Lost in Food

  • Recipe Index
  • Ultimate Guides
  • About
  • Contact
  • VA Services
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Ultimate Guides
  • About
  • Contact
  • VA Services
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Ultimate Guides
  • About
  • Contact
  • VA Services
×
Home » Lost in Food

Creamy Chicken & Bacon Tomato Pasta

Modified: Jan 23, 2024 by Lesley · Published: Apr 5, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links · 8 Comments

Jump to Recipe

Creamy Chicken and Bacon Tomato Pasta Sauce combines soft chicken, with smoky bacon and sun-dried tomatoes for a real intensity of flavour and finished with double cream to make this a real comfort food dish.

When it comes to a pasta dish that my family all love it has to be this Creamy Chicken & Bacon pasta sauce. Ready and on the table in 30 minutes making this the ideal mid week dinner. It's empty plates all round in my house.

In fact pasta dishes like this chicken and bacon pasta sauce, are the dishes I come to depend on when I am pushed for time but still want to put something warming and nutritious on the table.

For me cream based pasta sauces are comfort food in a bowl, particularly over the colder months of the year when I want something to warm me from the inside, out.

Why you'll love this recipe:

  • The perfect pairing of flavours as chicken, bacon and tomato all work together, bound in a creamy sauce.
  • Get ahead and prepare the sauce earlier in the day or even the day before, then just add fresh cooked pasta when you're ready to eat.
  • Feeding a crowd no problem, just double up the recipe.
  • Ready and on the table in 30 minutes so a winning dinner for a quick meal mid week.

How to make creamy chicken & bacon pasta

Ingredients including chicken breasts, cheese, bacon, herbs and tomatoes to make a delicious pasta dish.
Pan fried pieces of smokey bacon with slight charring around the edges in a large frying pan.
  • Look out all your ingredients ready to start.
  • Place a large frying pan over a medium/high heat and pour in the olive oil.
  • Add the streaky bacon and saute until the bacon in cooked through and becomes crispy.
Cutting chicken breasts into small chunks with a sharp knife on a red chopping board.
Freshly chopped leeks on a green chopping board.
  • While the bacon is cooking, get on with preparing the chicken and the rest of the vegetables.
  • Also place a large pan of boiling, salty water on the stove and cook the pasta for 12-15 minutes to al-dente so that it still retains some bite.
Fresh sliced leeks being added to pan fried chicken and bacon pieces.
  • Add the chicken to the frying pan and give it a stir through the bacon.
  • Next add the leeks, garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes to the pan, give everything a cook mix together.
  • Turn the heat down to medium and cook everything gently until the leeks start to soften and the chicken is cooked through, approximately 10 minutes.
  • Once the pasta is cooked, drain, retaining 2-3 ladles of the pasta cooking water, and set aside.
Dried herbs being added to a pasta sauce with chicken and bacon and tomatoes.
Creamy chicken bacon and tomato sauce for pasta being finished off with melting cheese and marscapone.
  • Add the tomato puree, dried oregano and fresh thyme to the pan and stir through.
  • Cut the mozzarella ball into small cubes and add to the pan.
  • Now finish the sauce by loosening it with the retained pasta water.
  • Add a ladle at a time until you achieve the desired consistency.
  • Stir through the double cream and season the sauce to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Add the pasta to the pasta sauce and stir through, ensuring the sauce completely coats the pasta.
  • Garnish with fresh parsley and some grated Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.

Creamy chicken & bacon pasta ingredients & substitutions

  • Olive Oil is used to saute the bacon, chicken and veggies in the pan. Olive oil adds great flavour but if you don't have any, rapeseed oil would be a good substitute.
  • Streaky Bacon adds flavour to the base of the pasta sauce. I use smoked streaky bacon to add a real depth of flavour as the bacon fat renders into the pasta sauce. However, you can use any variety of bacon.
  • Chicken Breasts are diced and added to the pan with the bacon. I use free-range chicken breast, but you could also substitute with skinless, boneless chicken thighs.
  • Leeks and Garlic add flavour to the base sauce, take time to cook the leek out as it will really improve the final flavour.
  • Tomato flavour is added in the form of both sun-dried tomatoes and tomato puree. Both these ingredients have an intense tomato flavour.
  • Herbs are added to the pasta sauce in the form of dried oregano and fresh thyme leaves. You could also add or swap in some freshly chopped basil or parsley to the sauce. I like to finish the sauce with a handful of freshly chopped parsley for a burst of fresh herb flavour.
  • Dried Pasta I have used fusilli, but use any shape of pasta that you have in your own store.
  • Double Cream (heavy cream) adds the creamy element to the sauce. You could swap the double cream for single cream, but if doing that perhaps cut back a little on the pasta cooking water as you don't want too thin a sauce. You could also substitute the cream with mascarpone cheese.
  • Parmesan Cheese can be grated over the pasta when ready to serve. This is entirely optional and down to taste.

Recipe variations

  • Create a lighter sauce leave out the double cream and add the same quantity of tomato passata instead.
  • To make a gluten free creamy chicken and bacon pasta dish, just swap regular pasta for a gluten free variety instead.
  • For a dairy free chicken and bacon tomato pasta, leave out the double cream and add the same quantity of tomato passata instead. Also remove the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses from the dish.
  • To make a super cheesy chicken and bacon pasta sauce by swapping the double cream for mascarpone cheese or cream cheese to may Philadelphia chicken and bacon pasta.
  • This dish can be easily turned into a chicken and bacon pasta bake. Simply cook the pasta and sauce as detailed in the recipe card below, cutting back on the pasta cooking time a little as it will continue to cook in the oven. Then pour the pasta into a large oven-proof dish, cover with some grated cheese and place in a hot oven at 180C/160CFan for 20 minutes.

Serving suggestions

This bowl of creamy pasta is hearty and rich so I keep any side dishes on the simple side. I would serve with a fresh green salad and some fresh tomatoes. However, you could also add some crusty bread or garlic bread if you wish.

Useful hints and tips

  1. Retain a cup of the starchy pasta cooking water so you can add a ladle or two to the pasta sauce. The pasta water adds flavour to the pasta sauce as well helping to bind the sauce together with the cooked pasta.
  2. Feeding a crowd? No problem, this recipe is easily doubled up.
  3. To make this chicken and bacon tomato pasta gluten free, use gluten free pasta in place of regular pasta.
  4. Allergy advice: soya free and nut free. For comprehensive and detailed allergy advice go to Allergy UK.

FAQs

Can chicken & bacon pasta be made ahead?

This creamy chicken and bacon pasta dish can be made earlier in the day and simply warmed up when you are ready to serve. Heat it to warm, but don't allow the dish to cook, otherwise you risk overcooking the pasta and the chicken.

How to store leftover chicken & bacon pasta?

Leftover pasta and sauce can be cooled and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. When ready to heat warm gently in a pan over a medium heat on the stove. Alternatively, microwave the pasta for 3 minutes until piping hot.

Can you freeze chicken & bacon pasta?

Once made and allowed to cool this pasta dish can be placed into an airtight container and stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, defrost thoroughly before warming up to piping hot.

Pin the recipe

Additional recipe suggestions

If you like this recipe then try some of our other great Italian pasta inspired dishes recipes:

  • Creamy Sausage Pasta
  • Ham & Broccoli Pasta Bake
  • Homemade Bolognese Sauce
  • Tomato & Basil Pasta Sauce
  • Courgette Pasta
  • Smoked Salmon Pasta
  • Pumpkin Pasta with Brown Butter Sauce
  • Courgette & Chorizo Gnocchi
  • Pumpkin Gnocchi

Creamy Chicken & Bacon Tomato Pasta

Our Creamy Chicken and Bacon Tomato Pasta Sauce combines soft chicken, with smoky bacon and sun-dried tomatoes for a real intensity of flavour and finished with double cream to make this a real comfort food dish.
5 from 5 votes
Print Pin SaveSaved!
Prevent your screen from going dark
Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
Cook Time: 15 minutes mins
Total Time: 30 minutes mins
Servings: 6
Calories: 727kcal
Author: Lesley Garden

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 rashers smoked streaky bacon (cut into small strips)
  • 4 chicken breasts (cubed)
  • 2 leeks (finely sliced)
  • 3 cloves garlic (crushed)
  • 480 g dried pasta (reserve 2 ladles of pasta cooking water)
  • 150 g sundried tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoon tomato puree
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 300 g double cream
  • salt & black pepper
  • 1 handful fresh parsley to garnish (chopped)
  • Parmesan cheese - optional (grated)

Instructions

  • Place a large frying pan over a medium/high heat and pour in the olive oil. Add the streaky bacon and saute until the bacon in cooked through and becomes crispy.
  • While the bacon is cooking, get on with preparing the chicken and the rest of the vegetables.
  • Also place a large pan of boiling, salty water on the stove and cook the pasta for 12-15 minutes to al-dente so that it still retains some bite.
  • Add the chicken to the frying pan and give it a stir through the bacon.
  • Next add the leeks, garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes to the pan, give everything a cook mix together.
  • Turn the heat down to medium and cook everything gently until the leeks start to soften and the chicken is cooked through, approximately 10 minutes.
  • Once the pasta is cooked, drain, retaining 2-3 ladles of the pasta cooking water, and set aside.
  • Add the tomato puree, dried oregano and fresh thyme to the pan and stir through.
  • Now finish the sauce by loosening it with the retained pasta water. Add a ladle at a time until you achieve the desired consistency.
  • Stir through the double cream and season the sauce to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Add the pasta to the pasta sauce and stir through, ensuring the sauce completely coats the pasta.
  • Garnish with fresh parsley and some grated Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.

Notes

Retain a cup of the starchy pasta cooking water so you can add a ladle or two to the pasta sauce. The pasta water adds flavour to the pasta sauce as well helping to bind the sauce together with the cooked pasta.
Feeding a crowd? No problem, this recipe is easily doubled up.
To make this chicken and bacon tomato pasta gluten free, use gluten free pasta in place of regular pasta.
Nutrition Facts
Creamy Chicken & Bacon Tomato Pasta
Amount Per Serving
Calories 727 Calories from Fat 279
% Daily Value*
Fat 31g48%
Saturated Fat 15g94%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g
Monounsaturated Fat 10g
Cholesterol 126mg42%
Sodium 278mg12%
Potassium 1480mg42%
Carbohydrates 81g27%
Fiber 7g29%
Sugar 13g14%
Protein 34g68%
Vitamin A 1590IU32%
Vitamin C 17mg21%
Calcium 118mg12%
Iron 5mg28%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

• Please note that the nutrition information provided above is approximate and meant as a guideline only •

Course : Main Course, Pasta
Cuisine : Italian
Keyword : chicken and bacon pasta sauce, chicken bacon & tomato pasta, creamy chicken & bacon pasta
Tried this recipe? We'd love to see your photos!Mention @lostinf00d or tag #lostinfood!
Share on Facebook

This recipe has been shared to CookBlogShare, click on the link to find recipes by fellow food bloggers.

More Lost in Food

  • A plate with three courgette fritters and a side salad.
    Easy Courgette Fritters with Cheese
  • A pink plate topped with curried scrambled eggs with a garnish of thinly sliced red chilli and spring onion, served with 2 sliced of toast and some cherry tomato halves.
    Curried Scrambled Eggs
  • A green bowl of celeriac remoulade salad, with lemon and fresh parsley and chives set alongside.
    Easy Celeriac Remoulade
  • A bowl of tuna, avocado and quinoa salad, with crunchy salad vegetables and garnished with toasted seeds.
    Tuna, Avocado & Quinoa Salad

Comments

  1. Cat says

    April 09, 2022 at 6:42 pm

    5 stars
    All of my favourite flavours in one pasta dish. I love how quick this is to make, perfect for busy days. So tasty!

    Reply
    • Lesley says

      April 11, 2022 at 1:33 pm

      Thank you Cat, I totally agree with you, such simple flavours that all work well together.

      Reply
  2. Sisley White says

    April 09, 2022 at 4:15 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe was so tasty! I loved the flavour combos.

    Reply
    • Lesley says

      April 11, 2022 at 1:33 pm

      Thank you Sisley, it's a family favourite in my house.

      Reply
  3. Chloe says

    April 07, 2022 at 9:07 pm

    5 stars
    Totally my kind of pasta dish - and I'm even on board with smoky bacon like this. Can't wait to try it!

    Reply
    • Lesley says

      April 11, 2022 at 1:33 pm

      Thank you Chloe, the smoky bacon does work with the other flavours in the dish and isn't too smoky.

      Reply
  4. Janice says

    April 05, 2022 at 3:57 pm

    5 stars
    What a wonderful combination of flavours! The perfect easy dinner that everyone loves.

    Reply
    • Lesley says

      April 06, 2022 at 8:37 am

      Thank you Janice, it's a real family favourite.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




5 from 5 votes (1 rating without comment)

Hi, I’m Lesley.

I’m the blogger, cook and creator behind Lost in Food.

More about me

Read Lost in Food’s interview with Society Aberdeen

Popular Recipes

  • Ginger & Chilli Biscuits
  • A batch of apple and cinnamon scones set on a wooden board.
    Apple & Cinnamon Scones
  • Salted Caramel & Chocolate Mousse
  • A wooden board topped with slices of sourdough bread, topped with ham and piccalilli with cheese, and a jar of piccalilli set alongside.
    Pam's Piccalilli (from River Cottage)

Recent Recipes

  • A large glass filled with a base of shredded lettuce, chopped tomato and avocado, topped with king prawns in a tarragon mayonnaise, garnished with fresh tarragon.
    Prawn Cocktail with Tarragon Mayonnaise
  • A jar of tarragon mayonnaise set aside 2 brown eggs, a lemon and stalks of fresh tarragon.
    Tarragon Mayonnaise
  • Rhubarb and almond loaf cake, with two slices of cake, set on a wire cooling rack.
    Rhubarb & Almond Loaf Cake
  • A bowl of steamed rice, topped with minced beef chilli, with bowls of guacamole, shredded cheese and tomato salsa set alongside.
    Easy Minced Beef Chilli
Brilliance in Blogging Finalist Badge Brit Mums

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • About
  • Privacy Policy

Follow

Contact

  • Contact
  • VA Services

Copyright © 2025 Lost in Food

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.