mascarpone pasta with chicken, bacon and spinach

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 6 slices bacon
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup minced onion
• 3 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cubed
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 3 tablespoons drained and chopped sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil
• 2 tablespoons prepared pesto sauce
• 1/2 pound fresh spinach
• 1 (8 ounce) container mascarpone cheese
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon dijon mustard, or more to taste
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 (16 ounce) package farfalle (bow tie) pasta
• 1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese, or to taste

Recipe

Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 40 mins Ready Time: 1 hr


• place the bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. drain the bacon slices on paper towels. crumble bacon when cooled.
• heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir crumbled bacon and onion in the hot oil until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. stir chicken into mixture and season with garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. cook and stir until chicken is no longer pink inside and lightly browned outside, about 10 minutes.
• stir sun-dried tomatoes and pesto in a large skillet over medium heat until pesto gives off a little oil, about 2 minutes; stir in spinach and cook until wilted, stirring constantly.
• mix mascarpone cheese, 2 cloves of garlic, dijon mustard, lemon juice, milk, and white pepper in a saucepan over medium heat. cook until smooth and bubbling, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes; stir in 1/2 cup parmesan cheese until cheese has melted, 2 to 3 more minutes. pour sauce over chicken and bacon mixture.
• bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. cook bow-tie pasta at a boil, stirring occasionally, until cooked through yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes; drain. gently fold pasta into chicken mixture and transfer to a serving bowl. top with spinach mixture and sprinkle with 1 more tablespoon parmesan cheese, or to taste.