Satisfying Penne with Bacon

I've relied on this hearty penne with peas and bacon as my go-to dinner fix for so many years now. You can whip up this amazing meal with everyday ingredients in just 20 minutes, and every forkful delivers that perfect combo of creamy goodness and savory flavors.

I stumbled on this dish during one of those crazy busy weeks when I needed something tasty but quick. It's now a twice-monthly staple in our home, and whenever I make it for friends, they always beg me to share how I made it.

What You'll Need

• Penne pasta: Its grooves and ridges grab onto all that yummy sauce perfectly
• Frozen peas: They bring a pop of sweetness and color, and you can toss them in frozen
• Thick-cut bacon: Adds that mouthwatering smoky flavor that makes everyone come back for seconds
• Yellow onion: Gets all sweet and fragrant when cooked alongside the bacon
• Heavy cream: Creates that velvety, smooth sauce without any fancy cooking tricks
• Olive oil: Keeps everything from sticking and adds a bit of extra richness

How To Make It

Get Your Pasta And Peas Ready:

Fill a big pot with lots of salted water and bring it to a full boil on high heat. Toss in your penne and cook it for one minute less than what the box says for that perfect bite. When you're halfway through cooking the pasta, dump your frozen peas right into the same pot. This little trick cooks them just right and lets them soak up some of that starchy goodness.

Cook Your Bacon And Onions:

While your pasta's bubbling away, put a big skillet over medium-high heat and add a splash of olive oil. Once it's hot, throw in your chopped onions and bacon pieces. Let them cook together until the bacon gets crispy and releases its fat, and the onions turn golden and see-through. This usually takes around 5-7 minutes. Just keep an eye on it so nothing burns.

Put It All Together:

Once the pasta and peas are done, drain them well but don't rinse them. Right away, add the hot pasta and peas to your skillet with the bacon and onions. Turn down the heat to medium and pour in your heavy cream. Gently stir everything together until all the pasta gets coated with that dreamy sauce. The starch from the pasta will naturally help your sauce get a bit thicker.

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My favorite memory with this dish happened when my Italian grandpa tried it and gave me a quiet nod of approval. Later he told me how the sweet peas and salty bacon reminded him of meals from when he was a kid in northern Italy.

Perfect Timing Tricks

Getting the timing just right makes all the difference with this pasta. After years of making this dish, I've found that adding peas halfway through cooking keeps them bright green with a slight crunch. Don't let your peas cook too long or they'll turn dull and lose their sweetness. Also, pulling the pasta out a minute early lets it finish cooking in the sauce without getting too soft and mushy.

Ways To Switch It Up

Feel free to play around with what goes into this dish. Don't have bacon? Try pancetta or prosciutto instead. Want a veggie version? Sauté some mushrooms until they're golden brown. You can swap the heavy cream for half and half if you want something lighter, but you might need to add a tablespoon of flour to thicken things up. When spring and summer roll around, fresh herbs like thyme or basil make wonderful additions.

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How To Serve It

This pasta tastes best when you serve it right away in warm bowls. Put some freshly grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano on the table so everyone can add as much as they want. A simple green salad with lemon dressing works great on the side to cut through the richness. Want to make it a complete meal? Pour a glass of crisp white wine like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc to go with it.

Common Recipe Questions

→ Can I use fresh peas instead of frozen?

For sure. If you've got fresh peas handy, just give them a quick dip in boiling water first so they'll be soft enough when mixed with your pasta.

→ Can I substitute the bacon with something else?

You bet! Try swapping in pancetta, turkey bacon, or even chunks of smoked sausage if you want something different from regular bacon.

→ What type of cream works best?

Heavy cream makes everything super rich and yummy, but you can also go with half-and-half if you want something a bit lighter on calories.

→ How can I prevent the pasta from becoming too soft?

Don't cook your pasta all the way through. Pull it off the heat when it's still got a tiny bit of firmness and eat it right away so it won't turn mushy.

→ Can this dish be reheated?

Sure thing, but warm it up slowly on your stove and add a little splash of cream or some pasta water to keep it from drying out.