Tuscan Style Creamy Baked Chicken and Bacon Pasta
Imagine a rustic Italian-inspired dish, where tender chicken pieces mingle with crispy bacon lardons, all enveloped in a velvety, rich cream cheese sauce. This pasta bake offers a symphony of textures, from the perfectly al dente pasta to the golden, bubbling parmesan crust on top, promising a comforting warmth with every forkful. The subtle aroma of garlic infused throughout the creamy sauce elevates the experience, making this a truly satisfying and memorable meal that evokes cozy evenings and shared laughter. It's a dish that feels both indulgent and effortlessly homemade, perfect for a special weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- •Chicken breast
- •Pasta
- •Bacon rashers
- •Cream cheese
- •Semi skimmed milk
- •Parmasan cheese
- •Garlic cloves
- •Plain flour
- •Lurpark butter
- •Salt
- •Black pepper
- •Olive oil
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- 2
Dice the chicken breast into bite-sized pieces and slice the bacon rashers into small lardons.
- 3
In a large oven-safe pan or skillet, melt a knob of Lurpark butter with a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced chicken and cook until lightly browned on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken and set aside.
- 4
Add the bacon lardons to the same pan and cook until crispy. Remove the bacon and set aside, leaving a little fat in the pan.
- 5
Mince the garlic cloves and add them to the pan, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in one tablespoon of plain flour and cook for another minute, creating a roux.
- 6
Gradually whisk in the semi skimmed milk until smooth, then add the cream cheese and stir until melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- 7
Return the cooked pasta, chicken, and most of the bacon to the pan, stirring to coat everything evenly in the sauce.
- 8
Sprinkle generously with grated Parmasan cheese and bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbling. Garnish with the remaining crispy bacon before serving.
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