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Chicken, Bacon, and Mushroom Carbonara

Chicken, Bacon, and Mushroom Carbonara
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Creamy Chicken, Bacon, and Mushroom Carbonara is a rich and comforting pasta dish blending tender chicken, crispy bacon, and earthy mushrooms in a luscious egg, Parmesan, and cream sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a special meal for friends and family.

Ingredients

Scale

Protein

  • 2 boneless chicken breasts, cooked and sliced
  • 6 slices smoked bacon, diced

Produce

  • 8 oz fresh mushrooms (cremini, baby bella, or shiitake), cleaned and sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

Pasta

  • 12 oz spaghetti or fettuccine pasta

Dairy & Eggs

  • 3 large egg yolks (room temperature)
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tbsp butter

Oils & Seasoning

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Ingredients: Slice the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Clean and slice the mushrooms evenly. Dice the bacon into small strips or chunks.
  2. Cook the Bacon and Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the bacon until crispy, then remove and drain on paper towels. In the same pan with rendered bacon fat, cook chicken pieces until browned and fully cooked through. Remove and set aside with the bacon.
  3. Sauté Mushrooms and Garlic: Add butter to the skillet, then cook mushrooms until golden and tender. Stir in minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Cook the Pasta: Boil pasta in salted water following package instructions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta cooking water before draining.
  5. Prepare the Carbonara Sauce: In a bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, grated Parmesan cheese, and heavy cream until smooth. Season lightly with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
  6. Combine Everything: Return cooked bacon and chicken to the skillet with the mushrooms. Add drained pasta and quickly pour the sauce over everything. Stir thoroughly but gently, adding reserved pasta water as needed to create a silky, creamy consistency without scrambling the eggs.
  7. Finish and Serve: Remove from heat, sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley, and serve immediately to enjoy the creamy, comforting carbonara.

Notes

  • Use room temperature eggs to help the sauce blend smoothly and prevent curdling.
  • Reserve pasta water to loosen the sauce to the perfect texture.
  • Cook bacon and chicken separately to achieve crispness and avoid overcrowding the pan.
  • Work quickly when adding the sauce to coat the pasta evenly and prevent scrambling.
  • Don’t overcook pasta; al dente texture absorbs sauce better.
  • Freshly grate Parmesan cheese for best melting and flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken carbonara, bacon carbonara, mushroom pasta, creamy pasta, quick dinner, weeknight meal, comfort food

Find it online: https://tastebudtrek.com/chicken-bacon-and-mushroom-carbonara/