Chicken Penne Pasta

Chicken Penne Pasta with Bacon and Blue Cheese is one of my favorite pasta meals, and I'll bet it will soon become your favorite too.

*Disclaimer - This recipe was originally published in 2014. I'm working hard to update all my older recipes with recipe cards and additional recipe information, but getting to all of them will take time. Please bear with me. In the meantime let me assure you that this recipe is still a winner and one I'm sure you'll be well pleased with when you make it at home.

This is one of those dishes where, after you have it, you'll be dreaming about it over and over until you have it again. Yup. It's that good! 

Nine times out of ten when we go out to a restaurant to eat, I'll order some sort of pasta dish.

If you ask either one of my boys what their mom would choose off a restaurant menu they'll tell you, "Pasta...most likely with chicken".

I guess then it's no surprise why I LOVE this recipe so very much!

And of course, the addition of bacon and blue cheese can only make this recipe completely over the top into mind-blowing deliciousness!!!

Try it and you'll see what I mean!


CHICKEN PENNE PASTA WITH BACON AND BLUE CHEESE   {PRINT THIS RECIPE}
Serves: 6-8     Prep Time: 40 minutes

1 pound penne pasta
½ pound of bacon, cut into 1" pieces
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces (seasoned with salt and pepper)
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup chicken low-sodium chicken broth
2 teaspoons dried rubbed sage
½ cup dry white wine
1 cup half-and-half
1 cup blue cheese crumbles (plus additional for garnish)

-Cook pasta according to package directions, except decrease the cooking time by 4 minutes. Drain and keep warm.
-In a large skillet over medium heat cook the bacon until medium crisp.
-Remove the cooked to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
-Remove all but 1 tablespoon of the bacon grease from the skillet.
-In the same large skillet, brown the chicken over medium/high heat in the 1 tablespoon of bacon grease.
-Remove the browned chicken to the same plate with the bacon.
-Lower the skillet heat to medium and saute the onion and garlic for approximately 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
-Add the browned chicken and bacon back into the skillet.
-Stir in the chicken broth and dried sage making sure to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.
-Reduce the heat to low, and stir in the wine and half-and-half. Cook on low for about 5-7 minutes.
-Stir in the cooked pasta and blue cheese.
-Cover, turn off the heat, and allow it to sit for approximately 5 minutes.
-Serve with additional blue cheese on top and enjoy!