1-First Step: Prep Your Ingredients Gather and prep everything first to keep things flowing. Trim and season the chicken, chop the bacon, and mince the garlic. Having it all set makes cooking this chicken bacon pasta a breeze, with just 5 minutes of prep.

2-Second Step: Cook the Pasta Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the pasta. Cook it for the time on the package minus 2 minutes so it finishes perfectly in the sauce later.

3-Third Step: Crisp the Bacon Cook the chopped bacon in a skillet until it’s golden, then drain it on paper towels to remove excess fat.

4-Fourth Step: Sear the Chicken Season the chicken on both sides and cook it in the bacon fat for 2 minutes per side until it’s done.

5-Fifth Step: Build the Sauce Optionally wipe the pan for a lighter sauce, then melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic and onion, cooking for 3 to 4 minutes until soft and golden.

6-Sixth Step: Simmer and Season Add cream, reserved pasta water, and parmesan to the pan. Stir and simmer for 2 minutes until it thickens a bit, then season with salt and pepper.

7-Seventh Step: Combine Everything Add the pasta to the sauce and toss gently for about 1.5 minutes until it coats the pasta well. If needed, add more pasta water to get the right consistency.

8-Eighth Step: Finish and Serve Mix in the bacon and chicken, then serve right away with fresh parsley and extra parmesan. Explore more pasta basics for tips on perfecting your technique.