CHICKEN, BACON & BROCCOLI RIGATONI

Chicken & bacon Rigatoni pasta in a creamy garlic & parmesan sauce finished with broccoli.

PREP 15m

COOK 20m

TOTAL 35m

SERVES 4

Ingredients:

  • 500g rigatoni pasta

  • 300g smoked bacon, diced

  • 2 chicken breasts, diced

  • 1/2 tsp salt

  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

  • 1 tsp minced garlic

  • 1 tsp dried oregano

  • 3 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced

  • 165g cream cheese

  • 800ml chicken stock

  • 1 head of broccoli, cut into florets

  • 80g grated Parmesan cheese

  • Chives- to finish


Instructions:

  1. Begin by cooking the rigatoni according to package instructions in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.

  2. In a large frying pan or wok, heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Add the diced smoked bacon and cook until browned and crispy, ensuring to cook until moisture has evaporated and bacon starts to caramelize. Remove the bacon from the pan and set it aside.

  3. Season the diced chicken with salt, pepper, minced garlic, and dried oregano. Add the seasoned chicken to the same pan and cook until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside.

  4. In the same pan, add the sliced garlic and cook for a couple of minutes until fragrant. Pour in the chicken stock and add the cream cheese. Whisk until the cream cheese is fully incorporated into the stock. Add the broccoli florets and cook for about 5 minutes until slightly tender.

  5. Return the cooked chicken and bacon to the pan with the sauce. Add the cooked rigatoni pasta and stir until everything is well combined.

  6. Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese over the pasta mixture and stir- this will thicken your sauce.

  7. Finish the dish with a handful of chopped chives.

Serve immediately, garnished with additional Parmesan cheese if desired.