Description
Chicken Pasta with Bacon, Peas, and Lemon is a quick and flavorful dish combining tender chicken, crispy bacon, sweet peas, and bright lemon zest in a creamy sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes, this comforting and vibrant pasta is perfect for busy weeknights and delightful enough to impress guests.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 4 strips of bacon
Vegetables
- 1 cup fresh or frozen peas
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Pasta
- 8 ounces penne or rigatoni pasta
Dairy & Fats
- 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
Seasonings
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set aside, reserving one cup of pasta water for later use.
- Prepare the Bacon: Cut bacon strips into bite-sized pieces and cook them in a large skillet over medium heat until crispy. Remove bacon and drain on paper towels, leaving the bacon fat in the pan.
- Sauté the Chicken: Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Cook chicken in the bacon fat over medium-high heat until golden and fully cooked. Remove from pan, let rest briefly, then slice into strips or cubes.
- Build the Sauce: Lower the heat and add olive oil and butter to the pan. Sauté minced garlic until fragrant, then add peas and cook for about 2 minutes. Pour in heavy cream and lemon juice, stirring gently to combine with the bacon drippings and garlic.
- Combine Everything: Add cooked pasta, bacon, and chicken back into the pan. Toss gently to coat everything evenly with the creamy lemon sauce. If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water gradually until desired consistency is reached.
- Final Touches: Remove the pan from heat. Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan cheese and lemon zest over the pasta. Toss once more, adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed, and serve hot.
Notes
- Don’t overcook the pasta; al dente texture prevents mushiness when mixed with sauce.
- Use fresh lemon zest for a more vibrant citrus flavor than bottled lemon juice alone.
- Render bacon fat slowly to ensure perfectly crispy bacon without burning.
- Reserve pasta water to loosen and enhance the sauce without diluting flavor.
- Let chicken rest before slicing to keep it juicy and tender.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg