Pasta with Bacon & Peas

This is one of my go-to’s when I’m in a rush. It NEVER FAILS. You really need only 5 ingredients and the whole dish comes together in about 15 minutes. That’s my kinda meal! Very, very kid friendly as well, which is a huge plus.

Why You’ll Love Pasta with Bacon & Peas:

• Flavourful and Comforting: The smoky richness of bacon combined with the sweet freshness of peas and mint create a light but indulgent dish.
• Quick and Easy: Ready in about 15 minutes, this dish is perfect for those evenings when you want a delicious meal without a lot of fuss.
• Versatile: Easily adaptable to various dietary preferences and perfect for using up leftovers or pantry staples.

How to Make Pasta with Bacon & Peas:

Step One:

Heavily salt boiling water and add in pasta of your choice. Cook until al dente. Reserve pasta water.

Step Two:

In a pan over medium heat, add just a splash of olive oil and then add the chopped bacon. Continue to cook until crisp and brown (about 3-4 minutes).

Step Three:

Add the chopped garlic and stir for another 2 minutes, being careful not to brown the garlic. 

Step Four:

Add the peas and stir for another minute (stir for 2 more minutes if using fresh peas).

Step Five:

Add the al dente pasta directly into the pan with a cup of the starchy pasta water. Increase heat to medium-high and keep stirring until the sauce coats the pasta. 

Step Six:

Remove from the heat and add freshly chopped mint and a cup of grated parmesan and stir to combine.

Step Seven:

Before serving add some more parmesan and black pepper.

What kind of peas to use in this Pasta with Bacon & Peas?

Fresh peas vs frozen peas: either work here – if you’re using frozen, they won’t need much time in the sauce pan. If you’re using fresh, I like sautéing for an extra minute or two with the bacon and garlic before adding the al dente pasta in. They will also continue cooking as you add the starchy pasta water keep in mind!

What type of bacon to use?

The bacon gives you a rich and smoky flavour, which adds a really nice complexity to the pasta dish. I like using a thicker cut style of bacon as it holds up well during cooking. You could also use pancetta!

Substitutions for Pasta with Bacon & Peas:

• Gluten-Free: Opt for gluten-free pasta
• Vegetarian: Skip the bacon and just include the peas, garlic, parmesan and mint
• Dairy-Free: Use a dairy-free parmesan substitute or nutritional yeast to achieve that cheesy texture and flavour.

If You Like This Recipe, You May Also Like:

Spring Pea Pasta

Garlic Confit Pasta alla Vodka

Creamy Lemon Pasta

Fettuccine alla Bolognese 

@britacooks

Mains | Pasta

Pasta with Bacon & Peas

Smoky bacon, parmesan, and bright, fresh peas make this 15 minute pasta dish an absolute favourite.

Prep Time :5 minutes mins

Cook Time :10 minutes mins

Serves: 2 people

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Ingredients

• 1/2 lb pasta
• 1 cup peas fresh or frozen
• 4 slices bacon chopped
• 1 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano grated
• 2 garlic cloves chopped
• fresh mint
• olive oil
• salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Heavily salt boiling water and add in pasta of your choice. Cook until al dente. Reserve pasta water.
2. In a pan over medium heat, add just a splash of olive oil and then add the chopped bacon. Continue to cook until crisp and brown (about 3-4 minutes).
3. Add the chopped garlic and stir for another 2 minutes, being careful not to brown the garlic (lower the heat if it's getting too hot).
4. Add the peas and stir for another minute (stir for 2 more minutes if using fresh peas).
5. Add the al dente pasta directly into the pan with a cup of the starchy pasta water. Increase heat to medium-high and keep stirring until the sauce coats the pasta and the peas finish cooking.
6. Remove from the heat and add freshly chopped mint and a cup of grated parmesan and stir to combine.
7. Before serving add some more parmesan and black pepper.

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