Easy Tomato Bacon Pasta
This tomato bacon pasta is quick and easy to make and would make a perfect busy weeknight dinner for the family or a date night. This dish is simple and only requires a few steps; it is ready under 30 minutes and is utterly delicious.
Ingredients
- 200 g pasta I used linguine
- 400 g canned cherry tomatoes
- 250 g streaky bacon Cut into small pieces
- 3 garlic garlic cloves chopped
- ½ cup parmesan cheese grated
- Fresh basil leaves
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- ½ Tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt and black pepper
- 1 cup pasta water
Instructions
- Place a skillet on medium-high heat, add olive oil to the pan and swirl around the pan. Add chopped bacon and cook for 5-6 minutes or until slightly golden brown but not fully browned. The bacon will continue to brown as you cook the aromatics.
- While the bacon is cooking, boil the pasta. In a large pot, add water and bring it to a boil. Add salt and linguine and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta.
- In the same skillet with bacon, add chopped onions and cook until soft, fragrant and translucent. Add chopped garlic and cook for 10 seconds.
- Carefully pour the canned cherry tomatoes into the pan and stir to combine while scraping the bottom of the skillet to release any browned bits.
- Season with salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Reduce the heat to low, stir the sauce to combine and simmer for 8-10 minutes.
- Add grated parmesan cheese to the tomato sauce, stir to combine so it melts, and carefully smash the tomatoes as you stir.
- Add fresh basil and stir to combine.
- Lastly, add the cooked pasta to the tomato sauce and some of the reserved pasta water (a little at a time) and stir to combine until the pasta is well coated in the sauce. Add more pasta water if needed for a thinner consistency.
- Take it off the heat, serve with garlic bread, and enjoy!
Notes
Tips and variations
- Customize this dish to taste: make it spicy by adding more red pepper flakes than the recipe specified.
- Make it creamy: stir in half a cup of mascarpone, cream cheese, or heavy cream to the tomato sauce for a richer and creamier texture.
- Make it veggie-packed: add spinach, mushroom, frozen mixed veg or peas to the tomato sauce for an extra serving of veggies.
- Substitute canned cherry tomatoes with one and a half cups of fresh cherry or grape tomatoes.
Nutrition
Calories: 445kcalCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 31gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 486mgPotassium: 363mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 695IUVitamin C: 24mgCalcium: 189mgIron: 2mg
Nutritional data: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients and brands you use. Under no circumstances will thedinnerbite.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.
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