Pasta and Chicken in Garlic Cream Sauce
Spectacular and rich, Parmesan-and-garlic cream sauce coats tender morsels of chicken and bow-tie-shaped pasta in this one-dish dinner. Wilted spinach leaves add interest and bits of crispy bacon add a salty tang to the pasta dish.
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon, crosswise cut into 1/2-inch-wide pieces
- 3/4 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
- 10 ounces farfalle (bow tie) pasta, (about 4 cups)
- 2 1/2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 4 cloves garlic, minced, or 2 teaspoons bottled minced garlic
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon Coarsely ground black pepper
- 1 cup cream, heavy
- 1 cup cheese, grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese or Parmesan cheese
- 3 cups baby spinach leaves
- 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1 cup
Calories: 350
Carbohydrate: 31g (10%)
Protein: 21g (42%)
Total Fat: 15g (23%)
Saturated Fat: 7g (35%)
Trans Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 65mg (22%)
Sodium: 590mg (25%)
Dietary Fiber: 2g (8%)
Calcium: 15%
*These values are approximate. Per serving, based on a 2,000 Calorie diet.
Instructions
Place removable pan inside programmable pressure cooker. Using sauté function, cook bacon, uncovered, until crisp. Use slotted spoon to remove bacon, leaving drippings in pan. Drain bacon on paper towels. Leave 1 tablespoon of the drippings in pan, discarding any remaining.
Add chicken, half at a time, to bacon drippings in pan. Using sauté function, stir-fry chicken for 2 to 3 minutes or until cooked through. Use slotted spoon to remove chicken from pan. Repeat until all chicken is cooked. Press cancel.
Stir pasta, broth, garlic, Italian seasoning and pepper into drippings in pan. Secure lid and set pressure release to sealing function. Select high pressure setting and cook for 5 minutes. Press cancel.
Allow pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes. Move pressure release to venting function to release any remaining steam. Remove lid.
Stir cream into pasta mixture. Using sauté function, cook and stir, uncovered, until boiling. Boil, uncovered, about 4 minutes or until sauce just generously coats pasta, stirring frequently. Press cancel. Stir in chicken and Parmesan cheese.
Place spinach and bacon in large bowl. Pour pasta mixture over top. Toss until combined. Ladle into serving bowls. Top each serving with tomatoes.
Stovetop Directions: 1. In Dutch oven cook pasta according to package directions. Drain. Rinse with cold water. Drain well. Set aside. 2. Use paper towels to wipe out the Dutch oven. Add bacon. Cook, uncovered, over medium heat until crisp. Use slotted spoon to remove bacon, leaving 1 tablespoon of the drippings in the pan. Drain bacon on paper towels. Discard any remaining drippings. 3. Add chicken, garlic, Italian seasoning and black pepper to drippings. Cook over medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes or until chicken is nearly done, stirring frequently. 4. Stir cream into chicken mixture. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 3 minutes. Remove from heat. 5. Add pasta, bacon, spinach and Parmesan cheese to chicken mixture. Gently toss until spinach wilts. Sprinkle with tomatoes.
Recipe Reviews (3)
What’s process if don’t have pressure cooker???
Good Question! I have reached out to the recipe developer for an answer. This recipe was designed for all of the new InstaPot users but I am sure there is an alternate. I will follow-up.
Hi Cynthia,
We have added stovetop directions in the Instructions if you don’t have a programmable pressure cooker. Thank you!