I could eat salad until the cows come home right up until mid-June. After that, my food needs to be hot and comforting to see me through cold, wintry days. I’m a bit like a bear.
This delightful pasta dish is a new favourite at our place and makes good use of the baby spinach that is still stubbornly growing in the garden. Baby spinach, cherry tomatoes and broccoli are the only things that I can successfully grow. Everything else seems to wither the minute I plant it.
Don’t be scared off by the seemingly huge ingredients list, you can have this family dinner dish on the table in about 20 minutes and it has bacon in it so it must be good.
PS – don’t overcook your penne like I did. Al dente is not just a fun word to say…
Creamy garlic chicken, bacon and spinach pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil
500 gms free-range chicken thighs, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon paprika
1/4 cup chopped fresh thyme (or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme)
1/4 cup chopped fresh oregano (or 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano)
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil (or 1/2 teaspoon dried basil)
5 medium ripe tomatoes, roughly diced
2 cups grated zucchini
3 cups baby spinach
5 garlic cloves, minced
1 red capsicum, diced and roasted in the oven until soft (you can also use a jar of chargrilled capsicum)
6 rashers of shortcut bacon, diced
1/2 tub low-fat Philadelphia cream cheese
1 cup Parmesan cheese, shaved or grated
1 packet penne pasta (or any short pasta will do), cooked
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shaved or grated, for serving
Heat olive oil in a large frypan over high heat. Sprinkle each side of the chicken with the paprika and brown for about 2 minutes each side. Remove chicken from the pan.
Reduce heat to medium and then add the bacon to the pan and fry for about 3 minutes. Add the chopped tomatoes, zucchini, spinach, garlic and roasted capsicum to the bacon and stir until almost cooked. Return the chicken to the pan and fry everything until fully cooked.
Reduce heat to low, mix the cream cheese and milk together until fully blended then add to the pan.
Once bubbling, add the grated Parmesan cheese, cook until cheese melts and immediately remove from heat.
Add cooked pasta to the pan with the sauce and mix through. Sprinkle with a little paprika and the extra Parmesan cheese and serve. Tastes good cold too for picnics and lunch boxes.
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What’s a favourite pasta dish at your place? Care to share the recipe?
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Zoe Meunier says
That looks super yum and might even tempt my rather particular children! We’re loving a creamy pesto chicken pasta at the moment, another super easy one that just involves frying up whatever vegies your kids will eat (I use mushrooms, capsicum and zucchini, chopped up small, natch) with some chicken, then adding pesto, cream and parmesan at the end. You could use store-bought pesto but I actually made my own. *blows on fingernails and rubs them on shirt in universal action of ‘aren’t I impressive?’…*
Maxabella says
You’re making your own pesto now? Your challenge is really, really working!!!! x
Zoe Meunier says
Well, I’m certainly trying more things. Not all of them are working, sadly!
Vicki @ Boiled Eggs & Soldiers says
Yum, that looks delicious – will have to try it out.
Maxabella says
It’s a good one, Vicki. x
Emily @ Have A Laugh On Me says
Oh my goodness that is MY sort of food right there Bron. Yes the ingredient list is overwhelming but the school holidays are coming up and I intend to slow down a bit – maybe
Maxabella says
Once you get started it’s such a quick dish to pull together. So lazy to make that I overcooked the pasta when I made it last week and then I upped the laziness factor by deciding to shoot it for my blog as is. Honestly, I’m sooooo not a food blogger. x
Lauren @Canberra Mummy says
This looks absolutely devine! And perfect for those cold winter nights… I have no doubt my little one will love it!
Bec says
Oooo I am loving garlicky pasta at the moment, this looks amazing!!!
Lucy @ Bake Play Smile says
YES!!! Anything with bacon is the best!!!! Thanks for this recipe Bron – I’m actually home today and have to go to the supermarket, so I’m going to grab a couple of the things I don’t have and make this tonight. Mmmm Friday night + couch + pasta = bliss!!!
Dannielle@Zamamabakes says
Oh my lord….. Bron this seriously looks the goods, Al dente or not it looks fantastic!
That list of ingredients has my tastebuds well and truly watering.
Popping this one on the meal plan for this week! Zadada’s going to love it!
PS – I’m glad I’m not the only one who gets to see things shrivel in the garden 😉
Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts says
Oh yummy!!!! I don’t even know where to start.
Bacon yum
cream cheese yum
pasta double yum.
Just YUM!!!!!
x
P.s found this on Fabulous Foodie Fridays
http://direct.auto.insurance.bound.for.glory.autoinsurancent.info/ says
That’s an apt answer to an interesting question
Yvonne says
This sounds and looks amazing, just a question. Mix the cheese with the milk, no milk listed in the ingredients. How much is needed please