Description
Comfort meets indulgence in this irresistible creamy bacon pasta, where crispy bacon dances with silky sauce and perfectly cooked noodles. Rich flavors and simple ingredients create a soul-warming meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 8 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 cup (100g) grated Parmesan cheese
Pasta and Base Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) pasta (penne, rigatoni, or spaghetti)
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons butter
Seasonings and Garnish:
- 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 a large pot of salted water and cook the pasta until it reaches a tender yet firm consistency, ensuring to save a cup of the starchy cooking liquid before draining.
- While the pasta cooks, transform bacon pieces into crispy golden morsels by rendering them slowly in a spacious skillet over medium heat, which will take approximately 5-6 minutes.
- Use a paper towel-lined plate to drain the bacon, reserving around two tablespoons of the rendered fat within the skillet for developing rich flavor foundations.
- Introduce minced garlic to the bacon drippings, allowing it to release its aromatic essence for roughly one minute without browning.
- Pour heavy cream and chicken broth into the skillet, creating a luxurious base that will gently simmer and develop complexity.
- Incorporate grated Parmesan cheese, whisking smoothly to melt and integrate, then season with freshly cracked black pepper and optional red pepper flakes for subtle heat.
- Reunite the cooked pasta with the crispy bacon pieces, carefully folding them into the creamy sauce, using reserved pasta water to adjust consistency as needed.
- Perform a final seasoning check, potentially adding more salt or pepper to enhance the overall flavor profile.
- Elegantly finish the dish by scattering freshly chopped parsley across the top, providing a vibrant burst of color and herbaceous freshness before serving immediately.
Notes
- Pasta Water Magic: Use starchy pasta water to thin and emulsify the sauce, creating a silky, restaurant-quality texture that clings perfectly to each pasta strand.
- Bacon Crispiness Control: Cook bacon slowly over medium heat to render fat evenly and achieve maximum crunchiness without burning, ensuring a delightful textural contrast.
- Low-Sodium Hack: Reduce salt by using low-sodium chicken broth and tasting before adding extra salt, as bacon and Parmesan already contribute significant saltiness.
- Dairy-Free Adaptation: Swap heavy cream with coconut milk or cashew cream, and use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan for a creamy, plant-based alternative that maintains rich flavor complexity.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 760
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 42g
- Saturated Fat: 22g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 70g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 105mg