Go Back
–+ servings
A bowl of creamy spaghetti, with bacon and courgettes with a spoon next to the spaghetti pan on a mat on a green background.
Print Recipe
5 from 7 votes

Creamy Bacon Pasta

This creamy bacon pasta recipe is not to be missed! It's easy, tasty, and ready to eat in less than 30 minutes. Great for cosy weeknight meals!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: mains, meal prep
Cuisine: British
Servings: 5
Calories: 591kcal
Author: Mimi Harrison
Cost: £1.10

Ingredients

  • 300 g bacon, sliced into rough chunks (£2.25)
  • 2 large courgettes, thinly sliced into rounds (£0.95)
  • 500 g spaghetti (£0.28)
  • 1 head of broccoli (£0.69)
  • 300 ml low-fat creme fraiche (£1.05)
  • Zest of half a lemon (£0.30)

Cupboard Essentials

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • Salt & Pepper
  • Optional chilli flakes
Metric - US Standard

Instructions

  • Start by adding the bacon to a non-stick frying pan over a low/medium heat with half of the oil. Gently fry to allow the bacon fat to render out of the bacon.
  • After the bacon has been frying for around 10 minutes, or until crispy, set aside.
  • Add the remaining oil along with the courgettes. Season generously with salt and pepper. Stir occasionally, leaving to fry for around 8 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, add your spaghetti to salted boiling water. Set your timer to the packet time minus two minutes. Steam your broccoli over the pasta water.
  • When your pasta timer goes off, add the creme fraiche, lemon zest, garlic granules, bacon and dried basil into the pan with the courgettes, along with the undercooked pasta. Loosen with a generous few ladles of pasta water.
  • Add half of the steamed broccoli and continue to loosen with pasta water and cook over a low heat for 1 minute.
  • Serve immediately with a crack of black pepper and an extra side of broccoli. Dig in and enjoy!

Notes

  • Opt for your preferred type of bacon; fattier choices yield a richer outcome. Alternatively, explore pancetta for a more intricate taste profile.
  • Reserve pasta cooking water to bind the creamy bacon sauce and enhance its thickness. Save a cupful before draining the pasta.
  • For a creamier result, decrease the pasta quantity slightly. Be aware that reducing pasta will lead to smaller serving sizes.
  • Elevate the dish with freshly grated parmesan cheese, enhancing its flavour. While any variety works, freshly grated parmesan is recommended if you have the budget.

Nutrition

Calories: 591kcal | Carbohydrates: 72g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 16g