This Johnny Carinos Bowtie Festival pasta recipe is a 20 minute meal that’s packed with vibrant flavors and seasoning.  This is my go-to meal when I’m cooking for company. Why? Because everyone LOVES it! I like to serve it with a side dish of oven roasted broccoli, focaccia, or dinner rolls.

A large bowl full of Johnny Carinos Bowtie Festival.

This pasta dish is good! Like, realllll good! My family goes crazy for it. And you will too.

Ingredients

Here’s what you need to make it:

  • Butter
  • Garlic – minced.
  • Onion – you can use yellow, red onion, or a sweet onion.
  • Bacon – have the bacon cooked and diced (or crumbled into bite size pieces).
  • Roma tomatoes – diced.
  • Chicken – cooked and diced.
  • Heavy cream – I never said this recipe was healthy. 😊
  • Alfredo sauce – I use 1 jar of Ragu brand’s classic Alfredo sauce.
  • Asiago cheese
  • Salt & pepper
  • Garlic salt
  • Bowtie pasta

Diced chicken, tomatoes, bacon, and onion in a pot.

How to make bowtie festival

  1. Cook the bowtie pasta. Bring a large pot of water to boil. Once boiling add the bowtie pasta and cook until al dente. Drain the water and set the noodles aside. Bowtie Festival sauce in a large pot.
  2. Make the sauce. Cook the onions in the butter, then add the garlic, bacon, tomatoes, chicken, and spice mixture. Add the heavy cream and asiago cheese to the pan. Cook for about 3-5 minutes, or until the cream mixture has slightly reduced. Add the Alfredo sauce and mix to combine. Bowtie noodles overtop the homemade Johnny Carino's bowtie festival sauce.
  3. Stir in the pasta. Mix the cooked pasta into the sauce.
  4. Serve!

Close up photo of Copycat Johnny Carinos Bowtie Festival pasta.

FAQ and Tips

  • Can you use rotisserie chicken to make this dish? Yes! If you don’t have grilled chicken, substitute it for bottled chicken or rotisserie chicken.
  • Do you have to use asiago cheese in this recipe? The asiago cheese gives this dish a distinct flavor so if you can use it, do! If you’re in a bind and you need to use something else, substitute parmesan cheese for the asiago. The taste won’t be the same, but it will be delicious.

A pasta plate, against a beige background, full of Johnny Carinos Bowtie Festival pasta.

Suggested Sides

And if you want some dessert recommendations I suggest you make my famous No-Bake Peanut Butter Pie, banoffee pie, or chocolate chip cookies.

 

A large bowl full of Johnny Carinos Bowtie Festival.
Print Review
5 from 4 votes

Johnny Carinos Bowtie Festival

This bowtie pasta is SO GOOD! It's easy to make and loved by everyone!!
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 35 mins
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients
 

  • 2 oz butter
  • 1 tsp minced garlic
  • 1/4 cup yellow onion, - if you have a red onion you can use that instead
  • 1/4 cup diced cooked bacon
  • 1/2 cup diced roma tomatoes
  • 1 cup diced cooked chicken - I used 1 large chicken breast
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 jar Ragu Alfredo Sauce
  • 1/4 cup grated Asiago Cheese
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 tsp garlic salt
  • 16 oz bowtie noodles

Instructions
 

  • Cook the bowtie pasta. Bring a large pot of water to boil. Once boiling add the bowtie pasta and cook until al dente. Drain the water and set the noodles aside. 
  • While the noodles are cooking start making the sauce. Iin a heated pan, over medium heat melt the butter. Add the onions. Cook for 2 minutes. Then add the garlic, bacon, tomatoes, chicken, and spice mixture. Cook until onions become translucent. 
  • Add the heavy cream and asiago cheese to the pan. Stir and cook for 2 minutes, or until you notice the cream mixture has reduced a tiny bit. Add the Alfredo sauce and bowtie pasta. Stir until evenly combined. Remove from heat. Serve immediately. 

Video

Notes

Don't be too strict with the bacon. I don't always measure exactly 1/4 cup. We like a little extra bacon in ours so feel free to add to your liking.

Nutrition

Calories: 445kcal (22%)Carbohydrates: 21g (7%)Protein: 10g (20%)Fat: 35g (54%)Saturated Fat: 19g (95%)Cholesterol: 126mg (42%)Sodium: 803mg (33%)Potassium: 101mg (3%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 1g (1%)Vitamin A: 910IU (18%)Vitamin C: 1.5mg (2%)Calcium: 73mg (7%)Iron: 0.9mg (5%)
author: Whitney Wright
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Did you make this recipe?snap a photo and tag @saltandbaker in your posts and stories so I can see what you're making!

This post was first published September 30, 2017 and was updated April 12, 2020 with new photos.