Pasta with Peas and Bacon
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Pasta with peas and bacon? Yes, please! Whip up dinner in a snap with this amazing pasta recipe featuring just a few simple ingredients that really pack a flavor punch. Simple and delicious, this linguine pasta dish featuring bacon, peas, garlic in a cream sauce is sure to become a new favorite!
Who doesn’t love a simple pasta dish? While pasta with healthy white wine sauce is always a smart choice, sometimes I want indulge in a cream sauce with bacon. My first real job was working in the kitchen at an Italian restaurant. One of my absolute favorites on the menu was the carbonara. This pasta recipe is similar to carbonara but uses half and half, omitting the raw egg. The peas are a nice touch and add some great color! Bacon is a great substitute for more expensive cuts of pork traditionally used.
Pasta with Bacon and Peas Ingredients
This is a fairly simple pasta dish that only requires some basic ingredients:
Have you tried using your pressure cooker for pasta? Give this Instant Pot Fettuccine Alfredo a try! I love basic pasta dishes like this when I’m short on time.
How to Make Pasta with Peas and Bacon
Fill a large pot with water and and bring to a boil with some salt. Meanwhile, cook your chopped bacon until over medium heat in a large skillet. Exactly how done depends upon your preference but at least a little crisp is good. Transfer your bacon to paper towels and pat dry. Be sure you do not drain bacon fat from pan.
You want this grease to saute your onions and garlic in for a minute or two and to add flavor to your sauce. Be sure to stir often to avoid over browning.
Add half and half, peas, salt and pepper to taste and continue to cook over medium heat until slightly thickened, about three minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.
Once water is boiling, add linguine and cook to al dente, following package instructions. (You can start cooking your pasta after your bacon is done cooking or close to it.)
Reserve 2/3 cup pasta water before draining pasta.
Add linguine to skillet (or pot if your preference) and gently toss to combine, adding pasta water a little at time to get a creamy consistency. You may not need all the pasta water.
Keep stirring until fully incorporated.
Sprinkle each serving with bacon and remaining Parmesan cheese before serving immediately.
Tips for Making Pasta with Peas and Bacon
- Don’t have time to thaw your pees? No problem! Add them to the pasta water when you have only minute or two left until the linguine is done to warm them up. Drain them with your pasta.
- Angel hair or spaghetti can replace the linguine in this recipe. You will want to time your pasta to finish cooking close to when your sauce will be finished, so if using a thinner pasta, adjust your timing accordingly. It takes approximately 5 to 7 minutes to cook your bacon and another 5 to 6 minutes to make the sauce once you have removed your bacon from the pan.
- Fresh bacon is important. Substituting fully cooked bacon and you’ll lose most of the flavor in the sauce which comes from the bacon fat.
- Yellow or white onion or shallots can be used in place of the red onion.
- Don’t skimp on the reserved pasta water. You’ll want at least a half a cup to work with but I found I needed more than that. Better to have extra reserved in case you need it. As the pasta sits it will soak up the sauce and can become drier. The pasta water can instantly revive it!
I love easy pasta dishes like this one for busy nights. Try Ground Beef Mongolian Noodles if you are feeling for pasta with Asian flavor. It can be made in 30 minutes or less as well!
Pasta with Peas and Bacon
Ingredients
- 1 pound linguine
- 1 package (10 oz) frozen peas, thawed
- 6 slices bacon chopped
- 1/3 cup very thinly sliced red onion
- 2 - 3 cloves garlic finely diced
- 1 cup half-and-half
- Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
- 1/3 cup shredded Parmesan divided
- 2/3 cup pasta water reserved
Instructions
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Fill a large pot with water and and bring to a boil.
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Cook cut bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until lightly crisp. Place paper towels on a plate and transfer bacon to it with a slotted spoon. Pat dry. Set aside. (Do not drain bacon fat from pan.)
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Once water is boiling, add linguine and cook to al dente, following package instructions.
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Add onion and garlic to skillet with bacon fat. Stirring often, cook for a minute or two. Pour half and half into pan and peas. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Continue to simmer until sauce thickens a bit. (This should take two to three minutes) Stir in 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.
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Reserve 2/3 cup pasta water before draining pasta when done to al dente. Add linguine to skillet (or pot if your preference) and gently toss to combine, adding pasta water a little at time to get a creamy consistency. (You may not need all the pasta water.)
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Sprinkle each serving with bacon and remaining Parmesan cheese before serving immediately.
Recipe Notes
Don't have time to thaw your pees? No problem! Add them to the pasta water when you have only minute or two left until the linguine is al dente to warm them up. Drain them with your pasta.
Angel hair or spaghetti can replace the linguine in this recipe.
Pasta with bacon and peas is an easy pasta dinner recipe! Surprising in its simplicity, it is flavorful and the perfect weeknight dinner option. Bacon and pasta are definitely a winning combination! Need more bacon?
Our favorite bacon recipes:
More great bacon dishes to try:
- Bacon Jerky
- Bacon Jalepeno Popper Bites
- Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf
- Keto Caesar Salad with Bacon
- Bacon Cheddar Rolls
- Bacon Cinnamon Rolls
- Bacon Asparagus Frittata
Pasta is a firm favourite in our house. I love how quick and simple this dish is, perfect for a busy weeknight.
So good and easy!!!
This is a wonderful, easy and healthy meal! So simple, yet so delicious! Thanks for the recipe. Can’t go wrong with pasta and impossible to mess up.