Chicken Rigatoni with Bleu Cheese, Bacon and Pears
Chicken Rigatoni with crumbled bleu cheese, crispy bacon and juicy slices of pear. It is packed with flavor for a luscious dinner to savor with friends, loved ones and a few garlic breadsticks.
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup crumbled bleu cheese + extra for garnish
- 1 pound rigatoni pasta
- 2 pears
- salt to taste pepper to taste
- 6-10 pieces of bacon (crumbled)
- fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the chicken using any method you prefer. I cooked it in a pan with olive oil. Once it's cooked cut it into long strips.
- In a sauce pan over medium heat, melt butter. Add onion and garlic. Saute until the onion is translucent. Add flour and mix into a paste. Slowly stir in the milk, whisking until smooth. Mix 1/2 cup of bleu cheese into the cream sauce. Cook until the sauce has thickened, stirring frequently to prevent it from scalding.
- Meanwhile, peel and slice the pears. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the rigatoni for 8-10 minutes, per the instructions on the pasta box. Drain and rinse in a colander. Return the rigatoni to the large pot.
- Carefully pour the bleu cheese sauce over the pasta. Toss in the sliced chicken and pears. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cover and cook for 5 minutes stirring occasionally until heated through and pears are tender. Garnish with crumbled bacon, bleu cheese and fresh parsley, if desired prior to serving. Enjoy!