Bacon Pesto Pasta

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5 from 1 vote

A simple and easy 5-ingredient pasta that's full of big flavors in every bite.

Course dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American, Italian

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Servings people

Calories 651kcal

Author Marlynn Schotland

Equipment

Ingredients

12 ounces pasta Twisty/spiral pasta like rotini, cellentani, fusilli, gemelli, cavatappi, etc. work well
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
8 slices bacon, sliced into small pieces
½ cup pesto sauce homemade or store-bought
salt and pepper, to taste
optional: grated or finely shredded parmesan cheese

Instructions

In a large pot, boil water and cook pasta according to package directions.
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook for 4-5 minutes, until the bacon has *almost* reached your desired level of crispness.
Add the garlic and sauté with the bacon for 1 minute.
Carefully drain/spoon out the excess grease out of the pan, taking care not to discard any of the bacon or garlic, and leaving no more than 1 Tablespoon of grease in the pan.
In a large bowl, add the cooked pasta and pesto and toss together to coat the pasta with the sauce.
Add the sauced pasta to the skillet and toss together with the bacon and garlic.
Season with salt and pepper, to taste. (I usually find about ½ teaspoon of kosher salt and ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper is the right amount, but season to your personal taste preference.
Top with parmesan cheese, if desired, and serve immediately.

Notes

Makes approximately 4 servings.

Storage: store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Reheat: place desired serving with a light splash of water or olive oil in a nonstick skillet and reheat over medium heat until the pasta is heated through. Or, place desired serving with a light splash of water or olive oil in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals until heated through, stirring in-between intervals.

Add-in ideas: This pasta is a great recipe to use up veggies or to add your favorite proteins! Add mushrooms, chopped broccoli florets, peas, or chopped asparagus to the pan while cooking the bacon. You could also add cooked chicken or shrimp. You may need to add more pesto sauce if you decide to add additional ingredients.

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