Chicken Bacon And Caramelized Onion Pasta Bake Cooking For 2 Recipes

BACON AND ONION PASTA

Steps:

• Take the bacon out of its packaging with the slices still stuck together and place on a cutting board. Cut the bacon, still stacked, crosswise into ½-inch slices to create little bacon pieces, also known as lardons. Add to a large rimmed sheet pan. Halve and thinly slice the onions. Add to the sheet pan as well. Drizzle the olive oil over the bacon and onions, season with salt and pepper, and toss until evenly coated.
• Place the sheet pan in a cold oven and then heat the oven to 450 degrees. Roast until the bacon has rendered much of its fat but is still pink and the onions are slightly charred in spots but not too dark, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Smash the garlic cloves with the side of your knife and thinly slice them. When the bacon and onions have had their 20 to 25 minutes, remove the sheet pan from the oven and stir in the garlic, red-pepper flakes, herbes de Provence and vermouth. Place the pan back in the oven and continue cooking until the vermouth is almost evaporated, and the bacon and onions look jammy and caramelized but not burnt, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Cook the pasta according to package instructions. (Don't overcook it, as angel hair can go from bouncy to soggy in seconds). Reserve 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Drain the pasta and return it to the pot.
• Carefully transfer everything from the pan to the pot with the cooked pasta. Add the parsley and Parmesan to the pasta, and toss until evenly combined, adding some of the reserved cooking liquid if the sauce needs thinning out. Taste, adding more salt and pepper as needed, and serve immediately.

CHICKEN WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND BACON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Heat Oil in pan. Sprinkle spices on both sides of each chicken breast. Add chicken breasts to hot oil and turn to medium high heat. Brown on both sides until golden (approx 4-5 minutes).
• Add 1 tablespoon bacon drippings, diced onion and brown sugar. Stir well then turn heat down to medium and cover. Cook for 20 minutes stirring occasionally. Turn chicken over and cook an additional 15-20 minutes or until chicken is completely done (when juices run clear).
• Move chicken to a baking dish and pour caramelized onions and brown sugar sauce over chicken. Drain excess grease. Cover and put off to the side. Using same pan you just cooked the chicken in fry diced bacon until crisp. Sprinkle over chicken. Top with cheese (1 slice per chicken breast) and place in oven. Bake until cheese is completely melted (approx 1-2 minute depending on how thick you get your cheese. I get mine sliced very thin). Remove from pan and place on plate making sure to place any fallen bacon pieces back on chicken before serving.

PASTA WITH BACON, CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND CHEDDAR CHEESE

Steps:

• Place onions, oil and butter in 3-quart microwavable casserole. Microwave uncovered on Medium-High (70%) 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are golden brown. Drain onions.
• Meanwhile, cook and drain fettuccine as directed on package. Cook bacon in 10-inch skillet over low heat, turning occasionally, until crisp; drain on paper towels. Chop bacon into small pieces.
• Heat whipping cream to boiling in 2-quart saucepan. Mix in 1 cup of the cheese and the onions. Pour over fettuccine; toss to coat. Top with remaining 1 cup cheese; sprinkle with bacon.

COOKING FOR TWO: CHICKEN, BACON AND CARAMELIZED ONION PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• 1. Heat oven to 425°F. In 7-inch cast-iron skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the butter over medium heat. Add onion; cook 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are browned. Remove from heat.
• 2. Meanwhile, cook pasta as directed on package to al dente; drain.
• 3. In 2-quart saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add flour; cook and stir 1 minute. Beat in milk, salt and pepper with whisk; heat to boiling. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook and stir 1 to 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat; beat in Gruyère and Parmesan cheeses. Add cooked pasta, chicken, bacon and browned onions; gently stir to combine. Transfer to same 7-inch cast-iron skillet.
• 4. In small bowl, mix bread crumbs and 1 tablespoon melted butter. Sprinkle over top of pasta mixture. Bake 14 to 17 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown.