Description

This Creamy Bacon Tomato Pasta is a simple yet indulgent dish featuring crispy bacon, fresh tomato, and a luscious cream sauce tossed with bucatini pasta. Perfect for a comforting weeknight meal, this recipe combines savory bacon and aromatic garlic with the sweetness of fresh tomato and the richness of heavy cream, finished with a sprinkle of Parmigiano-Reggiano for a deliciously creamy pasta experience.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

8 ounces uncooked bucatini pasta

Bacon Sauce

6 strips bacon
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium tomato, cut into small pieces
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Pepper, to taste

Garnish

Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, to taste

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Instructions

Boil Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta. Cook bucatini according to package instructions until al dente, then drain.
Cook Bacon: While the pasta boils, cut the bacon into small pieces using kitchen shears or a knife. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and cook bacon until crispy, about 7-10 minutes.
Remove Excess Fat: Carefully spoon out excess bacon fat from the skillet, leaving about 1 tablespoon for cooking the sauce.
Sauté Garlic: Add minced garlic to the skillet with bacon fat and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
Make Sauce: Stir in diced tomato, heavy cream, and Italian seasoning. Let the sauce bubble gently for about 5 minutes until it reduces slightly and thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Adjust heat to avoid boiling vigorously.
Toss Pasta: Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss to combine, adding a splash of reserved hot pasta water if the sauce is too thick. Season with pepper to taste.
Serve: Either mix freshly grated Parmesan cheese into the pasta or sprinkle it over each serving. Serve immediately for best flavor and texture.

Notes

Use kitchen shears to easily cut bacon directly into the pan for quick preparation.
If the sauce thickens too much, add a bit of reserved pasta water to loosen it up without diluting flavor.
Substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter sauce, though it will be less creamy.
For extra richness, add a small knob of butter at the end of the sauce cooking.
This dish is best served immediately to enjoy the creamy texture and crispy bacon.