Creamy Pasta with Bacon and Peas is an easy, satisfying meal that combines tender pasta, crispy bacon, sweet peas, and a light cream sauce with Parmesan cheese. Garlic and onion add savory flavor, while the bacon brings a smoky richness that pairs beautifully with the creamy sauce.
Ready in about 30 minutes, this pasta is a practical choice for a busy weeknight when you want something comforting without spending hours in the kitchen. Orecchiette is a particularly good choice because its little bowl-shaped pieces catch the sauce, bacon, and peas, but you can use your favorite pasta shape. Finish with freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano and serve immediately.
Creamy Pasta with Bacon and Peas
Ingredients
- 8 ozs dry pasta of your choice; orecchiette is recommended
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 clove garlic finely minced
- ½ pound bacon cut into ¼-inch-thick slices and then cubed
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 small white onion finely diced
- 2 tablespoons chicken stock or water
- ½ cup light cream
- 1 cup frozen peas thawed
- ¼ cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Before draining, reserve a little pasta water in case you need to loosen the sauce.
- Meanwhile, heat the olive oil and minced garlic in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until golden brown and crisp. Transfer the bacon to a plate and set aside.
- In the same pan, melt the butter. Add the diced onion and cook until soft and translucent.
- Add the chicken stock or water and season with salt and black pepper. Stir in the cooked bacon and cook for 2 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to low. Add the light cream and simmer gently for about 5 minutes, until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Add the drained, hot pasta and toss to coat it in the sauce.
- Stir in the thawed peas and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano until everything is evenly combined. If the sauce is too thick, add a little of the reserved pasta water.
- Serve immediately, with additional grated Parmesan if desired.
Nutrition Disclaimer
Art of Cooking Recipes (Paulson Pursuits} is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
