Chicken & Bacon Pasta with Spinach & Tomatoes
What you need:
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 lb. chicken breasts or tenders
- 1 tsp. paprika
- 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
- 5 medium tomatoes, diced
- 1 cup spinach
- 5 cloves minced garlic
- 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
- 6 bacon strips, cooked and chopped
- 1 1/3 cups half and half
- 1 1/3 cups shredded Parmesan cheese
- 10 oz. penne pasta
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, for serving
Directions:
- In a large skillet, heat 2 Tbsp. olive oil over medium high heat.
- Add chicken and sprinkle tops of chicken with paprika and Italian seasoning.
- Flip when bottom has browned and cook until browned on other side and chicken is cooked through. Remove from pan, slice into strips, and keep warm.
- Meanwhile, cook pasta in salted water according to directions on package. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- In the same skillet, add tomatoes, spinach, garlic, crushed red pepper, 1/3 of the cooked chicken, and half the cooked bacon. Stir to mix.
- Add half and half and bring to a boil. Then add 1 1/3 cups shredded Parmesan and reduce heat immediately to low. Simmer and stir for about 1 to 2 minutes until cheese melts.
- Remove from heat immediately and season with crushed red pepper and salt.
- Add cooked pasta to the skillet. Add the other half of the bacon and stir into skillet.
- Serve the pasta topped with chicken and Parmesan cheese.
Recipe from Julia's Album