An easy, fuss-free creamy chicken and bacon pasta bake that can be prepared within 30 minutes. It makes a hearty weeknight meal!
A Creamy Chicken Bacon Pasta Bake is what’s on the table… and we can’t get enough of it! It is comforting, cheesy, yummy, and prepares within 30 minutes.
It is one of those all-in-one dishes that can please a crowd while making life easy for the cook. Basically just our kind of a weeknight meal, right?! 😉
Our Chicken Bacon Pasta Bake is made with simple ingredients such as store-bought linguine pasta mixed with a creamy cheese sauce, shredded chicken, chopped bacon, and canned diced tomatoes…
…and of course, extra cheese was sprinkled on top right before putting the pasta in the oven to bake for about 10 minutes (just until the cheese melted). Fresh basil, oregano, and grape tomatoes garnished the dish beautifully… while smiles floated all around the table. It was a vision!
Yes, my family and I ate… and ate it. This thing is already on our must-repeat list!
It is exactly what I needed after a full day of work… but with dinner still yet to prepare for all those hungry bellies. A girl’s gotta do what she gotta do — pull a dish like this from up her sleeve and make everyone happy. 🙂
But don’t just take my word — make this Creamy Chicken Bacon Pasta Bake… and then you will fully understand why we are so in love with it. An extra something will make it even more special: pair it with a glass of red wine! 😉
Yes, my friend, happiness is called Chicken Bacon Pasta Bake! Who needs an special occasion to feast like a king, right?
HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN BACON PASTA BAKE
Preheat oven to 350 F. Cook and drain the pasta according to the directions in the package and set aside.
While pasta is cooking, melt butter in a large and heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for 4-5 minutes until translucent. Do not let brown!
Add the garlic powder, chopped bacon, and let cook, stirring constantly, for about 1 minute. Stir in the flour , then cook for 2 minutes, stirring always.
Add the half and half, broth/stock, salt, and pepper. Whisk for 1 minute, in small circles around the frying pan, until it starts to thicken. Then add the diced tomatoes.
Increase the heat to medium high and cook, stirring constantly, for around 5 minutes or until thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon. Taste and adjust the seasonings if needed.
Add the chicken, cooked pasta, and cheddar cheese and mix through. Let it cook for around 1 minute on the stove, then remove from heat. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
Cover with foil and bake for 8 minutes or until cheese is melted. Remove the foil and bake for 2 minutes more. Serve while it is still hot, garnished with fresh basil leaves and oregano, if desired.
This chicken bacon pasta bake can also be served with a sprinkling of grated Parm cheese and fresh grape tomatoes on top if desired. If you would like to, sprinkle on a bit of red pepper flakes, too.
STORAGE
Store chicken bacon pasta leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Freeze for up to 3 months.
OTHER PASTA RECIPES TO TRY:
Creamy Chicken Bacon Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 16 oz linguine pasta or other pasta of your choice
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
- 1/2 white or yellow onion diced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 4 strips cooked bacon chopped
- 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups of half and half
- 1 cup chicken broth or stock
- 1 to 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup canned diced tomatoes
- 1 1/2 cups cooked shredded chicken
- 1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- leaves Fresh basil optional
- leaves Fresh oregano optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F/180C.
- Cook and drain the pasta according to the directions in the package and set aside.
- While pasta is cooking, melt butter in a large and heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for 4-5 minutes until translucent. Do not let brown! Add the garlic powder, chopped bacon, and let cook, stirring constantly, for about 1 minute. Add the flour and stir to combine, then cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Add the half and half, broth/stock, salt, and pepper. Whisk for 1 minute, in small circles around the frying pan, until it starts to thicken. Then add the diced tomatoes. Increase the heat to medium high and cook, stirring constantly, for around 5 minutes or until thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon. Taste and adjust the seasonings if necessary.
- Add the chicken, cooked pasta, and cheddar cheese and mix through. Let it cook for around 1 minute on the stove, then remove from heat.
- Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 8 minutes or until cheese is melted. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 2 minutes. Serve while it is still hot, garnished with fresh basil leaves and oregano, if desired. This chicken bacon pasta bake can also be served with a sprinkling of grated Parmesan cheese and fresh grape tomatoes on top if desired. If you would like to, sprinkle on a bit of red pepper flakes, too.
Nutrition
Deb|EastofEdenCooking
Bursting with flavor and full on comfort food! What a fantastic dinner recipe!
Denise Browning
Thank you, Deb! We enjoyed it!!
Tandy | Lavender and Lime
oh my, this looks so scrummy! it is so cold here I could actually eat this for breakfast 🙂
Sugar et al.
That looks incredible! I wish I could have a big bowl of it on this cold winter night. Mouth watering here:-)
John/Kitchen Riffs
We all need tasty and satisfying dishes like this! And it’s a score when it’s quick to prepare. This looks great — terrific flavor. Thanks!
Mi Vida en un Dulce
Ummm…I like it, and here that we are in winter, this will come just perfect for us.
Amira
This is for sure a comfort dish to the whole family.. very nice recipe. pinned.
Raymund
This is such a comfort meal, that creamy goodness will definitely please my palate anytime
Chris
Hya just read recipe sounds yummy but in the ingredients what is half and Half?
Denise Browning
Hi Chris! Half and half contains half amount of whole milk and half amount of heavy creeam. Depending on where you live, you can buy ready in the supermarket or you can simply add 1 cup of milk and 1 cup of heavy cream to the recipe instead. You do still have the option to use only whole milk instead which it is usually used to make the creamy sauce that goes in this baked pasta. The use of half and half makes this pasta richer but it is not essencial. You can use whole milk instead. Enjoy!
Enriqueta Lemoine
I’m not a chicken person but this casserole is something that my boys will love! Thanks for sharing…
Ale
I have to try and make a pasta casserole, I ‘ve never made one and now I’m curious.
Silvia Martinez
This looks so delicious and so easy to make, a winner in my book!
Silvia Martinez
This dish has everything my family loves, especially pasta, bacon and cheese!
Cathy
I made this pasta last evening. It was super comforting and delicious. Thanks for the recipe.
Cesar Roberts
The most delicious pasta bake that I have ever made. Making this again soon for my family but this time I will make with sausage which is cheaper!
Mai
This chicken pasta bake was creamy and tasty. My family absolutely loved this dish!