Description
Comforting creamy bacon pasta brings Italian-inspired elegance to weeknight dinners with minimal effort. Crispy bacon bits and rich parmesan sauce create a luxurious meal you can savor in less than 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) pasta (penne, rigatoni, or spaghetti)
- 8 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 cup (100 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
Dairy and Cream:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) chicken broth
Seasonings and Herbs:
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- Salt, to taste
- ¼ cup (15 grams) chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the pasta in a generously salted pot of boiling water, cooking until perfectly tender yet firm. Carefully extract and preserve one cup of starchy cooking liquid before draining the pasta completely.
- Render the bacon pieces in a spacious skillet, allowing them to transform into delectable crispy morsels. Once golden and crunchy, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined surface, retaining a generous coating of rendered fat within the pan.
- Infuse the skillet with butter and aromatic garlic, sautéing until a fragrant cloud emerges. Stream in the cream and chicken broth, creating a luxurious base. Incorporate the Parmesan cheese, whisking until a velvety smooth sauce develops. Introduce black pepper and optional red pepper flakes for a nuanced flavor profile.
- Tumble the cooked pasta and crisp bacon into the creamy mixture, gently folding to ensure every strand becomes lavishly coated. Should the sauce appear dense, gradually introduce reserved pasta water to achieve the ideal silky consistency.
- Elevate the dish with a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley, transforming the pasta into a vibrant, inviting meal ready to be savored immediately.
Notes
- Select short pasta shapes like penne or rigatoni for best sauce-holding capabilities.
- Crisp bacon thoroughly to add delightful crunchy texture and prevent soggy pieces in the creamy sauce.
- Keep pasta water handy for adjusting sauce consistency, helping create silky smooth texture without breaking the cream base.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese instead of pre-packaged for richer, more authentic flavor profile.
- Customize recipe by adding roasted garlic or sautéed mushrooms for extra depth and complexity.
- Lower-fat version possible by substituting half-and-half for heavy cream and turkey bacon for traditional bacon.
- For gluten-free option, replace regular pasta with chickpea or zucchini noodles while maintaining same cooking technique.
- Quickly toss pasta in sauce immediately after cooking to prevent sticking and ensure even coating.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 703
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 853mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 19g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 63g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 92mg