy base that creates a luxurious sauce for the pasta.
• Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated cheese that adds a sharp, salty finish to the dish.
• Tomatoes: Fresh chopped tomatoes that provide a bright, tangy contrast to the rich sauce.
• Garlic, Garlic Powder: Aromatic ingredients that boost the overall flavor profile.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that balance and enhance the taste of the dish.

How to Prepare Marry Me Chicken Pasta with Bacon Recipe

Step 1: Boil Pasta Perfectly

Cook penne in a salted pot of water following package instructions. The key is achieving al dente texture. Set aside a small cup of pasta water before draining for potential sauce adjustment later.

Step 2: Crisp Up Bacon

Slice bacon into small pieces and fry in a skillet over medium-high heat until golden and crunchy. Transfer crispy bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, keeping the flavorful bacon grease in the pan.

Step 3: Prepare Chicken Pieces

• Chicken breasts
• Garlic powder
• Salt
• Pepper
• Flour

Cut chicken into bite-sized chunks. Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Lightly dust each piece with flour for a beautiful golden exterior. Cook chicken in the bacon skillet over medium-high heat, working in batches to ensure even browning. Cook 3-4 minutes per side until perfectly golden.

Step 4: Create Flavor Base

Add minced garlic and chicken broth to the skillet. Scrape up all the delicious browned bits from the pan bottom. Let the mixture simmer briefly to develop rich flavors.

Step 5: Build Creamy Sauce

Pour in heavy cream and add chopped tomatoes. Allow to cook for 2 minutes, letting tomatoes soften and release their juices. This creates a luxurious sauce foundation.

Step 6: Combine All Components

Return cooked chicken and crispy bacon to the skillet. Gently stir and simmer for a few minutes, allowing flavors to blend and sauce to thicken. Maintain chicken’s juicy texture by avoiding overcooking.

Step 7: Final Toss and Season

Sprinkle freshly grated parmesan into the sauce. Toss with drained pasta, using reserved pasta water if needed to adjust sauce consistency. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately and watch everyone fall in love with this dish.

Pro Tips for Marry Me Chicken Pasta with Bacon Recipe

• Bacon Brilliance: Save the bacon grease for an extra flavor boost when cooking chicken, adding depth to the entire dish.
• Chicken Coating Trick: Lightly dust chicken with flour before cooking to achieve a perfect golden crust that locks in moisture and creates a beautiful texture.
• Pasta Water Magic: Reserve some pasta water to adjust sauce consistency, ensuring a smooth and silky sauce that perfectly coats every pasta bite.
• Tender Chicken Secret: Cook chicken in batches to prevent overcrowding, allowing each piece to brown evenly and stay juicy without steaming.
• Flavor Layering Technique: Use the same skillet throughout cooking to capture and build complex, rich flavors from browned bits and residual ingredients.

Variations for Marry Me Chicken Pasta with Bacon Recipe

• Vegetarian Chicken Swap: Replace chicken with firm tofu or seitan chunks, marinated in similar seasonings for a plant-based protein alternative.
• Gluten-Free Option: Use gluten-free pasta and replace flour coating with cornstarch or almond flour for chicken dredging.
• Dairy-Free Modification: Swap heavy cream with coconut milk and use nutritional yeast instead of parmesan cheese for a creamy, lactose-free version.
• Spicy Kick Variation: Add red pepper flakes or diced jalapeños to the sauce for those who enjoy a more fiery flavor profile.

Pairing Suggestions for Marry Me Chicken Pasta with Bacon Recipe

• Boost Wine Pairing: Select a crisp, medium-bodied white wine like Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc to cut through the creamy, rich sauce and complement the bacon's smoky flavor.
• Elevate Side Dish: Serve with a light, refreshing arugula salad dressed in lemon vinaigrette to balance the pasta's richness and add a zesty, peppery contrast.
• Match Bread Selection: Pair with toasted garlic bread or crusty Italian ciabatta to soak up the delicious sauce and provide a crunchy textural element.
• Enhance Beverage Option: Enjoy a cold, hoppy craft beer like an IPA or pale ale that can stand up to the bold flavors of bacon and creamy sauce.

Storage Advice for Marry Me Chicken Pasta with Bacon Recipe

• Store leftovers in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, ensuring the pasta and sauce are completely cooled before sealing.
• Transfer the pasta to a freezer-safe container, removing as much air as possible. Freeze for up to 2 months. Avoid freezing for longer to maintain optimal taste and texture.
• Place pasta in a microwave-safe dish, sprinkle a few tablespoons of water or extra cream to prevent dryness. Cover with a microwave-safe lid or damp paper towel. Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval until thoroughly warmed.
• Warm the pasta in a skillet over medium-low heat.

FAQs on Marry Me Chicken Pasta with Bacon Recipe

• What kind of pasta works best for this recipe?

Penne is the recommended pasta, but you can also use other short pasta shapes like rigatoni or farfalle that hold sauce well.

• Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?

Yes, chicken thighs work great and can actually be more flavorful and tender than chicken breasts.

• Is it necessary to coat the chicken in flour?

Coating the chicken in flour helps create a golden crust and adds a nice texture to the chicken, but you can skip this step if you prefer a lighter version.

• How do I prevent the chicken from becoming dry?

Cook the chicken over medium-high heat and avoid overcooking. Remove it from the pan as soon as it’s golden and cooked through to keep it juicy.

Why Marry Me Chicken Pasta with Bacon Recipe Is Rich and Flavorful

• Quick Crowd-Pleaser: Marry Me Chicken Pasta with Bacon delivers restaurant-quality flavor without complicated techniques, perfect for weeknight dinners or impressing guests.
• Flavor-Packed Performance: Combining crispy bacon, golden chicken, and a creamy tomato sauce creates a multilayered taste experience that keeps everyone coming back for seconds.
• One-Pan Wonder: Streamlined cooking process uses the same skillet for bacon, chicken, and sauce, minimizing cleanup and maximizing deliciousness while saving precious kitchen time.
• Customizable Comfort: Easy to adjust ingredients for dietary preferences, swap proteins, or add extra vegetables, making this recipe adaptable for different tastes and nutritional needs.

Marry Me Chicken Pasta with Bacon Recipe

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4.6 from 30 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Creamy, indulgent marry me chicken pasta brings Italian-inspired romance to dinner tables with irresistible bacon and parmesan. Savory flavors and luxurious sauce promise to enchant you through every delectable bite of this comforting meal.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Proteins:

• 1 pound chicken breasts
• 8 ounces (226 grams) bacon

Pasta and Flour:

• 1 pound (454 grams) penne pasta
• 1/2 cup (60 grams) all-purpose flour

Sauce and Seasoning Ingredients:

• 1 cup (240 milliliters) chicken broth
• 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream
• 1/2 cup (50 grams) freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 1 cup (150 grams) tomatoes
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cloves garlic

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Instructions

1. Prepare a generously salted water bath for the penne, cooking until perfectly al dente. Strategically set aside a modest quantity of pasta water for potential sauce modification.
2. Transform bacon into crisp, miniature fragments by rendering in a skillet over medium-high heat until golden and crunchy. Extract bacon onto paper towels, preserving the flavorful rendered fat.
3. Transform chicken breasts into uniform bite-sized morsels. Embellish with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Delicately dust each piece with flour to encourage a gorgeous caramelized exterior. Sauté in bacon-seasoned skillet at medium-high temperature, achieving golden perfection within 3-4 minutes per side. Execute in batches to prevent overcrowding.
4. Introduce minced garlic and chicken broth into the identical skillet, meticulously liberating the caramelized culinary remnants. Allow a brief simmer to harmonize flavors.
5. Incorporate heavy cream and tomatoes, permitting gentle transformation for approximately two minutes until tomatoes soften and release their inherent essence.
6. Reunite crispy bacon and golden chicken within the sauce. Gently intermingle and allow a brief simmer, enabling flavor integration and sauce thickening. Maintain chicken’s succulence.
7. Conclude by integrating freshly grated parmesan. Enrobe pasta with the luxurious sauce, utilizing reserved pasta water if necessary for achieving ideal consistency. Calibrate seasoning with additional salt and pepper.

Notes

• Pasta Perfection: Always cook pasta al dente to maintain a slight bite and prevent mushiness, ensuring the best texture in your final dish.
• Bacon Brilliance: Save the bacon grease for extra flavor depth, adding richness to the sauce and enhancing the overall taste profile.
• Flour Power: Lightly coating chicken in flour creates a delicate golden crust that helps seal in moisture and adds a subtle crunch to each bite.
• Sauce Salvation: Reserved pasta water is a secret weapon for adjusting sauce consistency, helping to create a silky, clingy sauce that coats every noodle perfectly.
• Dietary Flexibility: Swap heavy cream for Greek yogurt or coconut cream to make the dish lighter or dairy-free, maintaining the creamy texture while catering to different dietary needs.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Boiling
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 620 kcal
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 680 mg
• Fat: 35 g
• Saturated Fat: 15 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 45 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 40 g
• Cholesterol: 140 mg