Creamy Bacon & Spinach Pasta with Parmesan
A comforting Italian-inspired pasta dish with bacon, spinach, and a creamy sauce.
Ingredients
- 8 slices Bacon
- 5 oz, fresh, roughly chopped Spinach
- 300 g (penne, spaghetti, or similar) Pasta
- 1 cup Heavy Cream
- 2 cloves, minced Garlic
- 1/2 cup, freshly grated Parmesan Cheese
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp, freshly ground Black Pepper
- 2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1/4 tsp (optional) Red Pepper Flakes
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
- While pasta is cooking, cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crispy. Remove bacon, drain on paper towels, crumble, and set aside, reserving 1 tablespoon of bacon fat in the pan.
- Add olive oil and minced garlic to the skillet and sauté over medium-low heat until fragrant, about 1 minute. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
- Add spinach to the skillet and cook until wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
- Pour in heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Season with salt, freshly ground black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using).
- Reduce heat to low and let the sauce simmer for a few minutes to thicken slightly. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water.
- Add cooked pasta to the skillet with the sauce and toss to coat.
- Stir in half of the grated Parmesan cheese and toss again.
- Serve immediately, garnished with the crumbled bacon and remaining Parmesan cheese.
Cuisine: Italian
Suitability:
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Serving Size: 3
Meal Type: dinner