Creamy Bacon and Mushroom Pasta

Creamy bacon and mushroom pasta is the perfect meal for any night of the week. This homemade creamy pasta is loaded with flavor and can be made in as little as 30 minutes. Mushrooms and added bone broth make this meal extra nourishing.

The only thing more comforting than a cream sauce pasta is a cream sauce pasta with bacon. This creamy pasta with bacon and mushrooms pasta is a huge hit in our home. With loads of buttery mushrooms in a bacony parmesan cream sauce, how could it not be? This recipe can be prepped in just a few minutes and cooked up in a half hour, making it the perfect meal to serve at the end of a long day.

This recipe uses bone broth, making it extra nourishing. Bone broth contains tons of collagen and minerals like phosphorus, magnesium and potassium. The mushrooms here also provide some wonderful health benefits. Mushrooms are an excellent source of potassium, B vitamins, and antioxidants. To make this meal even more nourishing opt for organic pasta, grass fed bacon, and raw cream.

Ingredients

• Bacon – Use a full fat bacon. The bacon grease will add a ton of flavor and replace the butter found in many cream sauce recipes.
• Chicken Breast – Optional, but a nice protein addition.
• Mushrooms – I use baby portabella mushrooms but you can use any mushrooms you prefer.
• Garlic – 1-2 cloves, but we all know you’re using 3.
• Salt – Sea salt, Celtic salt, or pink salt.
• Chicken Bone Broth – This is really the secret ingredient here. Bone broth adds flavor and extra nutrition to the dish.
• Heavy Cream – I use fresh raw cream.
• Flour – All-purpose flour.
• Parmesan – Make sure to grate not shred your parmesan to avoid clumping.
• Fettuccine – I prefer long pastas, but any pasta will work.
• Fresh Parsley – For topping and color.

How to Make Creamy Bacon and Mushroom Pasta

Step 1: Prep Your Ingredients

Slice your chicken breast into thin strips. Aim for about 1/2″ wide and 2″-3″ long. The more uniform your strips the more evenly they will cook. Slice your bacon strips into 1″ pieces. I prefer to slice my bacon before cooking, but you can also chop it up after. Mince your garlic and slice your mushroom, then set aside.

Step 2: Cook Your Pasta

Cook your pasta according to the package instructions or until al dente. Try to cook your pasta while you make the sauce so that it’s done when your sauce is. This will ensure it doesn’t get cold and stick together.

Step 3: Cook Your Protein

Heat a large deep skillet over medium heat. Add in your bacon pieces and stir frequently until the bacon is cooked through and crispy, about 10 minutes. Pull your bacon out and set aside. Leave the bacon grease in the skillet.

Add your chicken strips to the bacon grease in an even layer. Cook on medium heat, flipping once, for 3 to 4 minutes per side. Cook time will vary based on how thick or thin you cut the chicken so aim for an internal temperature of 165°F. Making sure to leave any remaining bacon grease and juices, pull your chicken and set aside.

Step 3: Make Your Sauce

Turn your heat up to medium-high and add in your minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add your mushrooms to the pan and cook for 6 minutes.

Add your chicken bone broth and salt to the pan. In a large measuring cup add your flour to the cream and stir with a fork until no lumps remain. Add your cream and flour mixture to the sauce. Heat until everything comes to a low boil then reduce the heat to a simmer. While stirring, add your parmesan cheese in a little bit at a time to avoid clumping.

Tip: When adding hard cheese like parmesan to a sauce choose grated over shredded. Less surface area means less of a chance your cheese will clump.

Step 4: Toss and Serve

Toss together your mushroom sauce, bacon, chicken, and pasta. If desired, top with more parmesan and fresh parsley for color. Serve and enjoy!

Mix It Up

Cream sauces are really versatile. Try adding different veggies to your pasta for extra nutrition. Try mixing it up by;

• Adding Vegetables: Asparagus and peas pair really well with this dish.
• Replacing the Chicken: Try replacing the chicken with sliced kielbasa or shrimp.
• Adding Some Heat: Add in some red pepper flakes to give your sauce a little kick.

What to Serve With It?

This pasta brings plenty of carbs, fats, and protein so it’s easy to serve alone. If you feel like adding a side, Sourdough Bread is perfect for soaking up all that extra sauce and pairs beautifully with any pasta dish. Steamed veggies also make a nice side or consider adding them straight into the pasta.

Storing Leftovers

Leftovers can be stored in an air-tight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.

I don’t recommend freezing cooked pasta dishes. Once reheated your pasta will be mushy.