Gourmet Chicken Penne with Fontinella Béchamel Sauce

This post is sponsored by Stella® Cheeses but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

The most wonderful time of the year aka Christmas is upon us.  The holiday season is one of my most favorite times of the year.  And not just because of the presents and my birthday either.

My love for Christmas stems from fond memories of family bonding while cooking holiday dishes in the kitchen with my mom and siblings.  My mom always went into full-on entertainment mode, hosting two dinner parties - one for her girlfriends and sisters and then another for the rest of our extended family.  So it's only natural that I inherited her love of entertaining. 

Of course, my favorite part of playing hostess is putting a gourmet spin on old classics or coming up with completely unique recipes of my own like my Gourmet Chicken Penne with  Fontinella Béchamel Sauce.  This dish is so delicious and is guaranteed to be a hit at your holiday gatherings.  Keep reading to get the recipe!

How To Make Chicken Penne w/ Fontinella Béchamel Sauce

One of the things I loved about creating this recipe was the simplicity of it.  I know béchamel sauce can be a bit scary for some folks, but honestly, it's just a fancy word for white sauce and is super easy to make.  Adding Stella® Cheeses' Fontinella really adds a gourmet element that kicks this dish up several notches.  Seriously, don't you won't regret using this cheese in your sauce.  

Ingredients

Chicken Penne

• 3 chicken breast, diced
• 2 cups of penne pasta
• 1large onion, diced
• 8 strips of bacon, diced
• 1 tbsp garlic, chopped
• 2 tbsp vegetable/olive oil
• 1 tbsp butter
• Black pepper, optional
• Salt, optional
• Seasoning salt, optional

Fontinella Béchamel Sauce

• 1/2 cup of Stella Cheeses' Fontinella Cheese
• 1 cup milk/soy milk
• 2 tbsp flour
• 2 tbsp butter
• Black pepper to taste
• Salt to taste
• Splash of chicken stock

Directions

In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil.  Once your water is boiling add your pasta and cook until completely done or according to the directions on the box.  Also, you can add a drizzle of oil into the water to help prevent your pasta from sticking together.

While your penne pasta is cooking, in a large skillet over medium heat add in butter and oil.  Once your butter has melted, add in your onions.  Let your onion cook down for about two minutes and then add in your bacon and cook until done.  Add in garlic and cook for another 60 seconds.  Then remove the bacon and onion mixture from the skillet.

Next, in the same skillet add in your diced chicken breast.  You can season your chicken breast however you like.  I kept it simple and seasoned mine with seasoning salt and pepper.  As the chicken cooks, it will pick up some of the flavors from the onion, bacon, and garlic that was previously cooked in there.

Remove your penne pasta from its pot once done.  In that same pot melt down your 2 tablespoons of butter for your sauce on medium heat.   Once the butter is melted, turn down the heat to low and stir in your flour for about two minutes.  Do not let your flour burn or get stuck to the bottom of your pot.

Once your flour and butter are well mixed, start pouring in your milk a little bit at a time, making sure to whisk continuously.  When you have all of your milk mixed in, add in your salt and pepper in accordance to your taste preferences.  Then add in a splash of chicken stock.  Whisk again and start to add in your Fontinella cheese saving a few tablespoons to garnish at the end.

Continue to whisk until all of your cheese is melted.  This should take less than two minutes.

Now that your béchamel sauce is done, remove from it from the heat.  Then mix in the chicken, pasta, and half of your bacon, onion and garlic mixture.

Once that is mixed well and coated evenly with sauce, you can top it with the rest of the bacon, onion, garlic mixture as well as sprinkle on the remainder of your Fontinella cheese.

Serve and be prepared for your guests to ask for seconds.  Maybe even thirds if there's no shame in their game.

I really hope that you enjoy this recipe!  Even more so, I hope that recipe encourages each of you to get into the kitchen and start experimenting.  Making gourmet dishes doesn't have to be hard.  It just takes quality ingredients like Stella® Cheeses, a little holiday spirit, and lots of love.

Want to find more of delicious gourmet recipes to share with your family and friends this holiday season? Check Stella® Cheeses' official website here.  You also follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.  

What is your favorite dish to make during the holidays?