🧀 Creamy Chicken & Corn Pasta with Bacon – A Comfort Food Dream! 🍝🥓🌽
Nothing beats a creamy, cheesy pasta loaded with juicy chicken, smoky bacon, and sweet corn! This Creamy Chicken & Corn Pasta with Bacon is the perfect 30-minute meal for busy nights—quick, delicious, and packed with flavor. Whether you use fresh summer corn or frozen kernels, this dish is guaranteed to be a hit all year round! One bite, and you’ll be hooked! 🤩
Ingredients
🍝 Pasta & Cheese:
✔️ 10 oz farfalle (bow-tie) pasta
✔️ ½ cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
🍗 Chicken:
✔️ 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
✔️ 1 ½ tsp smoked paprika
✔️ 1 tsp Italian seasoning
✔️ ¼ tsp salt & black pepper (to taste)
✔️ 2 tbsp olive oil
🌽 Corn:
✔️ 1 tbsp olive oil
✔️ 2 cups cooked corn kernels (from 4 ears of corn or canned/frozen)
✔️ 1 tsp smoked paprika
✔️ 1 tsp chili powder
✔️ Salt & pepper (to taste)
🥓 Other Ingredients:
✔️ 1 cup heavy cream
✔️ 8 strips crispy cooked bacon, chopped
✔️ Fresh thyme, oregano, or marjoram (for garnish)
Instructions
1️⃣ Cook the Pasta – Boil farfalle pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
2️⃣ Shred the Cheese – If using pre-shredded Parmesan, leave it near the stove so it warms up for easy melting.
3️⃣ Cook the Chicken – Slice chicken into strips, season with paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until golden and fully cooked. Remove from the pan.
4️⃣ Make the Creamy Corn Sauce:
🍽️ In the same skillet, add corn, 1 tbsp olive oil, paprika, chili powder, salt & pepper. Cook for 3 minutes.
🍽️ Remove half of the corn and set aside.
🍽️ Add heavy cream to the skillet and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted.
5️⃣ Assemble the Dish:
🍽️ Toss the pasta into the creamy corn sauce.
🍽️ Add chicken and mix well.
🍽️ Top with crispy bacon and the reserved corn.
🍽️ Garnish with fresh herbs and serve hot!
Notes
Want an extra kick? Add a drizzle of hot honey or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes!