• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Salt & Lavender logo
  • Recipes
  • 30 Minute Meals
  • About
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • 30 Minute Meals
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Chicken & Poultry

    Lighter Chicken and Bacon Pasta

    Published: Oct 24, 2017 / Updated: Sep 1, 2018 / 14 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my affiliate disclosure for more details.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This lighter chicken and bacon pasta is made healthier with Canadian bacon, lean chicken breast, half-and-half, and fresh vegetables. Cajun spices and plenty of garlic take the flavor to the next level!

    This post is sponsored by Barilla Canada – thank you for supporting the brands that keep Salt & Lavender cooking! I only work with brands whose products I love.

    lighter chicken and bacon pasta on a white plate

    October 25 is World Pasta Day, and I am so excited to be working with Barilla to celebrate one of the most popular and versatile ingredients in the world!

    There are some brands out there that you can instantly recognize by getting a quick glimpse of their packaging. Whenever I spot the Barilla blue box at my local grocery store, I know that I can use their pasta as a base to incorporate more vegetables, legumes, and other healthy foods into my meals. I have used Barilla pastas in my cooking for years, and I find their pastas to be easy to cook al dente every time, affordable, tasty, and high quality.

    I chose Barilla's Penne Rigate for this quick and easy dish. It holds the sauce well, which is perfect for a recipe like this one!

    collage with Canadian bacon on the left and skillet of chicken bacon pasta on the right

    box of Barilla penne rigate

    Did you know that here in Canada we typically refer to Canadian bacon as back bacon? I've heard of both terms, but somehow I didn't make the connection that they're the same thing until recently. I decided to use it in this recipe because it's something a little different, and the leaner meat still satisfies those bacon cravings without adding hundreds of extra calories. It's also a way to highlight Canada in a small way for World Pasta Day. 🙂

    To continue with our "world" theme here, I added Cajun seasoning (native to Louisiana) to the mix. Not because I was deliberately searching for another region to focus on in this dish or anything like that, but because it's one of my favorite spice blends to really give a dish some extra zing.

    chicken and bacon pasta in a bowl beside box of Barilla pasta

    The acidity of the tomatoes is nicely balanced out with the half-and-half. Just enough to make the sauce feel rich without being heavy. I added broccolini and mushrooms for more vitamins, color, and flavor.

    I served this pasta family-style in a large bowl that I couldn't resist buying the other day. A giant, steaming hot bowl of pasta is what dreams are made of, right? I added plenty of fresh parmesan to my (much smaller) bowl while my husband added some red pepper flakes to his because nothing can ever be spicy enough for him. That's the beauty of pasta dishes, though... they can easily be made "my way" and enjoyed by everyone. 😉

    two bowls of lighter chicken and bacon pasta, box of Barilla pasta, and serving bowl of pasta

    I hope you love this easy healthy pasta recipe!

    You can visit Barilla.ca for more recipes and inspiration.

    This lighter chicken and bacon pasta is made healthier with Canadian bacon, lean chicken breast, half-and-half, and fresh vegetables. Cajun spices and plenty of garlic take the flavor to the next level!

    Lighter Chicken and Bacon Pasta

    This lighter chicken and bacon pasta is made healthier with Canadian bacon, lean chicken breast, half-and-half, and fresh vegetables. Cajun spices and plenty of garlic take the flavor to the next level! 
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 25 mins
    Total Time 35 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 (16 ounce/454g) package Barilla Blue Box Penne Rigate
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1/2 pound back bacon (Canadian bacon) diced
    • 2 chicken breasts cut into strips
    • 1/2 small onion chopped finely
    • 4 cloves garlic minced
    • 4 ounces white mushrooms sliced
    • 1/4 cup dry white wine (e.g. sauvignon blanc)
    • 1 (14 fluid ounce) can diced tomatoes with juices
    • 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
    • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
    • 6 ounces broccolini cut into small florets
    • 1/2 cup half-and-half 
    • Salt & pepper to taste
    • Freshly grated parmesan cheese to taste
    • Fresh parsley chopped (optional)

    Instructions
     

    • Boil a large, generously salted pot of water for the Barilla Penne Rigate. Cook al dente according to package directions (11-12 minutes). 
    • Meanwhile, prep your back bacon, chicken, onion, mushrooms, and broccolini. 
    • Add olive oil to a skillet on medium-high heat. Sauté the onion for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    • Add the back bacon and chicken to the pan and continue to sauté for another 5 minutes.
    • Stir in the garlic and cook 30 seconds or until fragrant.
    • Stir in the white wine and mushrooms. Sauté for an additional 5 minutes.
    • Stir in the diced tomatoes, Cajun seasoning, Dijon mustard, and broccolini. Reduce the heat to medium, cover the pan, and simmer for 5 minutes.
    • Add in the half-and-half and season with salt & pepper to taste. Let the sauce warm through. Drain the penne and toss with the sauce.
    • Serve immediately with freshly grated parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of fresh parsley if desired. 
    Keyword healthy chicken and bacon pasta
    Author Natasha Bull
    « Pumpkin and Lentil Soup
    Pumpkin Chia Pudding »

    Loved this recipe? Share it:

    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Jennifer Farley says

      October 25, 2017 at 6:41 PM

      5 stars
      This looks so good! A perfect dinner!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 25, 2017 at 7:40 PM

        Thanks, Jennifer! 🙂

        Reply
    2. Leigh Ann says

      October 25, 2017 at 9:02 AM

      Wishing I had this for my lunch today!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 25, 2017 at 9:07 AM

        Thank you 🙂 Hope you have a great day!

        Reply
    3. Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy says

      October 25, 2017 at 3:56 AM

      Love this lighter dish!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 25, 2017 at 6:40 AM

        Thanks, Jennifer!

        Reply
    4. Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says

      October 24, 2017 at 2:38 PM

      This is the perfect meal and pasta to eat! and I LOVE Barilla!!! yum!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 24, 2017 at 3:21 PM

        Thanks so much, Alice!!

        Reply
    5. Mary Ann| The Beach House Kitchen says

      October 24, 2017 at 10:28 AM

      I love this lightened up version Natasha. I live Barilla pasta too!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 24, 2017 at 10:34 AM

        Thank you! It's great stuff!

        Reply
    6. Natasha's Sister says

      October 24, 2017 at 10:07 AM

      5 stars
      Can you make this for me without chicken or bacon?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 24, 2017 at 10:11 AM

        Funny.

        Reply
    7. Matt says

      October 24, 2017 at 9:57 AM

      So many amazing flavors happening here, wish this was my lunch today!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 24, 2017 at 10:05 AM

        Thanks so much, Matt! 🙂

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Natasha Bull, founder and author of Salt & Lavender, in the kitchen

    Hi! I'm Natasha. Salt & Lavender is a recipe blog with a focus on delicious comfort food using everyday ingredients. Beat the weekday grind with hundreds of easy-to-follow and hassle-free recipes!  Read more...

    Get new recipes in your inbox weekly!

    BROWSE RECIPES:

    Footer

    • Contact
    • FAQ
    • Site Policies
    • For Bloggers
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    · Copyright © 2022 Salt & Lavender Inc ·