Creamy Pasta with Bacon and Peas
This creamy pasta with bacon and peas is the perfect balance of rich, savory, and slightly sweet flavors! With crispy bacon, tender peas, and a velvety sauce, it’s an easy, family-friendly dinner you’ll want to make again and again.
Servings: 5 people
Calories: 1182kcal
Ingredients
- 12 oz spaghetti
- 6 slices bacon crumbled or chopped
- 1 cup sweet peas
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ½ cup grated Parmesan
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- First, cook the spaghetti in salted water until al dente, then drain. Save some pasta water before draining to adjust the sauce later. In a large pan, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy, then remove and set aside. Leave a little bacon fat in the pan for extra flavor.
- Add olive oil to the same pan and sauté the garlic for about a minute until fragrant. Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up any bits from the pan. Stir in the heavy cream and bring it to a gentle simmer. Add the peas and let them warm through for a couple of minutes.
- Crumble the bacon and add it back into the pan, then stir in the Parmesan cheese and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss in the cooked spaghetti, mixing everything well. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen it up.
- Serve immediately with extra Parmesan on top, and enjoy this creamy, comforting pasta dish!
Notes
- Don’t overcook the pasta: Cook your pasta al dente so it has a nice bite and holds up well in the creamy sauce.
- Save some pasta water: The starch in the pasta water helps bind the sauce to the pasta.
- Use freshly grated parmesan: It melts better and adds a stronger, nuttier flavor to the dish.
- Cook bacon until crispy: The crispy texture adds a lovely contrast to the creamy sauce and tender peas.
Nutrition
Calories: 1182kcal | Carbohydrates: 174.8g | Protein: 49.2g | Fat: 30.9g | Saturated Fat: 11.7g | Cholesterol: 289mg | Sodium: 791mg | Calcium: 166mg
