Chicken Fettuccine Bake

 My Christmas vacation so far has been pretty low key... I mean, REALLY low key.  Hubby has been working, kiddos aren't home, and my wheels were taken out in a sleigh before Christmas NOT driven by Santa.  I've been stuck.  I keep refreshing Pinterest, looking to see who has pinned what, but have had no groceries to do anything, which led to little motivation once hubby got home from work.  This afternoon when he got home, I mustered the energy, got my list together from all of the things that made me salivate on Pinterest, and set out for the grocery store to fill up mama's cupboards.

I found this recipe and thought it would be a good meal to have for dinner.  My husband's response after the first bite "Very yummy!  Make this again!"

• 2 chicken breasts 
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil 
• 1 Tbsp. butter 
• 3 cloves garlic, minced 
• Salt 
• Pepper
  
• ½ lb. of fettuccine, boiled to al dente and drained
• 2 cups of broccoli
  
• 6 Tbsp. butter 
• 3 Tbsp. flour 
• 1 can (14.5 ounces) chicken broth 
• ½ cup milk 
• ½ cup grated parmesan
  
• 2 slices bacon, crisply cooked and crumbled 
• 3 Tbsp. shredded Parmesan cheese for topping

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray baking dish; square 8x8 or oval dish, with cooking spray.
   
2. Have bacon diced and cooked until crispy and set aside.
   
3. Dice up chicken breasts and sprinkle with salt and pepper. 
4. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and butter. 
5. Add diced chicken and cook thoroughly. 
6. When almost cooked through, add the minced garlic and cook for another minute or two. 
7. Place chicken in a bowl, leaving as much of whatever liquid is left in the skillet, and set aside
   
8. Meanwhile, boil pasta in salted water as directed. 
9. About 4 minutes before pasta is done, add broccoli. 
10. Drain pasta and broccoli and set aside.
     
11. In the skillet with the liquid, melt the butter over medium heat. 
12. Stir in flour. 
13. Gradually stir in broth, heating to a boil, stirring constantly; remove from heat. 
14. Stir in milk and ½ cup grated parmesan cheese. 
15. Add chicken and bacon. 
16. Add pasta to chicken mixture; toss gently to mix well.
    
17. Spoon everything into the baking dish. 
18. Sprinkle with 3 Tbsp. of parmesan cheese. 
19. Bake uncovered about 30 minutes or until hot in the center. 

Adapted from a Dash of Sanity blog