Description
This Best Chicken Carbonara recipe is a creamy, comforting pasta dish combining grilled chicken, crispy bacon, and a rich Parmesan sauce. Made with bowtie pasta and finished with fresh parsley, it’s a perfect weeknight dinner that’s easy to prepare and deliciously satisfying.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein
- 5 strips bacon, cooked and diced
- 2 chicken breasts, grilled and sliced
Dairy
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ¾ cup milk
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ¾ cup Parmesan shavings
Produce & Herbs
- 3 cloves garlic, fresh minced
- 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
Pantry
- 1 small box bowtie pasta (approx. 12 ounces)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons flour
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook Bacon: Cook the five strips of bacon until crispy, then dice and set aside for later use.
- Cook Chicken: In a pan, melt two tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper and cook them until fully grilled and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- Cook Pasta: Prepare the bowtie pasta as per package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Make Sauce Base: In the same pan, sauté the minced garlic cloves until fragrant. Add milk, heavy cream, chicken broth, and flour to the pan and whisk constantly to form a smooth mixture. Cook on low heat, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens.
- Add Cheese & Adjust Consistency: Stir in the Parmesan shavings into the sauce. If the sauce becomes too thick, gradually add a little more chicken broth to reach desired consistency.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked and drained bowtie pasta to the sauce and toss to coat the pasta thoroughly.
- Season & Add Herbs: Dash in the chopped parsley, then add salt and pepper to taste, adjusting flavor as desired.
- Add Chicken & Bacon: Cut the grilled chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and combine with the diced bacon. Add these to the sauce and pasta mixture, tossing everything together until well combined and heated through.
- Serve: Serve the chicken carbonara hot, garnished with extra Parmesan or parsley if desired. Enjoy your flavorful and creamy meal!
Notes
- Divide into 6 equal servings for portion control.
- If sauce thickens too much, add additional chicken broth to loosen it.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for best flavor and melting quality.
- For a lighter version, consider reducing the heavy cream proportion or substituting with half-and-half.
- Bowtie pasta can be substituted with other short pasta like penne or rigatoni based on preference.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: chicken carbonara, creamy pasta, bacon pasta, grilled chicken recipe, Parmesan sauce, bowtie pasta
