Johnny Carino’s Bowtie Festival: A Creamy Pasta Delight

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!

Copycat Johnny Carino's bowtie festival in a bowl.

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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 – Forms the base for sautéing 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
Copycat Johnny Carino's bowtie festival ingredients on a wood surface.

How to Make Johnny Carino’s Bowtie Festival

  1. Prepare the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and set it aside.
  2. Cook the chicken if needed. You can boil, bake, or grill it. Cut it into bite-sized pieces.
  3. In a heated saute pan, combine butter, garlic, onions, bacon, tomatoes, chicken, and spice mixture.
  4. When onions begin to turn translucent, add heavy cream and Asiago cheese.
  5. Once cheese and cream have been reduced by half, add Alfredo sauce and cooked pasta.
Cooking copycat Johnny Carino's bowtie festival in a skillet.
  1. Stir until well combined and remove from heat.
  2. Allow pasta to cool for a few minutes so the cheese and sauce can thicken.
  3. When you serve, garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Overhead view of copycat Johnny Carino's bowtie festival in a bowl.

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:

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!

Overhead view of copycat Johnny Carino's bowtie festival.
Copycat Johnny Carino's bowtie festival in a bowl.

Johnny Carino’s Bowtie Festival

A creamy pasta delight with grilled chicken, bacon, and a luxurious sauce that rivals the restaurant original!
5 from 15 votes
Print Pin Rate Add to Collection
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Johnny Carinos Bowtie Festival, Johnny Carinos Recipes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 651kcal

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

For the most authentic flavor, use a high-quality Alfredo sauce or make your own from scratch. The dish tastes even better when the pasta is cooked just shy of al dente, as it will continue to cook slightly when mixed with the hot sauce. For an extra flavor boost, reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water and add it to the sauce – the starch helps the sauce adhere better to the pasta.

Nutrition

Calories: 651kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 133mg | Sodium: 1287mg | Potassium: 220mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 375IU | Vitamin C: 1.6mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 1.2mg

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More Johnny Carino Copycat Recipes

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About Stephanie Manley

Stephanie Manley is the creator of CopyKat.com. She has been recreating copycat recipes since 1995. Learn more about Stephanie Manley.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Michelle

      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

  1. Una

    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 🙂

  2. Angela

    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!

  3. Sheryl

    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.

    • Napoleon B

      I think the that the Alfredo sauce compliments the pasta is amazing. I really do love apples. And spaghetti is superior

  4. Cell

    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!

  5. Groovymama91

    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.

  6. Kristaljoysmith

    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!

  7. Whisper5_81

    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!!

  8. SKS

    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!

  9. kb

    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!

5 from 15 votes (11 ratings without comment)

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