Description
Indulgent Creamy Bacon Pasta brings comfort and flavor to your dinner table with its rich, cheesy sauce and crispy bacon bits. Savory ingredients blend perfectly, promising a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) pasta (spaghetti, fettuccine, or penne)
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings and Spices:
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Cooking Components:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup pasta water (reserved)
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Boil pasta in salted water until al dente, carefully preserving 1/2 cup of starchy cooking liquid before draining.
- Render bacon pieces in a spacious skillet over medium-high heat until golden and crisp, then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
- In the same pan with residual bacon fat, gently sauté minced garlic until aromatic and translucent.
- Introduce heavy cream to the skillet, whisking in grated Parmesan cheese, freshly cracked black pepper, sea salt, and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.
- Fold cooked pasta into the silky sauce, ensuring each strand is luxuriously coated, and gradually incorporate reserved pasta water to create a smooth, clingy texture.
- Toss crispy bacon fragments back into the pasta, allowing them to meld with the creamy sauce.
- Finish the dish by scattering freshly chopped parsley across the top, creating a vibrant garnish that adds a burst of color and fresh herbaceous notes.
- Serve the pasta immediately while piping hot, ensuring maximum flavor and optimal sauce consistency.
Notes
- Always choose thick-cut bacon for maximum crispiness and rich flavor profile.
- Save pasta water carefully as it helps create silky, perfectly emulsified sauce without breaking.
- Test seasoning before final mixing since bacon provides natural saltiness which varies between brands.
- Consider using gluten-free pasta to make dish celiac-friendly without compromising creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 507 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 702 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 19 g
- Cholesterol: 72 mg