This Chicken Bacon Spinach Penne is an incredibly creamy pasta dish with succulent chicken, crispy bacon, fresh spinach, cherry tomatoes, and a decadent Parmesan Alfredo all covered pasta. Quick and easy, it’s a one-pan meal — perfect for weeknights — that marries comfort food with fresh ingredients for an at-home dish that’s hearty, flavorful and satisfying for the whole family.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

Loaded with Flavor: Chicken, bacon, and Parmesan form a rich, savory base, while fresh spinach and tomatoes provide brightness and balance.

Alfredo sauce is thick and creamy: The heavy cream and Parmesan melt into a creamy sauce that sticks to every bite of pasta.

All-in-One Meal: Protein, veggies and carbs mean this pasta dish is hearty and well-rounded, perfect for dinner.

Fast and Fuss-Free: Aside from some a little prep work, all you need is one skillet to make the sauce, so it’s a solid recipe for a tasty, easy-to-clean-up dinner.

Key Ingredients:

Penne Pasta: Penne is perfect for catching the creamy sauce, but other shapes like rigatoni or fusilli work here too if you prefer.

Chicken Breast: Cut the chicken into even bite-sized pieces so that they cook evenly — for the best texture. Chicken thighs can also be used in lieu for flavor.

Bacon: Crispy bacon brings saltiness and crunch. For time-saving, use the cooked bacon or bacon bits, but you’ll get the best flavor with fresh-cooked bacon.

Spinach: Fresh spinach adds a pop of color and a mild earthiness. Mince it finely enough that it incorporates well into the sauce. Baby spinach is best, but regular spinach is also fine.

Heavy Cream and Parmesan Cheese: These make the creamy Alfredo sauce. For a lighter option, you can use half-and-half instead of heavy cream, though the sauce will be a little thinner.

Chicken Broth: Adds depth to the sauce, and helps balance all that creamy goodness. Bros — low-sodium, to keep things salty.

Full ingredients list with quantities and instructions is in the recipe card further down

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Instructions:

Cook the Pasta

Boil the Penne: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, and add the penne to the pot; cook until the pasta is al dente (still a little firm). This usually takes about 10-12 minutes (however long the packaging says).

Sieve and Reserve: After cooking, sieve the pasta and reserve it for later use. Lightly toss with olive oil, if you like, to keep from sticking.

Cook the Chicken

Cook the Chicken: When the pasta is cooking, place a large skillet over medium-high heat and drizzle in a little oil if necessary.

Season and Cook: Add the diced chicken and season with salt and pepper. Cook until golden-brown and cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes, flipping occasionally.

Remove and set aside: Take the cooked chicken out of the Korean barbecue sauce and set it on a plate.

Prepare the Bacon

Fry the Bacon: In the same skillet, fry the bacon slices until crispy (around 5-7 minutes). Drain off some of the fat, if you need to, so that you are left with just enough for flavor.

Crumble and Set Aside Milk: Remove the bacon, crumble into small bits, set aside for later.

Sauté Garlic and Spinach

Sauté the Garlic: Using the bacon fat in the skillet, add the minced garlic, and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute (don’t burn it).

Add Spinach: Stir through the chopped spinach and cook for a further 2-3 minutes, until wilted down and reduced in volume.

Add Cherry Tomatoes

Add Tomatoes: Throw in the halved cherry tomatoes and cook for 2-3 minutes until chicken pieces have cooked, tomatoes are soft and starting to burst with juices.

Make the Alfredo Sauce

Add Liquids: Add in the heavy cream and chicken broth46. Add the mixture to a pot and over medium heat bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally.

Melt Cheese and Butter: When simmering, sprinkle in the grated parmesan, stirring until melted and the sauce becomes smooth. Then stir in the butter until incorporated.

Season: Taste and season with salt and black pepper, if necessary.

Combine Ingredients

Incorporate Pasta and Chicken: Transfer the cooked penne pasta and chicken as well as the crumbled bacon to the skillet. Toss to coat the pasta and distribute the ingredients evenly.

Heat Through Allow to cook for another 2-3 minutes until heated through.

Garnish and Serve

Garnish: Optional Garnish with fresh basil or parsley for extra flavor and a pop of color.

Serve: Hot, from the skillet or transferred to a serving dish. Serve with garlic bread or a green salad to round it out.

Serving Suggestions:

This Chicken Bacon Spinach Penne is a hearty main course that goes great with a few light and fresh sides:

Garlic Bread: A warm piece of garlic bread is ideal for mopping up any sauce leftover.

Caesar Salad: The crisp romaine and tangy dressing in a Caesar salad is a perfect pairing with the richness of the pasta.

Steamed Vegetables: Some lightly steamed broccoli, asparagus, or green beans to give the overall meal some extra greens.

Simple Arugula Salad: Arugula tossed with olive oil and lemon juice for a peppery counterpoint to the rich pasta.

Storage and Reheating Tips:

This meal is easily storable, for next-day lunches or dinner leftovers:

Storage: Transfer any leftover to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Reheating: To reheat, warm the pasta over low heat on the stovetop, adding a splash of chicken broth or cream to loosen the sauce if it has thickened. Or, reheat single servings in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, pausing to stir halfway through.

Freezing: Cream-based sauces don’t freeze well, but this pasta will keep in the freezer for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat on the stovetop with a touch more liquid.

Recipe Variations:

Light Option: Use half-and-half in place of the heavy cream and turkey bacon in place of regular bacon.

Add Mushrooms: Sauté sliced mushrooms when you cook the garlic and spinach for extra depth of flavor.

Heat Addition: Add a conserve of red pepper flakes to the Alfredo sauce for a bit of kick.

Pesto Alfredo: Add a tablespoon of pesto to the Alfredo sauce for an herby kick.

Vegetarian No Chicken, No Bacon: Omit the chicken and the bacon, and double the spinach, tomatoes and other vegetables for a vegetarian pasta dish.

Conclusion:

Packed with all kinds of flavor, this Chicken Bacon Spinach Penne, with its creamy Alfredo sauce, juicy chicken, crispy bacon and fresh spinach, is the perfect pasta dish to satisfy any type of dinner craving! Every bite is bursting with layers of flavor, from the rich creaminess of the sauce to the savory tang of the bacon and Parmesan. This pasta features a perfect blend of textures and flavors and you will soon find it in your household recipe rotation.

Serve it up for a special occasion or just because—either way, this dish will make dinner feel special!