Description
Succulent bacon meets creamy pasta in this hearty Creamy Bacon Pasta recipe that combines classic comfort with Italian-inspired flavors. Cheese, crispy bacon, and rich sauce blend perfectly for a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340 g) pasta (penne, rigatoni, or spaghetti)
- 8 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 cup (100 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsps butter
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- ½ cup (120 ml) chicken broth
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- Salt, to taste
- ¼ cup (15 g) chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Boil pasta in salted water until al dente, reserving one cup of starchy cooking liquid before draining completely.
- Bacon Rendering: Crisp bacon in a large skillet until golden brown, removing pieces to a paper towel while preserving the rendered fat in the pan.
- Sauce Creation: Melt butter with minced garlic, then pour in cream and chicken broth. Whisk in Parmesan cheese until smooth, seasoning with black pepper and red pepper flakes for depth of flavor.
- Combining Elements: Fold cooked pasta and crispy bacon into the creamy sauce, adjusting consistency with reserved pasta water to achieve a silky texture that clings perfectly to each pasta strand.
- Finishing Touch: Garnish with freshly chopped parsley, creating a vibrant and appetizing dish ready to be served immediately.
Notes
- Preserve Pasta Water: Save one cup of starchy cooking liquid before draining, which helps create a silky, perfectly textured sauce and allows easy adjustment of consistency.
- Control Bacon Crispness: Cook bacon slowly to render fat evenly, ensuring golden-brown crunchiness without burning, which can make the dish bitter and unpalatable.
- Master Sauce Consistency: Whisk Parmesan gradually and watch sauce closely to prevent separation or graininess, maintaining a smooth, creamy texture that clings beautifully to pasta.
- Customize for Dietary Needs: Substitute bacon with turkey bacon for lower fat content, use gluten-free pasta for celiac-friendly version, or add vegetarian bacon alternatives for plant-based diets.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 747
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 47 g
- Saturated Fat: 23 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg