Description
This Chicken Carbonara Pasta Bake is a comforting twist on a classic Italian favorite. It combines tender chicken, crispy bacon, creamy Parmesan sauce, and perfectly baked pasta for the ultimate family dinner. Rich, cheesy, and full of flavor, this dish is easy to make and sure to please everyone at the table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340g) pasta (penne or rigatoni)
- 2 large cooked chicken breasts, diced
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Boil pasta in salted water until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Crisp the Bacon: In a large skillet, cook chopped bacon until golden. Remove and drain on paper towels, leaving a bit of bacon fat in the pan.
- Cook the Chicken: Add olive oil to the same pan and cook diced chicken with salt and pepper until golden brown. Remove and set aside.
- Prepare the Sauce: Lower the heat and add garlic to the pan. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese. Slowly pour the mixture into the pan, whisking constantly until creamy.
- Combine: Add the cooked pasta, chicken, and half of the bacon to the sauce. Toss to coat evenly. Add a little pasta water if needed for consistency.
- Assemble and Bake: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Pour mixture into a greased baking dish, top with mozzarella cheese and remaining bacon, and bake for 20–25 minutes until golden and bubbly.
- Serve: Garnish with chopped parsley and extra Parmesan before serving.
Notes
Use leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken for convenience. For a lighter version, swap heavy cream for half-and-half and use turkey bacon. To prevent scrambling the eggs, keep the pan over low heat and stir continuously when adding the sauce mixture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (1/6 of dish)
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 160mg