ITALIAN - CHEESY BACON / CHICKEN PASTA BAKE

Italian - Cheesy Bacon / Chicken Pasta Bake image

Provided by Cassie *

Categories Pasta

Time 1h10m

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 lb 16 ounce pasta of your choice
1 lb bacon, cooked crisp
5 - 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed and cooked
1 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 c onion
4 clove garlic, minced
2 ( 14.5 ounce ) cans diced tomatoes with garlic, basil and oregano
4 c mozzarella cheese, divided
2 c heavy whipping cream
oregano, dried
salt and pepper to season chicken

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degree F. Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray, set aside. Cook and drain your pasta. Set aside.
2. In a large skillet fry your bacon crisp, remove to a paper towel to drain.
3. Save about 4 tablespoons of bacon grease, and brown your seasoned chicken in the same skillet till juices no longer run pink.
4. In another large skillet or you can use the same one as chicken, once removed. Brown your onions and garlic with the olive oil. Till tender.
5. Next, add your tomatoes and cream, bring to a slow boil for 3 minutes. Reduce heat and simmer for a few minutes until begins to thicken some. Stir in the cream cheese and half the mozzarella cheese until thoroughly blended. Add the chicken to the sauce.
6. In the dutch oven I boiled my pasta in; add the pan of sauce to the pasta, and stir till evenly coated. Spread the pasta into the baking dish. sprinkle with remaining mozzarella. Then top cheese with oregano. And finally top with bacon.
7. Place the dish into the oven, and bake for approx 40 - 45 minutes or until bubbly. I then placed under a broiler to brown a bit more ( do not have to ). Let the pasta set for 5 minutes before serving. I served the pasta with buttered Vienna bread. Enjoy!