Creamy Chicken Bucatini With Bacon Recipes

CREAMY CHICKEN AND BACON PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add pasta and cook for time per packet MINUS 2 minutes (finishes cooking in Sauce).
• SCOOP OUT a mugful of pasta cooking water, then drain.
• Meanwhile, cook bacon until golden, drain on paper towels.
• Season chicken on both sides, cook in bacon fat, 2 minutes each side.
• Wipe pan - optional, to keep sauce pretty and white, and for a buttery clean tasting sauce rather than very bacony (Note 3).
• Over medium heat, melt butter. Add garlic and onion, cook for 3 - 4 minutes until onion is light golden and soft.
• Add cream, about 3/4 cup pasta water and parmesan. Stir, then simmer for 2 minutes until it reduces slightly - you don't need to be exact here. Season with salt & pepper.
• Add pasta and toss gently in the sauce for about 1 1/2 minutes. The sauce will thicken and coat the pasta, do this step until you get the sauce consistency you want. If your sauce gets too thick, add a splash of pasta water.
• Toss through bacon and chicken.
• Serve immediately, garnished with parmesan and parsley!

BUCATINI CARBONARA

Steps:

• Cook the pancetta in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp and the fat has rendered, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the pancetta to a paper-towel-lined plate and set aside. Add the onions to the pan with the drippings and cook until translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, and then reduce the heat to keep warm.
• Separate the eggs and place the yolks in a large bowl (reserve the whites to use in another recipe). Whisk together the egg yolks and half the Parmigiano-Reggiano and season with salt and pepper. Add the egg mixture to a large stainless bowl with the onions and mix well.
• Cook the pasta in salted, boiling water until al dente (according to pasta directions). When the pasta is just about finished, strain the pasta and transfer directly from the pot of water to the mixing bowl with the onions. Using tongs, mix well so the egg mixture coats the pasta evenly and cooks from the residual heat. Add about 3/4 cup of pasta water to fortify the sauce. Fold in the remaining Parmigiano-Reggiano, crisped pancetta (reserve a little for garnish) and season with salt and pepper.
• Serve immediately, garnished with the reserved pancetta and parsley.

BUCATINI WITH ONION, BACON, AND TOMATO

Steps:

• Drain the canned tomatoes; save all the juices. Cut each tomato in quarters lengthwise; slice the quarters in strips, 1/2 inch wide.
• Start heating 6 quarts of water with 1 tablespoon of salt in a large pot, to cook the bucatini.
• Put 1/2 cup water in the wide skillet, and set it over medium-high heat. Dump in the sliced onions; spread them out and turn them over in the pan as the water starts to boil. Cook the onions, turning occasionally, for several minutes, until they're softened and the water is nearly evaporated.
• Pour the olive oil over the onions, toss in the crushed garlic cloves, and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Stir well to coat all the onion slices with oil; cook for a couple of minutes or more, until onions and garlic are sizzling.
• Clear a space on one side of the skillet and scatter in the cured pork (guanciale, pancetta, or bacon). Heat and stir in the hot spot until they're rendering fat and sizzling, then stir in with the onions. Sprinkle the peperoncino in the pan, stir, and let everything cook for 4 or 5 minutes, until the onions and pork are caramelized and golden-adjust the heat so nothing burns.
• Now spill all the sliced tomatoes and their juices into the skillet, and stir well. Rinse the tomato containers with a couple cups of "slosh" water, and stir that in too; season with salt lightly. Bring the sauce to a boil, stirring frequently, and then lower the heat to keep it simmering actively. Let the sauce cook and thicken for about 20 minutes, or until it has the consistency you like for pasta. (If you're pressed for time, concentrate the sauce at a boil, stirring frequently.)
• When the tomatoes have been added and the sauce is simmering, you can start cooking the bucatini. (If you prefer, prepare the sauce ahead of time. Stop cooking when nearly thickened and let it cool. Return it to the simmer as your pasta cooks.)
• With the water at a rolling boil, slide the bucatini into the pasta pot, letting the strands soften so they don't break, and fanning them out so they don't stick together. Stir well, cover the pot to bring the water back to the boil over high heat, then cook partially covered.
• Stir the bucatini occasionally, and check doneness frequently. When the sauce has thickened, taste it and adjust seasoning-keep in mind that the Pecorino Romano will add salt.
• When the bucatini are cooked through but still al dente, lift them from the cooking pot with tongs, drain for just a moment, then drop them right onto the simmering sauce. Toss together continuously, over moderate heat, for a couple of minutes, until the pasta is perfectly cooked and evenly coated with sauce. If the dish is dry, ladle in a bit of hot pasta water from the cooking pot. If the sauce is soupy, toss over higher heat to concentrate.
• Turn off the heat, and toss in the grated cheese. Drizzle over it a final flourish of olive oil, and serve, either directly from the skillet or in a warm serving bowl, passing additional cheese at the table.