Creamy bacon pasta bake
User Reviews
4.5
Creamy bacon pasta bake
Description
The creamy bacon pasta bake starts with cooking chopped streaky bacon until crisp, then removing it to keep the rendered fat. Onion and garlic sauté in this fat to create a flavorful base, enhanced by finely chopped sage adding a subtle herbiness. A roux made from butter and flour thickens the sauce when milk and cream are whisked in, producing a smooth, creamy texture. Parmesan and part of the cheddar cheese enrich the sauce with sharp and melty components, combining with the bacon for savory notes.
Cooked penne pasta is mixed into the sauce along with reserved pasta water to control consistency, ensuring each piece is well coated but not dry. Topping with remaining cheddar and optionally sage leaves before baking forms a lightly browned crust. Baking enhances melding of flavors and adds texture contrast between creamy interior and cheesy top.
This pasta bake serves well as a comforting main dish, balanced with green vegetables or salad for a full meal. It benefits from moderate seasoning to highlight the richness without overpowering the smoked bacon flavor.
Ingredients
- 250 g (½lb) streaky bacon chopped
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 onion finely diced
- 2-3 garlic minced, cloves
- 2 tbsp sage finely chopped
- ¼ cup flour
- 2 cups milk
- ½ cup heavy cream or whipping cream
- 2 tbsp parmesan grated
- 1 cup cheddar cheese divided, grated
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- 500 g (1lb) penne pasta boiled in salted water, drained + 1 cup cooking water reserved
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F.
- In a large, oven-proof pan, fry the bacon until it starts to crisp. Remove from the pan and set aside. Drain off the bacon fat and reserve for cooking with.
- In the same pan, melt the butter and add the onion. Allow to cook until soft.
- Add the garlic and sage and cook for a minute before adding the flour.
- Stir the flour into the butter then whisk in the milk and cream. Reduce the heat and allow to simmer for 5-7 minutes until the sauce is thick and creamy. Remove from the heat then stir in the bacon, Parmesan and half of the grated cheese. Season to taste.
- Add the cooked pasta and some of the pasta cooking water. Stir to coat the pasta in the sauce. At this stage, the sauce should look quite thin. The pasta will absorb more sauce as it cooks so if it looks too dry at this stage, add more pasta cooking water.
- Top with the remaining cheese and more sage leaves if desired then place in the oven.
- Allow to bake for 15-20 minutes until the cheese is golden brown.
- Remove from the oven, allow to cool for 10 minutes then serve.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 6Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 589 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 589kcal | 29% |
| Carbohydrates | 76g | 25% |
| Protein | 30g | 60% |
| Fat | 18g | 28% |
| Saturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Cholesterol | 51mg | 17% |
| Sodium | 572mg | 24% |
| Potassium | 537mg | 11% |
| Fiber | 5g | 20% |
| Sugar | 8g | 16% |
| Vitamin A | 440IU | 9% |
| Vitamin C | 2mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 319mg | 32% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.5
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