Ditalini Pasta with Bacon and Peas
Servings: 5 servings
Calories: 599cal
This Ditalini Pasta with Bacon and Peas recipe makes a delicious meal that's light and creamy, with a great savory flavor. Made with tiny pasta shapes, smoky bacon, sweet peas, and cheese Parmesan. It's perfect for a busy weeknight dinner or a filling lunch.
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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.
Notes
Ingredients and Substitutions:
- 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. If you want a very creamy sauce, you can double the cream.
- 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
Serving: 325grams | Calories: 599cal | Carbohydrates: 75g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 312mg | Potassium: 394mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 745IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 126mg | Iron: 2mg