Name: Creamed Pasta with Bacon and Vegetables
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/2 pound bacon; 1 large onion (diced); 1 large bell pepper (diced); 3 cloves garlic (minced); 1 cup heavy cream; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 pound pasta (cooked according to directions); 1 large tomato (diced); additional salt and pepper to taste; 1/2 cup shaved Parmesan

Creamed Pasta with Bacon and Vegetablesis an easy dinner that comes together in about 40 minutes with just a few pantry staple ingredients.

Pasta with bacon, tomatoes, green peppers, and shaved Parmesan cheese on a white plate.

Is there anything better than bacon? You get so much flavor for a relatively small amount of money.

With only half a pound of bacon, a pound of pasta, and a few veggies, plus a cup of cream, this recipe makes a whole lot of great tasting food on the cheap. It’s the best recipe for serving a crowd!

In the summer, this pasta is so good with achef salador aneasy spinach saladandpeach ice cream. And you could pair it withdinner rollsand somechocolate moussein the colder months.

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

Quick and easy.If you can boil pasta, you can make Creamed Pasta with Bacon and Vegetables.
Affordable.You get a lot of bang for your buck with the ingredients – pasta, bacon, and a few veggies.
Great for a group.This recipe is easy to double or triple and still pretty affordable.

Recipe Ingredients

Bacon
Onion
Bell pepper: any color will do
Garlic
Heavy cream
Salt and pepper
Pasta
Tomato
Parmesan: shaved or shredded works best here

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Stainless steel skillet with cooked bacon and chopped onion and green bell pepper ready to cook into a pasta sauce.

How to Make Creamed Pasta with Bacon and Vegetables

Step #1.On a cutting board, finely chop the raw bacon and then add it to a large skillet. Stirring often, cook it over medium heat until crispy.
Step #2.To the pan with the cooked bacon, add the onion and bell pepper and cook until soft, about 4 to 5 minutes. Then add the garlic and cook for about 1 minute.
Step #3.Add the cream by whisking it in and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Then add the salt and let the whole mixture simmer for about 10 minutes.
Step #4.Combine the hot sauce with bacon and vegetables to hot cooked pasta, add the tomatoes, salt and pepper to taste, and garnish with shaved Parmesan cheese.

Recipe FAQs

Can I add more bacon?

Definitely! You could use a whole pound. If you do, be sure to remove about half of the grease before adding the veggies.

Does gluten-free pasta work in this recipe?

It probably would, but I haven’t tried it. I would recommend using gluten-free pasta in a penne or bow-tie shape.

How can I make Creamed Pasta with Bacon and Vegetables ahead of time?

Make the recipe up until adding everything to the cooked pasta. You can refrigerate the sauce portion of the recipe for up to three days. On the day you’re serving it, reheat the sauce and add it to fresh-cooked pasta (and then add the tomato and Parmesan).

How do I store the leftovers?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.

Pasta with bacon, tomatoes, green peppers, and shaved Parmesan cheese on a white plate with a fork.

Expert Tips

Don’t skip the Parmesanon top of this pasta. It’s not just a garnish but gives this dish a lot of flavor.
If you can,buy a hunk of whole Parmesan and shave it at home. A vegetable peeler works great for this.
Use fresh tomatoes from your gardenor local farmer’s market when they are in season. Be sure they are bright red, firm, and free of blemishes.
This “creamed” pasta sauce is literally just cream. It won’t turn turn into an Alfredo sauce but it will remind you of it.