Creamy Bacon Parmesan Pasta
Creamy Bacon Parmesan Pasta
Ingredients
- 12 ounces bacon, sliced into bite-sized pieces
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 red onion, chopped
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 2 cups Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, plus more for topping
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika, or chili powder, to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin, or other brown spice, to taste
- 1 tablespoon chili crunch oil, optional, for topping
Instructions
- 1
Cut the bacon into bite-sized pieces. In a large skillet or Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat until it is well done and crispy. This should take about 8-10 minutes.
⏱️ 10 min
- 2
Remove the cooked bacon from the pan with a slotted spoon and set it aside on a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Leave about 2 tablespoons of bacon grease in the pan; discard any excess.
⏱️ 2 min
- 3
While the bacon cooks, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min
- 4
In the same pan with the reserved bacon grease, add the butter. Once melted, add the chopped red onion and minced garlic. Sauté for about 5 minutes, until the onion is softened and translucent and the garlic is fragrant.
⏱️ 5 min
- 5
Pour in the chicken broth and heavy whipping cream. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
⏱️ 3 min
- 6
Gradually stir in 2 cups of freshly grated Parmesan cheese until it is fully melted and incorporated into the sauce. Season with black pepper, paprika (or chili powder), and ground cumin (or other brown spice) to taste. Stir to combine all ingredients in the sauce.
⏱️ 3 min
- 7
Let the sauce cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow it to slightly thicken.
⏱️ 5 min
- 8
Add the cooked spaghetti noodles to the sauce in the pan. Toss to coat the noodles evenly.
⏱️ 2 min
- 9
Grate additional fresh Parmesan cheese directly onto the pasta in the pan, a generous amount is recommended. Add the cooked bacon pieces back into the pasta.
⏱️ 2 min
- 10
Stir everything together thoroughly. Let it cook for another 5-10 minutes over low heat, stirring frequently, to allow the sauce to further thicken and cling to the pasta.
⏱️ 10 min
- 11
Serve the creamy Bacon Parmesan Pasta immediately. Optionally, drizzle a little bit of chili crunch oil on top before serving.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Creamy Bacon Parmesan Pasta
- 12 ounces bacon, sliced into bite-sized pieces
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 red onion, chopped
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 2 cups Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, plus more for topping
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika, or chili powder, to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin, or other brown spice, to taste
- 1 tablespoon chili crunch oil, optional, for topping
Instructions
- 1
Cut the bacon into bite-sized pieces. In a large skillet or Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat until it is well done and crispy. This should take about 8-10 minutes.
⏱️ 10 min - 2
Remove the cooked bacon from the pan with a slotted spoon and set it aside on a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Leave about 2 tablespoons of bacon grease in the pan; discard any excess.
⏱️ 2 min - 3
While the bacon cooks, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min - 4
In the same pan with the reserved bacon grease, add the butter. Once melted, add the chopped red onion and minced garlic. Sauté for about 5 minutes, until the onion is softened and translucent and the garlic is fragrant.
⏱️ 5 min - 5
Pour in the chicken broth and heavy whipping cream. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
⏱️ 3 min - 6
Gradually stir in 2 cups of freshly grated Parmesan cheese until it is fully melted and incorporated into the sauce. Season with black pepper, paprika (or chili powder), and ground cumin (or other brown spice) to taste. Stir to combine all ingredients in the sauce.
⏱️ 3 min - 7
Let the sauce cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow it to slightly thicken.
⏱️ 5 min - 8
Add the cooked spaghetti noodles to the sauce in the pan. Toss to coat the noodles evenly.
⏱️ 2 min - 9
Grate additional fresh Parmesan cheese directly onto the pasta in the pan, a generous amount is recommended. Add the cooked bacon pieces back into the pasta.
⏱️ 2 min - 10
Stir everything together thoroughly. Let it cook for another 5-10 minutes over low heat, stirring frequently, to allow the sauce to further thicken and cling to the pasta.
⏱️ 10 min - 11
Serve the creamy Bacon Parmesan Pasta immediately. Optionally, drizzle a little bit of chili crunch oil on top before serving.
⏱️ 1 min