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Chicken alla Boscaiola is pasta and chicken with a creamy sauce of mushrooms, bacon, and Parmesan. Delicious comfort food!
My husband Jack knows me very well. This dish for Chicken alla Boscaiola was a new recipe for us when we first cooked it a few years ago. And as soon as Jack read the description for this classic Italian dish, he knew it was my kind of pasta. Boy, he was right!
What does “Boscaiola” mean?
Boscaiola translates to woodsman or wood cutter in Italian. Since mushrooms are typically foraged in the woods – and they are a prominent ingredient in this recipe – that likely inspired the name for this creamy and delicious mushroom and pasta dish.
Traditionally, Pasta alla Boscaiola combines Porcini mushrooms, pancetta, Parmesan cheese, and cream to create an earthy, smoky, creamy sauce.
But there are actually many variations of Pasta alla Boscaiola – some with tomatoes added, some with ham rather than pancetta, others vary the herbs used for flavor. We added chicken to our version and substituted bacon for the pancetta as that was what we had on hand – and that’s where our recipe name, Chicken alla Boscaiola, originated.
This Chicken alla Boscaiola is a creamy, flavorful and comforting dish and we hope you will enjoy it as much as we do!
Most of the prep for this Chicken alla Boscaiola is in chopping and measuring the ingredients. Much of that can be done ahead of time. It’s impressive enough to serve at a dinner party, but also makes a fantastic weeknight meal when you’re craving some delicious comfort food.
This post originally appeared on A Family Feast in December 2012. We’ve updated the post and photos, but the delicious recipe remains the same.
You may enjoy these other chicken recipes:
- Chicken Carbonara
- Chicken Scarpariello
- Chicken Parmesan
- Chicken & Penne with Basil Parmesan Cream Sauce
- Chicken Exquisito
We love seeing what you made! Tag us on Instagram at @afamilyfeast or hashtag #afamilyfeast so we can see your creations!
Chicken Boscaiola
Chicken alla Boscaiola is pasta and chicken with a creamy sauce of mushrooms, bacon, and Parmesan. Delicious comfort food!
Ingredients
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons butter, divided
1/2 pound bacon, chopped (about 8 slices)
1 1/2 cups baby Bella sliced mushrooms (about 4–5 ounces)
1 cup onions, diced
2 teaspoons fresh garlic, minced
2 tablespoons dry sherry
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 tablespoon fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 pound fettuccine
Additional chopped, Italian flat-leaf parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Place a large pot of water on to boil to cook the fettuccine in a later step.
- In a large sauté pan over medium high heat, combine 1 tablespoon each of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter until melted and frothy.
- Working in two batches, add in chicken and brown on all sides, about 3-4 minutes per batch. Do not over cook. Remove chicken to a flat plate to cool and stop the cooking process.
- Place the bacon in the same pan and cook until it is crisp. Remove to paper towels and reserve.
- Drain off all bacon fat but reserve two tablespoons, half of which gets used in next step.
- Put one tablespoon of bacon fat and one tablespoon of butter in the same pan and sauté mushrooms for 2-3 minutes or until they just start to give up their liquid. Remove from pan and set aside along with all of the pan drippings.
- Add the second tablespoon of bacon fat and butter into the pan and sauté onions and garlic until the onions are translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add mushrooms and their liquid back into the pan with the onions, add the sherry and cook for one minute scraping any bits from the bottom.
- Add in cream, sour cream, salt, pepper, oregano, basil, parsley and Parmesan cheese. As mixture starts to bubble, reduce heat to medium and simmer 2 more minutes. The mixture will begin to thicken. Reduce heat to low.
- Salt the boiling water and cook fettuccine according to package directions. When draining reserve one cup of pasta water.
- Add cooked chicken and bacon back to sauce, turn heat to low to medium heat and stir.
- Add cooked fettuccine and cook for 1-2 minutes to blend flavors. If the dish is too thick, add a little pasta water until desired consistency is achieved.
- Serve with fresh parsley sprinkled over individual servings.
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This was easy and excellent! Wow. What flavor.
Thank you!
I am excited to try this for a dinner party. Could the chicken and sauce be made the day before? I would cook the pasta, warm chicken and combine with pasta just before serving. Would this work or does it need to be prepared same day?
Hi Deb – For any recipe with a cream sauce, I think it’s the very best when it’s served freshly-made. But, if you do decide to make ahead and reheat, you’ll likely need some additional cream for reheating. Hope that helps!
Hello Martha and Jack!
Just wanted to wish you and yours a Happy Easter! I made the Chicken Boscaiola for Saturday night dinner…. been feeling a tad under the weather and wanted to make something special … well, I have to say, this is to die for!!! My company loved it , every morsel. I just took a peek at the Arancini casserole on your site… my Aunt Jessie was a sublime Italian cook and made these all the time for Sunday dinner. I miss those days, especially her version of choc chip ricotta pie. May you have a wonderful holiday and enjoy the spring weather. Blessings.
Happy Easter to you too Doris! I’m glad you’re feeling well enough to cook – and very glad to hear that you enjoyed the Chicken Boscaiola.
I have an Aunt Bertha – from my mother’s Polish side of the family, but married to an Italian…she was a fantastic Italian cook. I miss those days too – but am happy to have a few of her recipes to make ourselves. 🙂
Blessings to you too – Warm weather will be here before we know it!
Another great recipe! Made it exactly as written. Wonderful rich flavor and enjoyed by all! Thank you.
Thanks again Pam! 🙂
Another excellent recipe! Made as stated without changes. Absolutely delicious!
Thank you!
You’re welcome Pam – thanks for taking the time to share your review!