0 from 162 votes
Creamy bacon pasta bake
Creamy bacon sauce makes this pasta bake a delicious, comforting dinner. This is the perfect recipe to make-ahead and feed a crowd.
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
50 mins
Servings: 6
Calories: 589 kcal
Course:
Dinner
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 250 g (½lb) streaky bacon chopped
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 onion finely diced
- 2-3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tbsp sage finely chopped
- ¼ cup flour
- 2 cups milk
- ½ cup heavy / whipping cream
- 2 tbsp parmesan grated
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese divided
- salt and 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.
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Calories
589kcal
(29%)
Carbohydrates
76g
(25%)
Protein
30g
(60%)
Fat
18g
(28%)
Saturated Fat
8g
(40%)
Cholesterol
51mg
(17%)
Sodium
572mg
(24%)
Potassium
537mg
(15%)
Fiber
5g
(20%)
Sugar
8g
(16%)
Vitamin A
440IU
(9%)
Vitamin C
2mg
(2%)
Calcium
319mg
(32%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 589
% 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.