Bacon And Peas Pasta
Blog,Breakfast,Budget Bites |
April 18, 2023
4/5 - (1 vote)

$4.00 RECIPE / $1.33 SERVING

Every week, go through your pantry and freezer to see what you have leftover.

A half-box of pasta, some frozen bacon, and almost-frozen peas were on my menu this week.

So, for a quick and wonderful lunch, I combined my favorite quick meal template (pasta + Parmesan + greens) with bacon. This Bacon and Peas Pasta will undoubtedly become a staple in my weekly menu!!

WHAT PASTA SHOULD I USE?

Pasta With Bacon And Peas
Food: Pasta With Bacon And Peas
Source: The Skinnyish Dish

Bacon and Peas Pasta can be made with any variety of pasta you have on hand, making it a perfect way to use up pantry leftovers.

Spaghetti, bowtie, fusilli, penne, or even ramen would be delicious! I had these lovely small pasta shells on hand, which turned up so cute since the peas got caught in the shells and looked like peas in a pod.

WHAT ELSE MAY I INCLUDE?

As with most of my recipes, I like to start with a simple “base” that you can eat as is or add to if you have additional ingredients. Here are some other delicious additions to your Bacon and Peas Pasta:

  • Top with a fried egg or chopped hard-boiled egg
  • Toss in a handful of fresh spinach
  • Top with crispy fried onions
  • Sprinkle on a dash of malt vinegar
  • Add heavy cream to make it saucy

BACON AND PEAS PASTA

Pasta with Bacon and Peas is a simple, filling, and an economical dish that can be made with readily available items.
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 25 mins
Servings: 3

INGREDIENTS

  • 8 oz. pasta* ($0.63)
  • 6 oz. bacon ($2.06)
  • 1 small onion ($0.32)
  • 1 cup frozen peas ($0.50)
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan ($0.44)
  • 1/4 tsp salt ($0.02)
  • 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper ($0.02)
  • 1/8 tsp crushed red pepper (optional) ($0.01)

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. For the bacon and peas pasta, bring a pot of water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, add the pasta and cook until it is soft (7-10 minutes). Before draining the pasta in a strainer, save about a half cup of the starchy pasta water.
  2. Cook the bacon while the pasta is cooking. In a large skillet, fry the bacon over medium heat until it is brown and crispy. With a slotted spoon, transfer the cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined dish. Remove the bacon fat from the pan except for about 2 tablespoons.
  3. Finely dice the onion while the bacon is frying. To the remaining bacon fat, add the diced onion and cook until soft (about 5 minutes).
  4. In the same skillet, add the frozen peas and approximately 1/4 cup of the leftover pasta water. Cook, stirring constantly until the peas are well heated.
  5. Remove the skillet from the heat and add the drained pasta, stirring to incorporate.
  6. Parmesan, salt, pepper, crushed red pepper, and chopped bacon are sprinkled over the pasta. Stir everything together. Taste and season with salt and pepper to taste.

NOTES

*Any variety of pasta will suffice.

NUTRITION

  • Serving: 1.3 cups
  • Calories: 601 kcal
  • Carbohydrates: 67 g
  • Protein: 22 g
  • Fat: 26 g
  • Sodium: 724 mg
  • Fiber: 6 g

HOW TO MAKE BACON AND PEAS PASTA

How To Make Bacon And Peas Pasta
Food: How To Make Bacon And Peas
Pasta
Source: The Skinnyish Dish
  1. For the bacon and peas pasta, bring a pot of water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, add the pasta and cook until it is soft (7-10 minutes). Before draining the starchy pasta water in a strainer, set aside 1/2 cup.
  2. Start the bacon while the pasta is cooking. In a pan, fry 6 oz. bacon (or as much you have on hand) over medium heat until brown and crispy. With a slotted spoon, transfer the cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined dish. Remove all of the bacon fat from the pan except 2 tablespoons.
  3. Finely dice a small yellow onion while the bacon is cooking (or half of a large onion). After removing the bacon from the skillet, add the diced onion to the bacon fat and cook until soft, about 10 minutes (about 5 minutes). The onion’s wetness will help dissolve some of the burnt bacon bits from the pan’s bottom.
  4. Add 1 cup of frozen peas and approximately 1/4 cup of the saved pasta water once the onions have softened. Cook and stir over medium heat until the peas are well cooked.
  5. Return the drained pasta to the skillet and mix well. Turn the heat off.
  6. Toss the spaghetti with 1/4 cup Parmesan, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper, and a sprinkling of crushed red pepper, then scatter the fried bacon on top.
  7. Stir until everything is evenly covered in Parmesan cheese. Taste the bacon and peas pasta and season with salt and pepper to taste.