Creamy Bacon Pasta Recipe – pasta simmered in a cheesy sauce and loaded with bacon and green peas. Everything cooks in the same pot. Even the pasta! This easy one-pot dish is ready to eat in under 30 minutes! Pasta, chicken broth, evaporated milk, garlic, onion, red pepper flakes, parmesan, cream cheese, bacon, and green peas. Serve with a side of garlic bread and a salad for a meal the whole family will enjoy.
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Pin This RecipeEasy One-Pot Bacon Pasta
This Creamy Bacon Pasta has been on repeat at our house. Pasta simmered in a creamy sauce and loaded with crispy bacon, green peas, parmesan cheese, and cream cheese. The best thing about this recipe is that everything cooks in the same pot! No boiling the pasta noodles. It cooks in the pan with the other ingredients! Perfect for a busy weeknight! Whip up a side salad and some crusty garlic bread and you are set! Add this easy pasta recipe to your menu ASAP! It is sure to become a family favorite.
How to Make Creamy Bacon Pasta
This pasta is effortless to make with only a few simple ingredients. In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crispy. Drain bacon on paper towels and chop it into small pieces. Discard bacon fat. In the same skillet, combine pasta, evaporated milk, chicken broth, onion powder, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low heat and simmer until the pasta is al dente and the sauce has been reduced. Stir in parmesan cheese, cream cheese, cooked bacon, and frozen green peas. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes for the sauce to thicken. Garnish with fresh parsley and enjoy.
Helpful Tips & Frequently Asked Questions
- I use evaporated milk. Can substitute heavy cream for a creamier sauce.
- Can substitute turkey bacon.
- I use precooked bacon in pasta dishes like this to cut down on prep time.
- You can use freshly grated parmesan cheese or the parmesan in the green can.
- There is no need to thaw the frozen peas. They will quickly cook when you add them to the hot pasta.
- I use campanelle pasta. Bowtie pasta also works great.
- What can I add to the pasta?
- fresh mushrooms
- fresh garlic or minced garlic
- bell peppers
- spinach
- broccoli
- cherry tomatoes
- Italian seasoning
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
What to Serve with Bacon Pasta Recipe
This creamy pasta reminded us of spaghetti carbonara. We usually serve this with a green salad and some homemade garlic bread. An equally delicious side dish is our favorite Italian green beans. This is a great recipe for when you need an easy dinner the whole family will enjoy!
Here are a few of our favorite recipes that go great with this easy pasta dinner:
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One-Pot Creamy Bacon Pasta
Equipment:
Ingredients:
- 12 oz campanelle pasta can use bow-tie or penne
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 (12-oz) can evaporated milk (I used 2%)
- 1½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 4 -oz cream cheese can use light
- ½ lb bacon, cooked and chopped bacon
- ½ cup frozen peas
- salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions:
- In large skillet, combine pasta, evaporated milk, chicken stock, onion powder, garlic powder and red pepper flakes. Cover and simmer for 15-18 minutes, until pasta is done and liquid has reduced.
- Stir in parmesan, cream cheese, frozen peas and cooked bacon. Simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes for the sauce to thicken.
Steph
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Love this recipe I make it as written a lot.
Cooking for company tonight so adding grilled chicken breast!
If you don't like peas, use whatever veggie you do like, broccoli, carrots, artichoke, mushrooms….we made it from the original, added more bacon and peas. Loved it all the way. We did a bit of water at the end, about 2 tablespoons. Will have this often. We used bow tie pasta.
I am going to make this with sautéed mushrooms instead of peas 🙂
This was really good. My husband said to leave off the peas but he would do this again. Not telling him but I will continue to put the peas in just beacuse he ate them and he needs to have some variety in his diet.:)
VickiT – YAY! Glad to hear it was a hit!
Thank you for yet ANOTHER awesome recipe! I made this last night and everyone LOVED it a lot. I also made your Garlic Bites along with it and those were a HUGE hit also. I did reduce the Italian Seasoning to half however because while I love Italian Foods, I have to be careful because one of the common spices used in those I just cannot handle myself taste wise. I was very happy with the reduction of that seasoning and truly, I think leaving it out altogether would be just as awesome. I doubled the recipe and probably could have doubled that yet again.
Thank you for the great recipes.
Just made this 2 nights ago and it came out SO awesome my boyfriend ate all the left-overs for dinner last night! Pairs amazing with yummy garlic bread – this is truly a great recipe: easy to make, delicious, and holds well for future meals! Thanks for posting! xoxo
This looks yummy and perfect for no extra dishes. I'm always a fan of that!
That looks SUPER yummy!! I will have to put that on the menu for next week! 🙂
And here I was thinking I'd add more peas. It's one of the few vegetables my kids will eat! 🙂
Sounds wonderful.
Kelllie M – I totally agree with you about the peas – you can leave them out. I picked all mine out 🙂
No boil seems like a great way to get a delicious meal to the table in a hurry.
It looks good…but I just can't bring myself to use frozen peas. I'm sure I could figure out something else or even just leave them out altogether. But…let me just say…..BACON!!!!!