Easy Weeknight Bacon Broccoli Pasta
User Reviews
5
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Total Time
30 mins
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Servings
4 people
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
American
Easy Weeknight Bacon Broccoli Pasta
Description
This recipe begins by cooking pasta until al dente and reserving it. Bacon slices are cooked in a skillet until crispy and browned, then removed to drain. The rendered bacon fat is left in the pan to sauté minced garlic and broccoli florets over medium heat, ensuring the broccoli softens and brightens in color without losing texture. Ample freshly cracked black pepper is added to enhance flavor.
Once the broccoli is tender, cooked pasta is tossed in the skillet, combining with bacon pieces and grated Parmesan cheese for a creamy and savory coating. A drizzle of extra virgin olive oil or additional bacon grease can be added if the mixture appears dry, enhancing mouthfeel. The minimal seasoning allows natural flavors of bacon and fresh vegetables to shine.
This pasta dish is convenient for weeknight meals because it uses common ingredients and cooks quickly. The combination of smoky bacon, mild garlic, tender broccoli, and sharp Parmesan complements one another for a satisfying plate. It can be served as a main course or alongside a green salad.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces pasta cooked
- 4 lices Bacon chopped
- 3 garlic minced, cloves
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese freshly shaved or grated
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes crushed
- black pepper lots, fresh cracked
- extra virgin olive oil if needed for drizzling
Instructions
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the directions.
- While the water is boiling, heat a large skillet or saucepan over medium-low heat and add the bacon. Cook until it is browned, crispy and all the fat is rendered, then removed the bacon with a slotted spoon and set it on a paper towel to drain and excess grease.
- Remove all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease from the pan and turn the heat up to medium. Stir in the garlic and the broccoli florets and cook, tossing occasionally, for about 5 minutes until the broccoli is bright green and slightly soft. Add a lot of fresh cracked pepper and if you'd like, a tiny pinch of salt. I find that I usually don't need the salt because the bacon grease is salty!
- At this time, you can toss in the cooked pasta. Toss well to combine every and keep it over low heat. If it seems too dry, you can drizzle in the remaining bacon grease or you can just drizzle some olive oil on top and toss well. Add in the parmesan shavings and crushed red pepper. Toss well. Serve it!
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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