Can you use milk instead of cream in pasta?

Whole milk is an excellent substitute for heavy cream . It adds richness to your pasta sauce without the excess fat. Simply simmer your favourite pasta sauce with whole milk until it thickens to your desired consistency. The result is a velvety and indulgent sauce that pairs beautifully with pasta.

What is the secret of making pasta?

Shilpa explains that making fresh pasta all comes down to knowing one ratio of flour to water , specifically two parts flour to one part water by weight. For you bread heads out there, yes, that means 50% hydration, or 100 grams of flour to 50 grams of water.

What can I use instead of heavy cream for creamy pasta?

The 10 Best Substitutes for Heavy Cream Milk and butter. Soy milk and olive oil. Milk and cornstarch. Half-and-half. Tofu and soy. Yogurt and milk. Evaporated milk. Cottage cheese and milk. More items...

What can be used instead of heavy cream in pasta?

The Best Heavy Cream Substitutes Half-and-Half and Butter. A combination of half-and-half and butter makes the best all-around heavy cream substitute. ... Milk and Butter. ... Evaporated Milk. ... Coconut Cream. ... Cream Cheese. ... Greek Yogurt and Milk. ... Soy Milk and Olive Oil. Mar 30, 2022

What is the golden rule for pasta?

To be sure that your pasta is cooked correctly, it is enough to follow a few, simple rules. To begin with, you should keep in mind the right quantities. In Italy, the golden rule for cooking pasta is 1, 10, 100 or 1 liter of water, 10 grams of salt for every 100 grams of pasta .

What not to do when making pasta?

8 Pasta Mistakes That Are Ruining Your Meal Using a pot that's too small. Not salting the cooking water properly. Adding oil to the cooking water. Breaking the noodles. Not checking the pasta often enough. Not saving any pasta water. Rinsing the pasta. Not considering the combination of pasta shape and sauce. Jan 26, 2023

What is the best flour for pasta?

Pasta dough also needs some plasticity for it to be moulded into all of those wonderful shapes. All-purpose flour does what it says on the tin, so it's perfectly fine to use for making pasta. However, most pasta recipes will recommend either semola or “00” flour .

Is it okay to add milk to pasta?

It sounds unconventional to use milk in a meaty red sauce, but upon further investigation, it makes total sense why Italians swear by it . According to our Food Director Amira, not only does milk add a rich flavour to the bolognese, but it also “helps cut through the acidity of the tomatoes and red wine”.

Can I use milk to thicken pasta?

Whole Milk or Heavy Cream: Add a splash and let the sauce simmer for a few minutes to thicken. Hard Cheeses: A half cup of grated parmesan, pecorino, or other hard cheese adds a deep savory note to the sauce.

How do I substitute milk for cream?

You can substitute heavy cream for milk by diluting it with a little water . Use half a cup heavy cream and half a cup water for every cup of whole milk.

Can you add regular milk to pasta?

“Is it okay to use normal milk instead of heavy cream when we cook pasta?” Assuming you mean the use of milk in a pasta sauce, yes, you can use milk instead of heavy cream , but there are some considerations before making that choice.

Creamy Chicken and Bacon Pasta Recipe (2024)

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Our chicken bacon pasta recipe is made with no cream. Chicken tenders are seared and then served with a creamy sauce made with garlic, cream cheese, and bacon. Serve with gluten-free pasta for a delicious dinner your kids will love!

I love to test new recipes with chicken since my kids are constantly requesting chicken. While myBoneless Chicken Thigh and Creamy Chicken Spaghetti Bake recipes are family favorites, this creamy bacon chicken pasta has recently been ranking as #1.

HOW TO MAKE

Start by heating the olive oil in a pan and then carefully adding the chicken.

Season each side of the chicken before flipping with salt and pepper.

KITCHEN TIP: Chicken is fully cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep a food thermometer handy to test cooked chicken before serving.

Once the chicken is fully cooked, remove from heat and set on a plate to the side.

Creamy Chicken and Bacon Pasta Recipe (2)

TIME SAVER: For a night you don’t have the time (or energy) to cook chicken for this recipe, buy a rotisserie chicken or canned chicken and skip steps 1-3.

In a pan, add butter, bacon & garlic.

Whisk until the butter is melted completely.

Add flour and stir into the butter mixture until it is combined.

COOKING TIP: Making a roux will help thicken a recipe and create a creamy texture. To make a roux, you mix together equal parts fat with flour.

Creamy Chicken and Bacon Pasta Recipe (3)

Creamy Chicken and Bacon Pasta Recipe (4)

In this recipe, I am mixing butter with flour to thicken my creamy pasta. For future recipes that might need to be thickened, thisHow To Make Rouxstep-by-step instructional post is helpful.

Next, whisk the milk into the pan. Add the milk slowly bringing the mixture to a simmer between each addition of milk.

DO I HAVE TO USE FRESH SPINACH?

Nope! In the past, I have used frozen spinach instead of fresh spinach. I would encourage you to use whichever you have in your kitchen!

If you do use frozen spinach, I recommend cooking the spinach in the microwave and pressing the excess water out of the spinach before adding to your pasta dish.

Once the spinach has been mixed into the creamy sauce, add sliced cherry tomatoes.

Creamy Chicken and Bacon Pasta Recipe (7)

Creamy Chicken and Bacon Pasta Recipe (8)

GRAPE VS CHERRY TOMATOES

Have you ever wondered if you can use grape tomatoes instead of cherry tomatoes? Well, I am here to tell you that you absolutely can! If you have grape tomatoes in your kitchen then save yourself a trip to the grocery store & add those to your dish.

If I can choose, I prefer using cherry tomatoes for this recipe because they are sweeter than a grape tomato.

Stir in cooked pasta. I use penne pasta because it is my family’s favorite. However, any type of pasta will work! Here are a few options that pair well with creamy sauces:

Rigatoni
Macaroni
Spaghetti
Angel Hair
Linguini

To finish this recipe, add the chicken.

When it comes to serving this meal, I have done it many ways. I have chopped my chicken into chunks and mixed it into the creamy sauce. I have also just served chicken strips on top of the pasta. The way you decide to serve this recipe is completely up to you.

Top it off with shredded parmesan, bacon pieces, green onions or a sprinkle of Italian seasoning & grab a fork!

Creamy Chicken and Bacon Pasta Recipe (9)

CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.

The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.

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Chicken Bacon Pasta

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5 from 1 vote

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Servings 6

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound chicken tenders ✅
2 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon minced garlic
6-8 slices cooked bacon, crumbled ✅
2 tablespoon gluten-free flour
1 cup milk
4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature ✅
2 cups fresh spinach
1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced
8 ounces gluten-free penne pasta, cooked per box instructions
salt and pepper to taste
Optional: parmesan cheese, green onions, and additional bacon for topping the pasta ✅

Instructions

⭐️Cook the chicken. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for about 5 minutes or until the chicken is browned and released from the pan. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Flip and cook another 3-4 minutes until cooked through. Remove chicken from the pan and set it aside.
1 pound chicken tenders, salt and pepper to taste, 1 tablespoon olive oil
⭐️Make the sauce. To the same pan, add butter, garlic, and bacon. Whisk until butter is melted. Add flour and whisk into the butter mixture. Slowly add milk a little at a time, whisking and bringing the heat back up to a simmer between adding more milk. Continue whisking after the milk is added until the mixture thickens. Season with salt and pepper.
6-8 slices cooked bacon, crumbled, 2 tablespoon gluten-free flour, 2 tablespoon butter, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1 cup milk
⭐️Add the cream cheese, vegetables, and pasta. Add cream cheese and whisk to blend into the mixture. Stir in spinach and tomatoes. Add pasta to the cream cheese mixture.
2 cups fresh spinach, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced, 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature, 8 ounces gluten-free penne pasta, cooked per box instructions
Serve. Serve with chicken on top or slice chicken and stir into the creamy bacon pasta. Add parmesan cheese, green onions, or bacon if desired.
Optional: parmesan cheese, green onions, and additional bacon for topping the pasta

Video

Notes

CCK Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.

The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.

Nutrition

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