Description
Indulgent Creamy Bacon Pasta weaves rich Italian-inspired comfort with smoky bacon and silky sauce. Crispy pork bits and velvety noodles blend into a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Pasta and Starches:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) pasta (penne, fettuccine, or spaghetti)
- 1/2 cup pasta water (reserved)
Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Boil pasta in salted water until al dente, carefully extracting ½ cup of starchy cooking liquid before straining.
- Render bacon pieces in a spacious skillet over medium flame, cooking until golden and crisp. Transfer crispy bacon to a paper towel-lined plate.
- In the same skillet with residual bacon fat, gently melt butter and sauté minced garlic until aromatic, approximately 30-45 seconds.
- Reduce heat to low, introducing heavy cream, grated Parmesan, kosher salt, and cracked black pepper. Whisk continuously until sauce transforms into a silky, uniform consistency.
- Incorporate cooked pasta directly into the creamy sauce, gently folding to ensure complete coverage. Strategically add reserved pasta water to achieve desired sauce thickness and smoothness.
- Sprinkle the reserved crispy bacon fragments across the pasta, then garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a vibrant finishing touch. Serve piping hot for optimal flavor and texture.
Notes
- Swap bacon for turkey bacon or tempeh bacon to create a lighter, potentially healthier version suitable for those watching fat intake.
- Reserve pasta water early and keep it warm to ensure perfect sauce consistency when mixing ingredients.
- For a gluten-free adaptation, use gluten-free pasta and double-check that Parmesan cheese contains no gluten additives.
- Toast garlic briefly to enhance its nutty flavor without burning, which can make the sauce bitter and unpleasant.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 525 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg