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Tomato Cream Cheese Pasta with Chicken and Pancetta

Tomato Cream Cheese Pasta with Chicken and Pancetta
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Tomato Cream Cheese Pasta with Chicken and Pancetta is a quick and flavorful weeknight dinner combining tender chicken, crispy pancetta, and a luscious sauce made from tangy crushed tomatoes and smooth cream cheese. Ready in under 30 minutes, this creamy, comforting pasta dish is perfect for busy evenings and can be easily adapted to suit dietary preferences.

Ingredients

Scale

Protein

  • 1 lb chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 4 oz pancetta, diced

Vegetables & Aromatics

  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

Pantry

  • 12 oz pasta (penne or rigatoni recommended)
  • 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Dairy

  • 4 oz cream cheese
  • Parmesan cheese, optional, for garnish

Herbs & Seasonings

  • Fresh basil leaves or 1 tsp Italian herbs (dried)

Instructions

  1. Prepare Ingredients: Chop the onion, mince the garlic, slice the chicken into bite-sized pieces, and dice the pancetta evenly.
  2. Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside, reserving 1 cup of pasta water.
  3. Crisp the Pancetta: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pancetta and cook until golden and crispy. Remove pancetta and set aside, leaving the rendered fat in the pan.
  4. Sauté Chicken and Aromatics: In the same skillet with pancetta fat, add chicken pieces and cook until browned and cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside. Add onion and garlic to the pan and sauté until fragrant and translucent.
  5. Build the Sauce: Pour in the crushed tomatoes and bring to a gentle simmer. Gradually stir in cream cheese, allowing it to melt and fully incorporate, creating a silky sauce. Season with salt, pepper, and herbs.
  6. Combine Pasta and Protein: Add the cooked pasta, chicken, and pancetta back into the sauce. Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce and coat the pasta evenly.
  7. Final Touches: Finish by stirring in fresh basil and optionally sprinkling parmesan cheese on top. Serve immediately and enjoy.

Notes

  • Cook pasta al dente to ensure it holds up well in the sauce.
  • Use the rendered pancetta fat to cook the chicken and aromatics for extra flavor.
  • Stir cream cheese in slowly over low heat to avoid curdling and maintain creamy texture.
  • Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency and add starch for thickening.
  • Add fresh herbs at the end to preserve their bright aroma and flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: tomato cream cheese pasta, chicken pasta, pancetta pasta, creamy tomato pasta, quick dinner, weeknight pasta

Find it online: https://mealsbysarah.com/tomato-cream-cheese-pasta-with-chicken-and-pancetta/