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Creamy Tuscan Chicken Bacon Fettuccine

creamy Tuscan chicken bacon fettuccine - featured image
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This creamy Tuscan chicken bacon fettuccine is a comforting, restaurant-worthy pasta dish featuring tender chicken, crispy bacon, sun-dried tomatoes, and baby spinach in a silky parmesan cream sauce. It’s easy enough for busy weeknights but special enough for any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 oz fettuccine pasta
  • 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb), thinly sliced
  • 6 slices bacon (about 5 oz), chopped
  • 2 tbsp olive oil, divided
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and sliced
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 3/4 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning, divided
  • 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 3 cups baby spinach, fresh
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
  • 2 tbsp fresh basil or parsley, chopped (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Slice chicken breasts into thin strips, chop bacon, mince garlic, slice sun-dried tomatoes, grate parmesan, and wash spinach.
  2. Add fettuccine to boiling water and cook until just al dente, about 9–11 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.
  3. While pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped bacon and cook until crisp, about 5–6 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon, leaving about 1 tbsp bacon fat in the pan.
  4. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning. Add chicken to skillet with remaining bacon fat and 1 tbsp olive oil. Cook over medium-high heat until golden and cooked through, about 5–7 minutes. Remove to a plate.
  5. Lower heat to medium. Add 1 tbsp olive oil if needed. Add garlic and sun-dried tomatoes; sauté 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
  6. Pour in heavy cream and chicken broth, stirring to scrape up browned bits. Bring to a gentle simmer.
  7. Stir in parmesan cheese and remaining Italian seasoning. Add red pepper flakes if using. Season with salt and pepper.
  8. Add cooked fettuccine, chicken, and most of the bacon to the skillet. Toss to coat in sauce.
  9. Add baby spinach and toss until wilted, about 1 minute. If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a little at a time.
  10. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve immediately, topped with extra bacon, more parmesan, and fresh basil or parsley if desired.

Notes

For best results, use freshly grated parmesan and oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes. Reserve some bacon for topping. Don’t overcook the pasta or chicken. Add pasta water gradually to achieve the perfect sauce consistency. For gluten-free, use GF pasta; for dairy-free, substitute coconut cream and dairy-free parmesan.

Nutrition

Keywords: Tuscan chicken, creamy pasta, fettuccine, bacon, weeknight dinner, Italian, comfort food, chicken pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach pasta

Find it online: https://yumnode.com/creamy-tuscan-chicken-bacon-fettuccine-easy-weeknight-pasta-recipe/