Creamy Bacon and Chicken Cavatappi

Family Friendly

with Broccoli and White Cheddar

8 min

Difficulty: 2/3

Canadian

Check out this decked-out mac and cheese, for supper! A one-and-done dinner for the whole family with melty white cheddar, smoky bacon , tender chicken pieces and wholesome broccoli. Ingredients: Chicken breast • Broccoli • Cavatappi (durum wheat semolina, niacin, ferrous sulphate, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid) (wheat) • 35% Cream (cream, milk, dextrose, cellulose gel, carrageenan, mono and diglycerides, cellulose gum, polysorbate 80, sodium citrate, disodium phosphate) (milk) • Bacon (pork, water, salt, sugar, sodium phosphates, sodium erythorbate, sodium nitrite, spices, smoke) • White cheddar cheese (pasteurized milk, modified milk ingredients, cream, salt, calcium chloride, bacterial culture, microbial enzyme, microbial rennet, cellulose, natamycin) (milk) • Yellow onion • Cream cheese (milk ingredients, modified milk ingredients, salt, bacterial culture, lactic acid, guar gum, carob bean gum, xanthan gum, potassium sorbate) (milk) • Cream sauce spice blend (wheat flour, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, canola oil, silicon dioxide) (wheat) • Chicken broth concentrate (sugars (maltodextrin, sugar), chicken stock, chicken fat, chicken flavor (chicken broth, salt, flavoring, water, glutamic acid, chicken fat, chicken powder, xanthan gum, organic sunflower oil), salt, yeast extract, xanthan gum, natural flavor) • Zesty garlic blend (granulated garlic, cornmeal, salt, dehydrated red bell pepper flakes, spices, sugar, herbs, canola oil, silicon dioxide, citric acid) (sulphites).

Allergens

Soy

Mustard

Wheat

Milk

Sulphites

May contain traces of allergens

Peanuts

Sesame

Tree nuts

Utensils

Large Pot

Measuring Spoons

Large Non-Stick Pan

Colander

Tongs

Tags

Family Friendly

Ingredients

Bacon Strips

100 g

Cavatappi

170 g

Broccoli

227 g

Onion, chopped

56 g

Cream

113 mL

White Cheddar Cheese, shredded

0.5 cup

Cream Sauce Spice Blend

10 g

Chicken Broth Concentrate

1 unit

Cream Cheese

1 unit

Zesty Garlic Blend

7 g

Chicken Breasts

2 unit

Salt

0.125 tsp

Pepper

0.125 tsp

Oil

1 tbsp

Preparation

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Meanwhile, heat a large non-stick pan over medium. When hot, add bacon. Cook for 5-7 min, flipping often, until crispy.** Remove from heat.
Using tongs, transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Set aside.
Reserve 1 tbsp (1 1/2 tbsp) bacon fat from pan.

Meanwhile, cut broccoli into bite-sized pieces.
Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Season with salt and pepper.
Heat another large non-stick pan over medium-high. When hot, add 1 tbsp (2 tbsp) oil, then chicken.
Pan-fry on one side for 6-7 min, until golden. Flip, then cover and continue cooking for 6-7 min, until cooked through.**
Transfer to a plate and cover to keep warm.

Add cavatappi to the boiling water. Cook uncovered for 7-8 min, stirring occasionally, until almost tender. Reserve 1/4 cup (1/2 cup) pasta water.
Add broccoli to the pot and cook for 1-2 min, stirring occasionally, until cavatappi and broccoli are tender.
Drain and return cavatappi and broccoli to the same pot, off heat.

Reheat the same pan from step 1 over medium, then add reserved bacon fat.
When hot, add onions. Cook for 2-3 min, stirring often, until tender.
Sprinkle Cream Sauce Spice Blend and Zesty Garlic Blend over onions, then stir to coat.
While whisking, add cream and 1/2 cup (3/4 cup) water. Add cream cheese and broth concentrate. Bring to a simmer and cook for 3-4 min, stirring often, until sauce thickens slightly.
Remove from heat, then stir for 1 min, until cheddar melts. Season with pepper.

To the pan with sauce, add cavatappi and broccoli.
Season with salt and pepper, if you like, then stir to combine. (TIP: If you prefer a lighter sauce, add some reserved pasta water, 1-2 tbsp at a time.)

Divide cavatappi and sauce between plates.
Thinly slice chicken.
Top bowls with chicken.
Crumble bacon over top.

If you've opted to add chicken breasts, pat dry with paper towels. Season with salt and pepper. Heat another large non-stick pan over medium-high. When hot, add 1 tbsp (2 tbsp) oil, then chicken. Pan-fry for 6-7 min on one side until golden. Flip, then cover and continue cooking for 6-7 min, until cooked through.** Transfer to a plate and cover to keep warm.