Creamy Bacon & Pea Pasta with Garlic
Ingredients
- 4 slicesbacon
- 4 clovesgarlic
- 1 poundpasta (any short shape (penne, rigatoni, etc.))
- 2 cupsfrozen peas
- 1 cupheavy cream
- ¾ cupparmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoonsbutter
- 1 pinchsalt and black pepper
Method
- 01
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining.
- 02
While pasta cooks, chop bacon into 1/2-inch pieces. Cook in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
- 03
Pour off all but 1 tablespoon bacon fat from the skillet. Add minced garlic and cook over medium heat for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- 04
Add cream and butter, stirring until butter melts. Stir in frozen peas and simmer for 3-4 minutes until peas are tender.
- 05
Add cooked pasta and bacon to the skillet. Toss well, then stir in parmesan cheese. Add pasta water a splash at a time until the sauce coats the pasta smoothly (you may not need all of it).
- 06
Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Serve hot with extra parmesan and a crack of pepper on top.
Spice Tips
For subtle warmth, add 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes when cooking the garlic. Fresh thyme or a pinch of nutmeg in the cream sauce adds earthy depth. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice at the end brightens the richness.
Make-ahead tip: prep the garlic and measure the cream and cheese before starting. The whole dish comes together in under 25 minutes.