This Creamy Spaghetti with Bacon is a delicious pasta recipe, and perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal. Spaghetti is tossed in a creamy bacon sauce that will have your family licking their plates! The best part? There are only FIVE simple ingredients in this dish and it comes together in less than 30 minutes!
12oz. bacon, chopped into small pieces (about 1 inch)
4-5clovesgarlic about 1 heaping tablespoon
2tbsptomato paste
1cupheavy cream
sea salt/fresh black pepper to taste
grated Parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, fresh parsley (optional, for serving)
Instructions
Cook Pasta: In a large pot of salted water, cook pasta to al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining.
Cook Bacon: While pasta cooks, in a large skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon about 7-9 minutes or until pieces are crisp. Remove cooked bacon from the skillet and transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
Start Sauce: Remove all but one tablespoon of the bacon grease. Then, add garlic to the skillet and cook over medium heat for 1-2 minutes until soft and fragrant. Stir often to ensure the garlic doesn't burn.
Add: Add tomato paste, and cook for 1 minute more, stirring often.
Finish Sauce: Add heavy cream to the pan and cook 2-3 minutes until sauce begins to bubble and thicken. Whisk often while cooking. Note: If the sauce becomes too thick, just add a splash of the reserved pasta water. The sauce shouldn't be too thick - it should barely coat the back of a spoon. Season sauce with a good pinch of sea salt and pepper as needed.
Finish: Add cooked pasta into the sauce, along with the reserved bacon. Toss until everything is well combined. Again, if the sauce gets too thick, just add a little of the pasta water. Taste, and season with more sea salt if needed.
Garnish: Top with Parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, and fresh ground pepper if you like! Serve immediately!