This scrumptious recipe is woman-pleasin’ to the max. I attempted to make it man-pleasin’ as well by sprinkling some bacon on top. The results:
Me: So what do you think? Isn’t this awesome?
My man: Um, well, it’s alright.
Me: “Alright”?? “Alright“?? Are we eating the same dish? Did I not sprinkle enough bacon on? Seriously, you don’t love this?
My man: I mean, it’s okay. I like it fine.
Me: “Okay”??? “Fine”???? *spazzing out*
My man: Yeah, it’s fine. Not mind-blowing, but it’s good.
*at this point I’m passed out on the floor*
So I’m just going to skip the whole burning question that has my mind on fire: did God really create my taste buds so differently from my husband’s? Is it a woman/man thing? Or is he a freak of nature? Or wait, maybe I’m the freak of nature?
Anyway, ignore this whole little session and just remember the fact that I fully endorse the deliciousness of this dish.
Ingredients
(Serves 5)
3 TBS olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1.25 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts (1 1/2 breasts)
salt and pepper, to taste
1 lb farfalle (bowtie) pasta
2 14 oz cans artichoke hearts, drained (rinse well if using marinated hearts)
1 stick unsalted butter
1 c heavy whipping cream
1 1/2 c freshly grated parmesan cheese
4 slices bacon, chopped and fried (optional garnish)
1 TBS minced thyme or rosemary leaves (optional garnish)
First, get the pasta water (salted) on the stove so that we can get that farfalle cooked!
I chose to prep my garnish first–don’t ask why that made any kind of sense. I’d fried up some bacon the night before, so I chopped it up nice and fine along with some rosemary.
Thyme is also delicious on this dish. I should note that if you choose to use raw herbs for the garnish (as opposed to cooking the rosemary with the bacon, for example, or adding it to the chicken as it’s frying), chop it up finely! A mouthful of herb can be a rather bitter experience. You want tiny pieces–they pack a whomp.
Now, chop the chicken into bite-sized cubes.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high to high heat. When it’s hot, add the garlic and chicken.
Immediately sprinkle the chicken with salt and black pepper. Cook for about 5 minutes, until the chicken is starting to look less raw.
Open and drain those artichoke hearts–we don’t want any excess liquid going in.
Add the artichoke hearts, and cook for another 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Looking good.
Now you could chop up your artichoke hearts if you want, but I just broke them apart in the pan with my wooden stirring device:
I also used this opportunity to quickly grate the parmesan.
Add the butter to the artichokes and chicken . . .
Watch it melt with longing in your eyes.
Once it’s fully melted, add the cream . . .
. . . and parmesan.
Continue to cook for another few minutes until it’s turned into a lovely, thick sauce.
It looks a little pale, and that’s why the garnish is so important. It adds a beautiful pop to what could be a boring-looking dish.
When the pasta is done, pour it into the sauce and stir it around to combine.
Ew. That picture is disturbing, disgusting, and unappetizing. The drips of sauce look like . . . stalactites. Please pretend it never happened.
Let’s serve it up and top it off with some rosemary and bacon pieces.
Much prettier without those stalactites hanging ’round like they do.
You can also grate on a little more Parmesan if that does it for you.
I used one of my favorite Christmas gifts: a microplane zester.
Perfect!
Let’s take another bite.
Enjoy, ladies. And . . . men? If your taste buds are so inclined.
Click here for printer-friendly version: Chicken Artichoke Pasta Alfredo
Which part of the beautiful dish did your dear hubby not like? Whole stick of butter, cream, artichoke,or the bacon? This looks amazing, Jenna! And microplane zester is my best friend! 🙂
I think it was just too creamy for him. He’s not a big ‘creamy’ person . . . the bacon was probably his favorite part. =)
Your man is nuts. That is heaven!
that does loos spectacular, I too love my zester, it was hand-me down from my aunt. I had no idea what to use it for when I first took it out of the bag, now I couldn’t imagine life without it
your photography skills amaze me. YOu must have a cannon rebel or something 🙂
xo.
Thanks, Freckled Foodie! I have a Nikon D5000–I’ve almost had it for a year now, and I LOVE it. Of course, I do tend to fantasize about fancier lenses that are waaaay out of my budget, heh heh . . .
oh goodness… how could anyone NOT like that? your husband is a little crazy… or you are… or i am… i just don’t know which 🙂
I’m going to make this tonight!
I can say, first hand, that I’ve had this dish from the very hand of its creator and… (*drums rolling*)… it’s DELICIOUS! The bacon bits really brought out the flavor of the whole thing for me. Yummmmm… I think I need to get cookin’. Or just come over to your house again, Jenna. 😉
This looks heavenly. I shall make it pronto!
Um, I want some right now!! That looks delish.. I am going to have to give this a whirl one day. Thanks for sharing!
I so wish the rest of the family liked artichokes! i’m afraid if I made this, I would be the only one eating it. Hmmm… Not a bad idea. 🙂
This looks insanely delicious! I sometimes get these responses from my husband, too and my theory is that he has been subconsciously spoiled by the variety of recipes I cook up. I love it when he goes bananas for something I make, though 🙂 Thanks for dropping by my blog!
That’s a great theory! I mean, he did like this dish, but he wasn’t wild about it like I was. Oh well–he’s normally a VERY easy audience in terms of what I serve. In fact, I would say he’s spoiled me by liking everything I make, so when he’s not such a fan, it catches me off guard.
Sounds delicious! I bet me and my man would both love it… although his taste buds often mystify me as well!
oh my.
*drooling*
Good lord, with a stick of butter, how could it not be delicious!! I had to laugh because me and my husband do not have the same palate at all – but my next door neighbor does!
Usually when I cook something, my husband will say “what smells like ass?!” I call my neighbor Brett to come over and taste my dishes, and he’s like “Holy shit! I can’t believe you won’t even try it!” But sadly Brett’s wife thinks a casserole is chopped chicken, a can of cream of something, with crumbled Ritz crackers on the top – so I don’t have much competition!
Here is the link to my lightened bolognese – on my Recipe Index page I have a few bolognese sauces, but this one was from last night – it freezes really well!
http://mybizzykitchen.com/2011/01/11/sweet-potato-and-black-bean-chili-and-lightened-bolognese/
Oooh, thanks for the link to your sauce! =)
How could anyone not love that?! The butter alone makes it drool worthy 🙂
Oh my golly, your husband is crazy! This looks DELICIOUS! I mean, c’mon, there’s bacon! 🙂
lesson learned… boys are dumb and this looks bomb.com
Looks delicious! I’m not a big fan of chicken breast fillets. Bacon bits and rosemary should definitely make up for any flavor lack in the chicken. And it’s pretty. Women do like food to be pretty. Blessings to you, Jenna…
He is crazy! Just like my man. He would say it is fine just because it was a chicken dish instead of pork or beef. And bacon should have made it near perfect for any man!
Okay…I don’t understand…how could this not be fantastic?! I mean a whole stick of butter, cream, parmesan cheese…and bacon on top? Wow! I know my husband would love this! Yumm, I’d be in heaven!
Oh I feel for you, really I do! Everything I fall in love with my husband is like, “yeah, it’s good,” with only a modicum of enthusiasm. “But don’t you love it?” I ask. “It’s good.” This does not satisfy me and I tend to do the freak out thing if he doesn’t’ love something as much as me. I kinda get screechy and start to exaggerate my enthusiasm just to get a little more to eek out of him. It doesn’t work. I like dishes like this, while he is most happy with a big grilled steak. MEN.
Guys are car-azy, that pasta looks fabulous. I could reallyyyy go for some of that RIGHT NOW!
I SOOO understand the less than enthusiastic reaction, sometimes my husband does the same thing. He’s really grateful that I cook and try new and healthy recipes, but seems I like most of them more than he does. No matter what his reaction is, the photos speak volumes and this looks fantastic!! (your pictures are the BEST)
Have a great day.
Jenna, your hubs is crazy. My tastebuds are swooning at the thought of this meal! And it’s super pantry-friendly.
This is not a good thing to crave at 1:52 in the morning.
Oh, I hate when that happens. I’ll be practically falling in love with the food on my plate, only to notice my hubby playing with his food. If men aren’t from a different planet, then their taste buds are at least… 😉 The meal looks amazing!!
This is genius!! Ok, now I have to make this next week. Looks so creamy and love your step by step photos 🙂
I have had that exact conversation with my man…regarding a similar situation, where I had added bacon to a “fancy macaroni & cheese” recipe, thinking he would think it was even more delicious. Same conversation. I thought it was amazing, he thought it was okay. You are not alone…keep cooking! This one looks great to me!
Jenna, this looks so good! I can’t wait to try it. And it inspired so many comments! Is this a record???
I probably don’t speak for the other men out there, but this looks absolutely delicious. I am going to try this recipe soon. Where can you go wrong, bacon and artichokes with a cream sauce. Your husband needs to have his taste buds examined.
Hee hee–thanks Ken!
too much awesomeness!!