Love a Caesar salad? Then try this wonderful chicken and pasta dish the next time that your are craving a Caesar salad. The creamy Caesar dressing and Parmesan cheese, along with other ingredients make this a special dinner meal.
12 oz. angel hair pasta
1 c. pasta cooking water
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 T. extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt, to taste
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
6 slices bacon, chopped
2 T. bacon fat, reserved
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 c. chicken stock
16 oz. creamy Caesar dressing
1/2 c. finely grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
2 T. lfreshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 c. finely chopped flat leaf parsley
In a large pot of well salted boiling water, cook angel hair according to package directions, about 4 minutes, until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water; drain.
While preparing pasta, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season both sides of chicken with salt and pepper; add to skillet. Cook about 5-6 minutes per side, until chicken is cooked through. Transfer to a cutting board; let rest for 10 minutes; slice into strips.
Wipe skillet clean with paper towels; return to burner over medium heat. Add bacon; fry until crispy; drain bacon pieces on a paper towel-lined plate. Reserve about 2 T. of bacon fat in skillet.
To skillet, add garlic; sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute; add chicken stock to deglaze skillet; reduce down slightly. Stir in Caesar dressing; bring mixture to a slight simmer. If sauce is too thick, gradually add in pasta water, about 1/4 cup at a time until desired consistency is reached. Add Parmesan cheese, lemon juice and parsley. Add salt and pepper, to taste.
Serve.
4 servings.