Garlic Bacon Pasta is comfort food on a plate! There is no better way to get your twirl on than al dente spaghetti, soft garlic and chewy bacon.
My Garlic Spaghetti sets us up for success with my Garlic Prawn Spaghetti right up seafood lover's alley.
Recipes like my Instant Pot Garlic Pasta and Bacon Spaghetti get our taste buds flowing!
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Recipe highlights
This is a quick and easy recipe that uses simple every day ingredients.
With a quick cook time, freezer friendly and satisfying combination, you will make it time and time again!
Choose your favourite pasta be it spaghetti, penne, rigatoni or fettucine and combine with the salty bacon and soft mellow garlic.
For the nights when you need a no brainer to get dinner on the table stat, turn to this recipe and problem solved!
Ingredients
The photo below shows you everything you need to make this recipe. The ingredients are all simple and easy to find at the local shops.
As you can see, the recipe calls for:
- pasta: I am using spaghetti. You can use it, or your favourite. A long pasta that you can twirl is recommended such as linguine or fettucine, however the recipe will work with all types of pasta.
- bacon: to make this recipe fuss free, use store bought pre diced bacon! It really does save time and energy. I grab the 2 pack and keep it in the freezer for an easy go to!
- garlic: arguably the highlight of this recipe is the thinly sliced garlic pieces! Use cloves, peeled and finely sliced for maximum flavour
- olive oil: this recipe has a sauce that comes together with olive oil and pasta water. It makes the pasta slippery and delicious. Not shown in this photo is the reserved pasta water, but you will see it in the step by step photos below.
- chilli flakes: some people will find the recommended 1 tablespoon too much. So if you are not a chilli fan, reduce this to ½ or 1 tsp
- parmesan cheese: my favourite is the boldly flavoured shredded kind. Use this over flaky or crumbed parmesan for depth of flavour
- parsley: this herb gives great texture and freshness to the dish. If freezing for meal prep, you can still garnish with this prior to freezing
- salt: this is because we need to cook our pasta in a pot of boiling salted water
Instructions
Here are the step by step instructions to make the recipe. We start by prepping the garlic, you will need a knife and chopping board for this step!
- use a knife and chopping board to thinly slice the garlic (photo 1)
- add bacon, chilli, garlic and olive oil to fry pan (photo 2)
- cook for 10 mins stirring occasionally (photo 3)
- cook pasta in boiling salted water (photo 4)
Bacon Garlic Parmesan Pasta
The bacon, garlic, chilli and oil will take about 10 mins to cook. Use this time to cook your pasta also.
- drain past and reserve 1 cup of water (photo 5)
- add cooked drained pasta to bacon mix (photo 6)
- add reserved pasta water (photo 7)
- stir pasta through bacon garlic mix till combined and heated through (photo 8)
The reserved pasta water melts in with the olive oil and garlic bacon mix for a lusciously smooth taste.
If you forget to reserve the water, pour a cup of boiling water over the drained pasta and use this water instead (it will still have the starchy, pasta water effect)
As you can see from the photo above, the parsley, parmesan and cracked pepper are the perfect garnishes for both flavour and texture!
Frequently asked questions
How do you cook bacon for pasta?
When combining bacon and pasta, it is best to cook them both separately and then add them together.
The bacon can be cooked in a fry pan, microwave or air fryer.
Once cooked the bacon can then be added to the pasta and stirred through.
How to slice garlic for pasta?
There are many options when combining garlic and pasta.
You can use minced garlic, sliced garlic or garlic powder (best in a creamy sauce).
As the bacon and the garlic are the highlights of this dish, I recommend slicing the garlic into thin pieces, like I do in both my Garlic Spaghetti and Garlic Prawn Spaghetti.
The garlic needs to be cooked till soft (take a piece out and taste it). You will also be able to pierce the slices with a fork and it will go straight through.
Creamy Bacon Pasta sauce
This recipe doesn't use cream or have a creamy sauce.
I do add greek yogurt to my Bacon Spaghetti if that type of sauce takes your fancy.
For this recipe the sauce comes together with the olive oil and pasta water.
The taste is irresistible and the spaghetti slips and slides in a delightful manner!
Can you freeze this recipe?
This recipe freezes very well.
I find the best way to manage this is to make the dish, allow it to cool slightly and then portion into plastic containers.
I also prefer to garnish with cracked pepper, parmesan and parsley prior to freezing as then you can simply heat and eat.
How do you reheat this recipe?
If you are looking to reheat the dish, you can either throw in back into a fry pan and heat on the stove or microwave the dish.
Either way it is best to defrost the portions in the fridge or bench during the day and then reheat.
Top tips and tricks
Here are my top tips and tricks to success every time you make the recipe!
- save time and use store bought pre diced bacon!
- ensure you cook the pasta in salted water
- reserve some of the pasta water for the 'sauce'
- if freezing, garnish the portions with herbs and cheese prior to freezing
Related recipes
There is no better comfort food than pasta and parmesan, am I right? Here are a few more pasta recipes that might be right up your alley!
- Bacon Spaghetti (using dried spaghetti)
- Instant Pot Pasta Primavera (using penne pasta)
- Instant Pot Pasta with Jar Sauce (using dried spaghetti)
- Bacon Pesto Pasta (using penne pasta)
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I would love to hear your feedback in the comments below, please let me know if you make the recipe!
Adrianne x
📖 Recipe
Garlic Bacon Pasta
Equipment
- Knife
- Chopping board
- Sauce pan
- Fry pan
- Colander
- Flat utsensil
- Kitchen Tongs
Ingredients
- 500 grams dried pasta Note 1
- 600 grams diced bacon Note 2
- 10 cloves garlic skin peeled, end cut off
- 1 tbs red chilli flakes reduce this amount to ½ teaspoon or 1 teaspoon if not a chilli fan
- ½ cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt Note 3
- parmesan cheese
- parsley
- cracked pepper
Instructions
- Use a knife and chopping board to thinly slice the garlic into pieces
- Cook the spaghetti in a large pot of boiling, salted water according to packet instructions
- Add bacon, sliced garlic, chilli flakes and olive oil to a large fry pan. cook for 10 minutes at a medium heat, stirring as you go
- Drain pasta, reserving ½ cup of pasta water
- Add cooked pasta to bacon garlic mix and use tongs to stir and combine
- Plate and garnish with parmesan cheese, cracked pepper and parsley
Notes
- Note 1 I find this recipe works best with a long pasta that you can twirl. So I recommend spaghetti, fettucine or linguine. You can, however, use your favourite pasta!
- Note 2 This recipe is fuss free and simple. To make it even easier, use store bought pre diced bacon that you can simply add in, no chopping required.
- Note 3 We cook the pasta in boiling salted water. So add the salt to the water before it begins to heat.
Scott says
Giving this a go tonight.
Adrianne says
Great to hear, thanks Scott, hope you enjoy it!
milly hine says
i tried this today for lunch, i really like it. i think if it had a little drizzle of sauce it would've been perfect, however i liked it very much. THANK YOU!!!!
Adrianne says
Ok thanks Millie! I will take that on board. Cheers