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Creamy bacon pea pasta in a skillet topped with grated Parmesan cheese and served with a wooden spoon.
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Bacon Pea Pasta

This Bacon Pea Pasta is an easy 30-minute dinner made with tender pasta, crispy bacon, sweet peas, and a creamy Parmesan sauce. It's a simple, family-friendly comfort food recipe perfect for busy weeknights.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: easy dinners, easy pasta recipes
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 12 oz. dried ditalini pasta
  • 1 tbsp unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup diced bacon about 4 oz.
  • 2 shallots minced
  • ¾ cup frozen peas thawed
  • 1 cup half-and-half
  • salt and freshly ground pepper
  • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  • Set a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta until al dente, according to package instructions.
  • In the meantime, in a large pan, heat butter over medium heat; add bacon and saute for 5 minutes until almost crispy. Add shallots, stir occasionally until they begin to soften, 1-2 minutes. Add peas and half-and-half. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Simmer gently until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.
  • Drain pasta, reserving ½ cup of the water. Add pasta to the sauce; toss to combine, adding a little bit of the reserved pasta water at a time, only if necessary.
  • Serve in individual bowls and sprinkle some freshly grated Parmesan on top.

Video

Notes

  • Salt the pasta water generously for the best overall flavor.
  • Reserve the pasta water before draining. Use it to loosen the sauce and create a silky texture if needed.
  • Freshly grated Parmesan melts much more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese.
  • Keep the sauce at a gentle simmer and avoid boiling to prevent the cream from separating.
  • Cook the pasta just to al dente since it will continue to absorb some sauce after it's added to the skillet.
  • Add the bacon near the end of cooking to maintain its crispy texture.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Reheat gently with a splash of milk, half-and-half, or water to restore the creamy consistency.
  • Freezing is not recommended because the cream sauce can separate and become grainy after thawing.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 371kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 254mg | Potassium: 277mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1939IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 138mg | Iron: 1mg