Description
A quick, affordable, and delicious weeknight pasta dish featuring crispy bacon, penne, and a rich, velvety garlic parmesan sauce that tastes better than takeout.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 8–10 strips thick-cut bacon, chopped
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1.5 cups heavy cream
- ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt for pasta water
- Optional: ½ cup dry white wine, ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes, 2 cups fresh spinach
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Chop bacon, mince garlic, grate Parmesan, and measure out liquids.
- Cook bacon in a large cold skillet over medium heat until crispy and golden brown (5-7 minutes). Remove bacon with a slotted spoon, leaving fat in the pan.
- While bacon cooks, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook penne until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
- Reduce heat under the skillet with bacon fat to medium-low. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes; sauté for 1 minute until fragrant but not brown.
- Pour in chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up browned bits. Simmer for 2 minutes.
- Add heavy cream and Italian seasoning. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Remove skillet from heat. Gradually stir in grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. If too thick, add reserved pasta water.
- Return crispy bacon to the sauce.
- Add drained pasta to the skillet and toss to coat evenly. Adjust consistency with more pasta water if needed. Taste and adjust salt.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Save the starchy pasta water to help emulsify the sauce. Use fresh Parmesan cheese, not pre-grated, to avoid a grainy texture. Remove the pan from heat before adding cheese to prevent separation. For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 26
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 52
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 18
Keywords: pasta, penne, garlic parmesan, bacon, creamy sauce, weeknight dinner, quick meals, comfort food, better than takeout