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Creamy Parmesan Carbonara Chicken is the ultimate twist! Crispy, golden chicken fillets soak up a carbonara inspired sauce for a new chicken recipe loved by the entire family!
Creamy Parmesan Carbonara Chicken is one of those recipes I came up with years ago when following low carb diets and this recipe includes BOTH low carb AND low fat options! However, I’ve included full fat + carb options also!
CARBONARA CHICKEN
Usually, a traditional carbonara sauce is made with reserved pasta water, eggs and parmesan cheese, all mixed through cooked/warm pasta to create a creamy sauce. Even though this recipe contains NO EGG, I’ve kept all of your favourite carbonara flavours for when the craving hits!
Dying for a big, full bowl of pasta smothered in a carbonara sauce, I opted for something even better. Chicken. Beautiful, juicy golden chicken fillets, swimming in the most amazing creamy bacon ‘carbonara-inspired’ sauce.
With this recipe, you can serve it with your favourite pasta, OR over rice or vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli or zucchini noodles go real well with this).
This may not be a traditional Carbonara recipe, BUT this creamy parmesan carbonara chicken checks all my carbonara craving boxes.
CARBONARA CRAVING CHECKLIST
- Creamy sauce
- Crispy bacon strips or pieces
- Parmesan cheese
- Carbonara smiles at the end of it
If you’re like me and find its hard to give up what you love…. you will LOVE THIS!
Other creamy chicken recipes:
Creamy Lemon Parmesan Chicken (Piccata)
Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Parmesan Chicken
Quick & Easy Creamy Herb Chicken
Some Tips:
— Dredging the chicken in flour is optional. For a LOW CARB version, dredge chicken in parmesan cheese before searing, leaving out the flour. Alternatively, coat with an almond flour/parmesan cheese mixture, using the same measurements in the recipe.
— For a LOW CALORIE + LOW CARB version, sear the chicken without coating.
— I use half and half to cut calories in creamy sauces. Half and Half is an American product blending equal parts whole milk and light cream. If you don’t have access to half and half, you can make your own with 3/4 cup full fat milk and 3/4 cup reduced fat cream.
— You can substitute half and half with reduced fat cream or evaporated milk. For a full fat version, use full fat cream.
WATCH US MAKE Creamy Parmesan Carbonara Chicken
Creamy Parmesan Carbonara Chicken
Ingredients
For The Chicken:
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts large, halved horizontally to make 4 filets
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour or plain, heaped
- 3 tablespoons parmesan cheese finely grated fresh
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 pinch cracked pepper
For The Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons butter or sub with oil
- 8 ounces bacon trimmed of fat and cut into strips (I use shortcut bacon in Australia)
- 1 onion small, chopped
- 6 cloves garlic large, minced or finely chopped
- 1-1/2 cups half and half or use reduced fat cream or evaporated milk
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese finely grated fresh
- 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch cornflour mixed with 2 teaspoons of water
Instructions
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper. In a shallow bowl, combine the flour and parmesan cheese. Dredge seasoned chicken in the flour mixture; shake off excess and set aside.
- Heat the oil and butter in a large non stick pan or well-seasoned cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until butter has melted and pan is hot. Fry the chicken until golden on each side, cooked through and no longer pink (about 4-5 minutes per side, depending on the thickness of your chicken). Transfer onto a warm plate.
- Add the bacon strips to the pan and fry until crispy. Drain off some excess fat, keeping about 1 teaspoons worth in the pan. Add the onion and garlic and fry until onion is transparent (about 1 minute). Reduce heat to low heat, and add the half and half (or cream). Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer; season with a little salt and pepper to your taste. Add in the parmesan cheese, and allow the sauce to simmer until the parmesan cheese has melted slightly. (If the sauce is too runny for your liking, add the cornstarch/water mixture into the centre of the pan and mix through fast to combine into the sauce. It will begin to thicken immediately).
- Add the chicken back into the pan to serve.
- Serve with steamed vegetables (broccoli and/or cauliflower work best), over zucchini noodles, your favourite pasta, or rice.
Notes
For a LOW CALORIE + LOW CARB version, sear the chicken without coating.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Mare this for dinner tonight and my husband and two boys were raving. I am on keto and they are not – added cooked broccoli to mine and it was DELECTABLE!!! I had this dish at Olive Garden and this was even better and easy to make. Will now be in the dinner and rotation! Thank you!
Made this and it was delicious! Definitely a keeper. Hubby suggested to cut the chicken in smaller pieces so they’re crispier. The sauce was on point! Used heavy whipping cream instead of half and half, because that was what was on hand.
(Edited to add five star rating)