The first time I tasted Bowtie Festival at Johnny Carino’s, I knew I had to recreate this comforting dish at home. This beloved pasta creation combines the savory crunch of bacon with tender grilled chicken and al dente bowtie pasta, all wrapped in a luxurious creamy tomato sauce. Originating from Johnny Carino’s Italian restaurants, this dish has become a customer favorite for its perfect balance of flavors and textures. Now, you can bring this restaurant-quality meal to your kitchen in just 40 minutes!
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Table of Contents
Why This Recipe Works
The secret to this dish’s incredible flavor lies in its layered cooking approach. By sautéing aromatic garlic and onions in butter before adding the remaining ingredients, you create a flavorful base. The reduction of heavy cream and Asiago cheese creates a naturally thick sauce that clings perfectly to each piece of pasta. The combination of fresh tomatoes and creamy Alfredo provides a balanced tanginess that cuts through the richness.
What is Bowtie Festival?
One of Johnny Carino’s most popular dishes is the Bowtie Festival. You might wonder why it is called that. It’s filled with pasta, grilled chicken, bacon, and a creamy tomato sauce – a festival for the mouth!
What’s not to love about crisp bacon and grilled chicken? Best of all you can recreate this dish at home in no time at all.
Even if you aren’t an experienced cook, you can make this recipe. You can make it even more flavorful by using a homemade creamy Alfredo sauce. There are several good jars of Alfredo sauce available if you don’t want to make it from scratch.
Ingredients
This pasta dish is made with common ingredients you may already have in your pantry. You don’t need to go to the store to find exotic ingredients. Here’s what you need:
- Bowtie pasta (farfalle) – Forms the hearty base of this dish
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts – Provides lean protein and substance
- Bacon – Adds smoky flavor and delightful crunch
- Roma tomatoes – Contributes fresh acidity and bright color
- Red onion – Creates aromatic foundation and slight sweetness
- Fresh Garlic – Infuses the dish with essential Italian flavor
- Butter РForms the base for saut̩ing and adds richness
- Heavy whipping cream – Creates a luxurious texture in the sauce
- Alfredo sauce – Provides creamy consistency and depth of flavor
- Asiago cheese – Adds nutty, complex flavor and helps thicken the sauce
- Garlic salt – Enhances savory notes throughout the dish
- Salt and pepper – Balances and brightens all flavors
How to Make Johnny Carino’s Bowtie Festival
- Prepare the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and set it aside.
- Cook the chicken if needed. You can boil, bake, or grill it. Cut it into bite-sized pieces.
- In a heated saute pan, combine butter, garlic, onions, bacon, tomatoes, chicken, and spice mixture.
- When onions begin to turn translucent, add heavy cream and Asiago cheese.
- Once cheese and cream have been reduced by half, add Alfredo sauce and cooked pasta.
- Stir until well combined and remove from heat.
- Allow pasta to cool for a few minutes so the cheese and sauce can thicken.
- When you serve, garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese
What to Serve with this Bowtie Pasta Dish
To balance out the richness of the Bowtie Festival, serve sides with lighter or contrasting flavors. By offering a fresh salad, crunchy bread, or a tangy vegetable side, you can create a well-rounded meal that satisfies all tastes. Here are some ideas:
- Breadsticks, ciabatta, focaccia, or garlic bread.
- Minestrone or tomato basil soup.
- Mixed green salad with Italian dressing or Caesar salad.
- Vegetables such as roasted asparagus, steamed green beans, or crispy brussels sprouts.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Storing: Allow the pasta to cool to room temperature. Transfer it to an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Freezing is not recommended.
Reheating: You can reheat the pasta in the microwave, covering it loosely and stirring occasionally to ensure even heating. Alternatively, reheat on the stovetop by transferring the pasta and sauce to a saucepan and warming over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
Make this Johnny Carino Chicken Bowtie Festival Pasta recipe tonight!
Johnny Carino’s Bowtie Festival
Ingredients
- 1 ounce melted butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic chopped
- 1/8 cup diced red onion
- 1/4 cup diced cooked bacon
- 1/4 cup diced Roma tomatoes
- 1 cup sliced, cooked chicken
- 1 ounce heavy (whipping) cream
- 1 jar Ragu Alfredo sauce (I got the Cheesy kind)
- 1/8 cup Asiago cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- 10 ounces pre-cooked Bowtie pasta
Instructions
- In a heated sauté pan, combine butter, garlic, onions, bacon, tomatoes, chicken, and spice mixture.
- When onions begin to turn translucent, add heavy cream and Asiago cheese.
- Once cheese and cream have reduced by half, add Alfredo sauce and bowtie pasta. Toss until well combined and remove from the heat.
- Allow the pasta to cool for a few minutes so the cheese and sauce can thicken.
Notes
Nutrition
Love pasta? Try these recipes!
- One Pot Cheesy Italian Pasta
- Easy Chicken Alfredo Recipe
- Gnocchi Casserole
- Cajun Style Pasta
- Italian Sausage Pasta
- Spaghettios and Meatballs
- DIY Hamburger Helper Lasagna
- Baked Spaghetti Casserole
- Pasta Rustica Recipe
- Pasta Romana
More Johnny Carino Copycat Recipes
Be sure to check out more of the best pasta recipes and my famous casual dining restaurant copycat recipes.
Trying this recipe tonight. Thank you for Sharing. Reading all of the comments I can’t wait!(:
My daughter has made this and it’s one of our favorites, SOOOO good! She just made it for my birthday dinner. Having leftovers as we speak lol
I have made this several times. I prefer Bertoli sauce over Ragu though. Sometimes I will add fresh spinach or broccoli. My grown son asks for it all the time. It’s his favorite. He’s a picky eater and ALWAYS gets seconds on this…plus a plate to take home 🙂
This is an excellent recipe, that I’ve used at least 10 times. Everyone absolutely loves it!
Thank you Shawn. I am glad you really enjoy the recipe.
Really, really good….tastes just like Johnny Carinos. My family really loved it. Two thumbs up!!!!!
We make this all of the time for a nice,quick delicious meal for our family or when we have company….Super easy and so delicious!
I have tried 3 different bowtie festival copycat recipes and this is my least favorite of the three. I only tried this one because I was in a time crunch and this is definitely the least time consuming. Using the ragu sauce ruined it for me though. The other three people I made it for thought it was great, but I have particular taste buds when it comes to sauces and it just didn’t taste like the Johnny Carinos version to me. I won’t be making it again this way.
I think the that the Alfredo sauce compliments the pasta is amazing. I really do love apples. And spaghetti is superior
I made this on Valentine’s Day, and my boyfriend and I agreed it tasted exactly like the Carino’s bowtie festival. It was absolutely delicious!
I don’t know how to cook very well, but this recipe gave me a thumbs up from the whole family. Grilled the chicken, tastes just like going out to the restaurant. Now, just need to try tiramisu.
does the recipe really call for just one ounce of heavy cream?
Yes it does.
does the recipe really call for just one ounce of heavy cream?
Yes, and that ounce makes a big difference! I’ve made this recipe myself, and it’s great.
YUMMM Thanks so much for sharing this!! It was great! I was worried that the canned alfredo sauce wasn’t going to be as good as homeade but it was wonderful…I added extra cream and cheese …haha and even topped it off with artichokes and black olives…SO GOOD!
Just tried this tonight and it was delicious! As close to the restaurant as you can get (which is fantastic since the closest johnny carinos is over an hour away from where I live!) Thanks so much for sharing!!
I just love love love this dish!
Made it for my wife on Mother’s Day. We loved it!
David, I am so glad that you two enjoyed the recipe!
Very good!! I added some frozen peas to the sauce & topped it all off with some scallions—yummy!!
Johnny Carino’s Bowtie Festival is my usual when I go to JC… I love this dish… The recipe tasted JUST like it and was very easy to make! I’ll definitely make it again. Delicious!
IM TRYING THIS 2M
I had this at Johnny Carinos just yesterday and loved it will make it
Definately not a creamy tomato sauce. But a very delicious recipe! I breaded the chicken with crushed bran flakes and corn flakes, mixed with pepper, garlic and a little bit of flour before cooking. It was so good!
its an asiago sauce not a creamy tomoato sauce!
Did you read those recipe that said “Alfredo” not Tomato!
She did read the recipie. The descirption clearly states tomato. ”
This dish features bacon, fresh vegetables, and chicken, all tossed in a creamy tomato sauce.”
Dude. I love when you’re cooking pasta and the oil comes out and burns your cat. lol xDDDDDD 9.5/302
Not sure I understand that at all. No cats were harmed in making this dish at my house.