Description
Creamy bacon and pea pasta made family-safe with turkey bacon (no pork). Tender peas, crispy bacon, and a rich Parmesan cream sauce come together fast for an easy 25-minute weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
8 oz pasta (penne, rotini, or fettuccine)
6 slices turkey bacon, chopped
1 tbsp butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1/2 cup reserved pasta water (as needed)
1/2 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Fresh parsley or basil, chopped (for serving)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
2. Meanwhile, cook chopped turkey bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Transfer to a plate.
3. In the same skillet, melt butter. Add garlic and sauté 30 seconds until fragrant (don’t brown).
4. Add frozen peas and cook 2–3 minutes until warmed through.
5. Pour in heavy cream. Stir in Parmesan, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (optional). Simmer 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened.
6. Add drained pasta and toss to coat. Add reserved pasta water a splash at a time until the sauce is silky and clings to the pasta.
7. Stir in the crispy turkey bacon. Taste and adjust seasoning.
8. Serve hot topped with fresh parsley or basil and extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
No pork option: this recipe uses turkey bacon. You can also use beef bacon or sautéed mushrooms.
Make it kid-friendly: skip the red pepper flakes.
Sauce too thick? Add a little more reserved pasta water (or a splash of milk).
Storage: refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 3 days; reheat gently with a splash of milk/cream.
Nutrition values are estimates and can vary by brand and exact portions.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe (~1.5 cups)
- Calories: 565
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 19 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg