Ditalini Pasta with Bacon and Peas is a creamy, savory pasta recipe ready in 30 minutes, with smoky bacon, sweet peas, and Parmesan in every bite!
Looking for more easy pasta recipes? Try my quick Pasta Carbonara, Easy Chicken Orzo Recipe, this One Pot Lemon Orzo pasta or this One Pot Pasta Primavera next!
Ditalini Pasta with Bacon and Peas is what I make when everyone’s hungry and I need dinner to come together fast, but I still want it to taste like I tried.
Crisp bacon, sweet peas, and Parmesan melt into a light creamy sauce that coats every little noodle!
You cook the pasta while the bacon crisps, then everything finishes together in the skillet with cream, Parmesan, and a splash of reserved pasta water to make it glossy and clingy.
My kids don’t pick around the peas in this one, which tells me it’s a keeper!
What others are saying:
“I made this tonight and followed it completely, it was so yummy. I paired it with grilled chicken, perfect!!” Lisa
Ditalini Pasta recipe ingredients:
- Ditalini pasta: Any short pasta works if that’s what you’ve got, but I reach for ditalini because it scoops up the sauce and mix-ins so well. You can use a whole wheat pasta for more fiber if you like!
- Thick-cut bacon: Regular cut is fine too, just keep an eye on it so it crisps without burning!
- Frozen peas: I add them straight from the freezer, but you can use canned if that’s what you have!
- Heavy cream: I stick with heavy cream here since it thickens into a light creamy sauce without needing anything extra.
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese: I grate it myself so it melts smoothly and doesn’t clump!
How to make this easy pasta recipe:
This one comes together fast and feels fancy for how little effort it takes! Scroll down to the recipe card for complete instructions.
- Boil the pasta until al dente.
- Save some pasta water.
- Cook bacon, then stir in the peas, cream, and Parmesan.
- Toss the pasta into the skillet and stir to coat.
How to store leftovers:
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, and add a splash of water or cream if the sauce tightens up after chilling!
To freeze, cool completely and store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months!
Thaw in the fridge overnight when you can, then reheat gently. The pasta will be a bit softer after freezing, so if you prefer it al dente I would serve it fresh.
Serving suggestions:
Try it with No Knead Artisan Bread, Mom’s Homemade Buns, Garlic Bread, or Homemade Breadsticks to soak up the creamy sauce!
I also like to add a quick veg like Cheesy Baked Asparagus, Air Fryer Green Beans, or Roasted Carrots to round it out!
If you want to add more protein, add some Grilled Chicken Thighs or Baked Pork Chops!
Ditalini Pasta with Bacon and Peas
written by Ashley Fehr
Ingredients
- 454 grams ditalini pasta, (1 lb)
- 4 slices thick cut bacon, (or 6 slices regular cut) chopped
- 1½ cup frozen peas
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ⅓ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- reserved pasta water
- salt and freshly cracked pepper
Instructions
- In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook ditalini just until al dente according to package directions.
- Meanwhile, cook bacon over medium-high heat in a large skillet until browned and crisp.
- Add the peas, cream, and Parmesan and reduce the heat to medium-low. Keep at a low simmer, stirring often, until heated through.
- Reserve 1 cup of pasta water and drain the ditalini.
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce and stir, adding pasta water and stirring until the sauce and pasta come together.
- Taste and season with salt and pepper.
Video
Notes
- Pasta: any cut of pasta will work with this recipe, but ditalini is a favorite here. Peas: peas add a fun pop of color and nutritional value, but you can swap them for another veggie or some fresh chopped spinach.
- Cream: a touch of heavy cream adds richness and delicious flavor! I don’t recommend milk or light cream because the sauce won’t get as thick.
- More sauce: This pasta has a light cream sauce. If you want a very creamy sauce, you can double the cream and increase the Parmesan to ½ cup.
- Other substitutions: the ingredients in this recipe are so few, and each is chosen for a reason! You are welcome to play around with it, but if you find you’re changing it a lot, you might want to have a look at my other pasta dishes to see if there’s something else you’d enjoy more.
- Store: Store this dish in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Allow it to cool to room temperature before putting it in the fridge.
- Freeze: You can freeze this recipe if you need to. Let it cool completely, then store it in freezer-safe bags or containers and freeze it for up to 3 months. Defrost and reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Tag @thereciperebelVariations and Substitutions
- Different veggie: Swap peas for chopped spinach, or use another quick-cooking vegetable.
- Extra creamy: Double the cream and increase the Parmesan for a thicker, creamier finish!
- Gluten-free: Use gluten-free ditalini or another gluten-free short pasta.
- Fresh herbs: Add parsley or mint right at the end for a fresh finish.
- Make it vegetarian: Ditch the bacon for a creamy vegetarian pasta dish!
- Add heat: Stir in red pepper flakes for a little kick.
Adriane says
My son absolutely LOVES this recipe and regularly requests it. I do make a couple of tweaks just to suit our taste and needs. I usually use an entire pack of bacon (12oz) simply because I don’t use bacon for anything else, but I do drain off a lot of the grease since I am using so much more bacon in the recipe. I add a little flour to the bacon grease in the pan and then some chicken broth to start a roux before I add the cream.I don’t tend to measure the cream and Parmesan, but I use a little more than half of a 6 ounce wedge of cheese. I also like to add a little garlic to the recipe. I also added just a little bit of smoked paprika when I made it most recently, and it really complimented the bacon in it nicely. Because we often have leftovers, I add a little extra milk to the sauce to thin it so that when the pasta continues to absorb, it will still have some sauce left. Fantastic recipe!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks for sharing Adriane!
Mo says
Was thinking about swapping out corn for the peas in this recipe! Do you think that would be ok? Can I use fresh corn off the cobb or should I use frozen corn?
Ashley Fehr says
Yes I think either would work!
Julie says
This worked exactly as written, thanks! We all loved. The key is the pasta water. I used a little extra bacon and used paper towels to remove the grease. Easy and delicious.
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks for sharing Julie!
Cat D says
Made this EXACTLY how it’s written… it’s good, but it’s not 5 stars. There’s nothing in this to add flavor! I had to add garlic powder to give it some flavor because no amount of salt and pepper seemed to be saving it. I strongly recommend adding garlic or something similar with the cream and other ingredients. Otherwise it has no flavor.
Ashley Fehr says
Hi Cat! I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy it! I generally find that if pasta has no flavor the water was not sufficiently salted during the cooking process. Between that, the bacon and the Parmesan (plus salt and pepper), we find it has plenty of flavor, but you are always welcome to add to it as you wish.
Liz Barton says
I made this tonight, it was so simple and so incredibly yummy!! Thank you
The Recipe Rebel says
Glad you enjoyed it, Liz!
Lisa says
I made this tonight and followed it completely, it was so yummy. I paired it with grilled chicken, perfect!!
The Recipe Rebel says
So happy to hear, Lisa! Thank you!
Maddy says
Just made this tonight and it was so quick and easy! Me and my fiancé both really enjoyed it.
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Maddy! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Alexandra Deoni says
I keep the bacon grease and instead of pasta water, I sometimes add chicken broth for extra flavour and sautée a bit of garlic. It’s a favourite recipe at my house! Great recipe!
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Alexandra! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Mary says
Hi Ashley. Quick question. Do you drain the bacon grease or is that part of the cream sauce? It didn’t say in the cooking directions. This sounds yummy and easy. I just want to make it as intended.
Thank you!!
Rosanne says
Hi Ashley, I was wondering the same as Mary if you drain the bacon grease out of the pan before you add the sauce ingredients?
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Rosanne, nope you leave it in. It would specifically say to drain if you needed to do so. Hope this helps!
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Mary! No need to drain it. Enjoy!