3970. ONE-POT PASTA with CHICKEN, BACON and BBQ SAUCE

Makes 6 servings

1 tablespoon bacon fat or olive oil

1 large boneless, skinless chicken breast half

sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 strips bacon, diced

½ medium onion, diced

1 garlic clove, minced

2 cups bone broth (see Notes)

1 15 oz. can stewed tomatoes, diced

½ cup milk

1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

¼ teaspoon dried chili flakes

3 cups tricolor radiatori or other short pasta

⅓ cup BBQ sauce (homemade or store-bought)

½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Warm bacon fat or olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper and place in the pot. Cook until golden brown without turning, 6-8 minutes. Flip and cook for another 6-8 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate. Let cool for 5 minutes and then dice; it's OK if the chicken is raw in the middle as it will continue to cook when it's added back to the pot.

In the same pot, cook bacon and onion on medium heat, stirring occasionally, until bacon crisps and onion starts to brown, 8-10 minutes.

Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Add bone broth, tomatoes with juice, milk, thyme, chili flakes, pasta and diced chicken. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 5 minutes.

Uncover and continue simmering until pasta is cooked and liquid reduces, about 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and stir in BBQ sauce and cheese. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

Notes: Bone broth is made by simmering meaty bones for hours until they break down and release vitamins and minerals.


bacon recipe source: Alison Strickland (@AlisonTCG), Two of a Kind, June 2, 2015

3968. EGG and BACON PASTA NEST

Serves 6


8 ounces spaghetti noodles
8 slices bacon, halved and sliced lengthwise
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, smashed
7 eggs, divided
Kosher salt, to taste
Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
3/4 cup white cheddar cheese, shredded
Fresh parsley

Heat oven to 400 degrees (F). Cook pasta according to package directions; drains.

Grease 6 (10-ounce) ramekins or custard cups. Set aside.

Cook bacon until lightly brown; drain. Heat olive oil and garlic in a skillet over low heat about 2 minutes or until fragrant. Remove and discard garlic.

Whisk together olive oil, 1 egg, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt and ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper. Add pasta and bacon, toss until coated.

Twirl 1 cup pasta-bacon mixture using a fork; place in a ramekin. Create an indent in the center of each twirled nest. Repeat. Bake 5 minutes in oven.

Divide cheese among ramekins. Crack 1 egg into center of each ramekin. Return to oven.

Bake about 20 minutes more until egg yolks are set and egg whites are firm (do not overcook). Let stand 2 minutes. Remove from ramekins. Top with parsley.

bacon recipe source: San Antonio Express-News, February 9, 2016; Hali Ramdene for Better Homes and Gardens

3957. BACON CHICKEN VEGGIE RIGATONI

Serves: 6


1 lb cooked rigatoni

1 rotisserie chicken, shredded

¼ cup melted butter

¼ cup flour

4 cups skim milk

1 (14 oz) packet Knorr® vegetable mix

½ teaspoon salt

1 cup cooked and chopped bacon

1½ cups grated swiss cheese, separated

½ cup Parmesan cheese

1 diced tomato

Dump cooked rigatoni and shredded rotisserie into a 9x13 baking dish. Toss around to evenly distribute ingredients through pan.

To make sauce: Melt butter in a large sauce pan. Add flour and stir to form roux. Let simmer for 1-2 minutes. Slowly add skim milk and stir until sauce thickens. After sauce has thickened, add Knorr® vegetable mix, salt, chopped bacon, 1 cup swiss cheese, Parmesan cheese and diced tomato. Stir to evenly mix in.

Pour sauce over pasta.

Top pasta/sauce with ½ cup swiss cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes or until pasta is heated through and cheese on top has melted.

bacon recipe source: Nikki, Chef in Training (@chef_n_training), March 30, 2014

3949. BACON PROVOLONE PENNE PASTA BAKE

Yields 4


12 ounces uncooked penne pasta
3 cups marinara sauce
1 cup water
1 pound bacon
14 slices provolone cheese
cooking spray

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Cook bacon in a large pan over medium-high heat until crispy enough to crumble. Drain on paper towels, blotting off excess grease. When cool enough to handle, crumble into 1/2 inch or smaller pieces.

Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray.Mix the sauce with a cup of water, and pour one cup on the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Pour half of the uncooked pasta over the sauce in an even layer. Layer 6 slices of provolone on top of the pasta and sprinkle with half of the crumbled bacon. Top with remaining pasta, sauce, and bacon, put the remaining cheese on the side.

Bake in the preheat oven for about 40 minutes, or until the pasta is soft. Stir well, top with remaining cheese, and return to the oven for about 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Serve with a salad and garlic bread, if desired.


bacon recipe source: Bernadette Martin (@BernadetMartin), Rants From My Crazy Kitchen, February 8, 2014

3945. BROAD BEAN and MINT RISONI with CRISPY BACON

Serves 4


3 cups broad beans, podded (fresh or frozen)
1 1/3 cups risoni or orzo pasta
1 clove garlic, minced
juice of ½ lemon juice
¾-1 cup parmesan cheese, grated
1 cup mint leaves, finely chopped
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3-4 rashers free-range bacon, diced
¼ cup pine nuts

Pour boiling water over broad beans. Stand for one minute then drain and allow to cool before popping their dull skins to reveal the bright green beans.

While you are shelling the broad beans, cook pasta in boiling salted water (as this job takes about the same time for the pasta to cook) until al dente.

Cook shelled broad beans in boiling salted water for 1-2 minutes, then drain. Set aside half of the broad beans whole, and mash the other half of the broad beans with the garlic and lemon juice.

Heat a little olive oil in a fry pan and fry bacon and pine nuts until bacon is crispy, about 3-4 minutes.

Spoon out ½ cup of the pasta cooking water and reserve, before draining the pasta. Tip drained pasta back into the pot with the reserved cooking water, mashed broad beans, whole broad beans, parmesan, mint and olive oil.

Toss together and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

To serve, divide between bowls and sprinkle over crispy bacon and pine nuts.


bacon recipe source: Nadia Lim (@nadialimchef)

3927. MINESTRONE SOUP with BUTTERNUT SQUASH, KALE and WHITE BEANS

Yield: Serves 6-8


4 ounces bacon, ½-inch-diced (4-5 slices)
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for toasting the bread and serving
3 cups (½-inch) diced peeled butternut squash (about 1 pound)
2 cups (½-inch) diced carrots (4 carrots)
2 cups (½-inch) diced celery (3 stalks)
1 and 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion (about 1 medium)
1 and ½ tablespoons minced garlic (4 cloves)
1 pound kale, stems removed and leaves coarsely chopped
26 ounces canned chopped tomatoes
6 to 8 cups chicken stock
1 bay leaf
1 and 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus additional as needed (depending upon the saltiness of the stock)
1 and 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 cups cooked whole wheat small pasta, such as elbow (about 1 cup dry)
1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Baguette, cut into 1/2 inch thick diagonal slices

In a large, heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium low, cook bacon, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 6 minutes. Remove from pan and place in between two paper towels set atop a dinner plate. Blot lightly and set aside. Drain most of the excess fat from the Dutch oven. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil, squash, onion, carrots, celery, and garlic. Sauté over medium heat, until the vegetables begin to soften, about 8-10 minutes. Add the kale in batches as it fits in the pot, stirring so that it cooks down. Once kale has lightly wilted, add the tomatoes, 6 cups chicken stock, bay leaf, salt, pepper, and thyme. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.

Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to directions. Drain and set aside.

Once soup has simmered and the vegetables are soft, discard the bay leaf. Add the beans, cooked pasta, and reserved bacon and heat through. The soup should be fairly thick, but add additional chicken stock as needed. Serve hot drizzled with olive oil and topped with Parmesan cheese.

To toast baguette: Place rack in upper third of oven and preheat to 425 degrees F. Brush both sides of each baguette slice with olive oil and place on a baking sheet. Cook until golden and toasted, about 6 minutes. Serve warm with soup.


bacon recipe source: Erin Clarke, Well Plated (@WellPlated), October 17, 2013

3906. CAPELLINI with BACON and BREAD CRUMBS

Yield: Makes: 4 servings


8 ounces whole wheat or regular capellini
2 bacon slices, chopped
1 garlic clove, sliced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper, optional
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup panko bread crumbs
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1/4 cup coarsely chopped parsley

Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. When pasta is done, reserve 1⁄2 cup cooking water; drain pasta and return to pot.

Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat; add bacon. Cook, stirring, until bacon is
crispy, about 5 minutes. add garlic and crushed red pepper; stir 1 minute or until fragrant. add tomatoes; cook, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes begin to soften, about 3 minutes.

Add broth to pan. simmer the mixture until broth is thick and has reduced to about 1⁄4 cup, 5–8 minutes.

While sauce cooks, heat oil in a small skillet over medium heat. add panko and toast, stirring occasionally, until golden, 2–3 minutes.

Season with salt and pepper.

Remove sauce from heat; stir in 2 teaspoons parmesan and parsley.

Toss sauce with pasta in pot; add cooking water to reach desired consistency, if needed.

Divide among 4 serving plates. top with reserved bread crumbs and remaining parmesan.


bacon recipe source: Health.com; CarbLovers Diet Cookbook by Ellen Kunes and Frances Largeman-Roth (Oxmoor House, 2011)

3903. RIGATONI in BLUSH SAUCE with CHICKEN and BACON

Serves: 4


½ lb uncooked rigatoni pasta, cooked according to package instructions
1 chicken breast, boneless, skinless, cut into small pieces
1 medium onion, chopped
6 slices bacon
2 tbsp Frank's hot sauce
1 can (2 cups) diced tomatoes
fresh basil, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ cup water
1 cup mozzarella cheese
½ cup sour cream
fresh Parmesan cheese

In a large skillet, add the bacon and cook it until it starts rendering some fat. Add the chicken, onion and garlic and cook until chicken is no longer pink and is cooked through. Add diced tomatoes, water, basil, hot sauce, and cook for 10 minutes. Add sour cream and stir. If needed add salt and pepper to taste.

Add the pasta to the skillet, add the mozzarella cheese and toss it all together to make sure all pasta is covered in the cheese and sauce.

Grate with fresh Parmesan cheese and serve warm.


bacon recipe source: Joanna Cismaru, Jo Cooks (@jocooks_com), September 4, 2012

3902. RIGATONI with BACON, TOMATOES and PEAS

Serves 4


3/4 pound rigatoni or other short pasta
4 slices bacon, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
kosher salt and black pepper
1 pound tomatoes, cut into bite-size pieces
1 10-ounce package frozen peas
1 ounce Parmesan, grated (about 1/4 cup), plus more for serving

Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water; drain.

Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until beginning to crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the onion, garlic, and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the peas and cook until warmed through, 3 to 4 minutes.

Add the pasta, Parmesan, and ½ cup of the cooking water to the sauce and toss to coat. (Add more cooking water as needed to loosen the sauce.)

Serve topped with additional Parmesan. 


bacon recipe source: Chris Morocco, Real Simple (@RealSimple)

3889. BACON RANCH CHICKEN PASTA SALAD

2 cups small, dry pasta, cooked to al dente
2 cups shredded chicken
1 cup frozen peas, cooked
1 cup diced tomatoes
6 slices bacon, cooked and diced
½ cup bottled ranch dressing
1 tsp fresh cracked black pepper

Cook the pasta to al dente and allow to cool. Add chicken, bacon, peas and tomatoes and toss to combine.

Measure out bottled ranch dressing into a small bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of fresh cracked pepper and stir until combined.

Pour ranch dressing over pasta mixture and gently fold together.

Top with bacon crumbles for garnish, if desired.


bacon recipe source: Kristin, Yellow Bliss Road (@YellowBlissRoad), July 2, 2014

3886. SUN-DRIED TOMATO ANGEL HAIR PASTA with BACON

6 servings


1 box (1 lb) angel hair pasta
1 jar (7 oz) sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil, drained and oil reserved
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
8 slices bacon, crisply cooked and crumbled

Cook and drain pasta as directed on package. Toss pasta in oil from sun-dried tomatoes. Season pasta lightly with salt and pepper. Chop sun-dried tomatoes. Add to pasta. Top pasta with Parmesan cheese; toss to coat evenly. Divide pasta among 6 bowls. Top with bacon.


bacon recipe source: Pillsbury.com, Pillsbury, General Mills, Inc., P.O. Box 9452, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55440

3818. BUCATINI with BACON, KALE and WINTER SQUASH

Servings: 4


For the fried sage (optional):
1/4 cup (2 fl. oz./60 ml) olive oil
8 to 10 fresh sage leaves


1 butternut, kabocha or calabaza squash, peeled, seeded and sliced into 1-inch (2.5-cm) pieces
2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
12 oz. (375 g) bucatini
3 oz. (90 g) bacon, diced
1 large shallot, sliced into 1/8-inch (3-mm) rings
1 bunch Tuscan kale, stemmed and leaves cut crosswise into 1/4-inch (3-mm) ribbons
4 Tbs. (1/2 stick) (2 oz./60 g) unsalted butter
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup (2 fl. oz./60 ml) white wine
2 fresh sage leaves
1 Tbs. heavy cream
2 Tbs. pine nuts, toasted
Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese for serving

To fry the sage leaves, in a small fry pan over medium heat, warm the olive oil until shimmering. Carefully drop the sage leaves, a few at a time, into the oil. They will sizzle and crisp very quickly, in 15 to 30 seconds. Using a fork or small skimmer, transfer the fried sage leaves to a paper towel–lined plate.



On a baking sheet, toss the squash with the olive oil, 2 tsp. salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Spread the squash in a single layer and roast until tender, about 25 minutes.



While the squash is roasting, bring a large pot three-fourths full of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta.



While the pasta is cooking, in a sauté pan large enough to accommodate the pasta and squash later, cook the bacon over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the fat is rendered and the bacon is crispy, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel–lined plate, leaving the bacon fat in the pan. Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the shallot to the pan and cook until translucent and tender, about 5 minutes. Increase the heat to medium, add the kale, 1/2 tsp. salt and 2 Tbs. water. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the kale is wilted, about 2 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper and transfer to a bowl.



In the same pan, warm the butter until melted. Add the garlic, 1/2 tsp. salt and a few grinds of pepper, and cook until the garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the wine and fresh sage leaves to the pan. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until the liquid is slightly thickened, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove the sage leaves from the pan and discard. Stir in the cream and season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the squash, bacon, kale mixture and cooked pasta to the pan and toss until well combined, warming the mixture over medium heat if the vegetables are no longer warm.



Transfer the pasta to a serving dish and garnish with the fried sage and pine nuts. Serve immediately, passing the cheese at the table.


bacon recipe source: Williams-Sonoma Test Kitchen, Williams-Sonoma (@WilliamsSonoma)

3817. TORCHIETTE with BACON, BEER and CHEESE SAUCE

Serves: 4 to 6


2 tbsp white onion
1 clove garlic
1/4 red pepper
pinch fresh thyme
2 slices bacon
1 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup beer (can substitute with milk)
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
kosher salt (to taste)
white pepper (to taste)
salt (1 tsp per L/qt of water)
400 g torchietti pasta (about 13 oz)
4 oz aged cheddar (2 cups)

Preparing Your Mise en Place: To start your mise en place, first bring a pot of cold water to a boil to cook the pasta.  Dice the onion and émincé the garlic. Finely dice the red pepper and roughly chop the thyme. Next, dice the bacon or cut it into lardons. Lastly, measure out the butter, flour, milk and beer, and gather the seasonings.

Making the Sauce | Mornay Sauce: Heat a heavy sauce pan over medium heat and add the butter and bacon. Let the bacon cook until the fat renders (melts). The bacon should almost be cooked but not browned. Then add the onion, garlic and red pepper and gently cook, turning the heat down to medium-low to avoid any browning. Cook until the onion and garlic begin to soften and release their flavors. Then season with the paprika and a pinch of cayenne pepper for extra heat, if desired. Next, sprinkle the mixture with the flour and stir to form a roux. Let this cook gently for about 2 minutes, being careful not to let the bottom scorch or burn. Then add the beer and stir to combine. Add the milk a bit at a time to temper it. This will prevent lumps from forming. Continue until all of the milk has been incorporated. Finally, add the thyme. Turn the heat up to medium, if needed, to bring the sauce up to a gentle simmer. Once the mixture starts to bubble, reduce the heat to low. Stir occasionally and let cook for about 10 minutes or so. While the sauce cooks, go ahead and cook the pasta. You now have a flavored variation of a classic béchamel sauce.

Cooking the Pasta: To cook the pasta, add the salt to the boiling water and stir. Then add the pasta and stir to prevent it from sticking together. Cook for about 10-12 minutes, or according to the instructions on the package. For this dish, the pasta should not be al dente, as you want a soft texture.
While the pasta cooks, grate the cheese and stir the sauce occasionally. Test the pasta and once it is just cooked through, reserve a bit of the cooking water (in case you need to thin the sauce out later).
Next, turn off the heat and add some cold water to the pot of pasta. This will slow the cooking process so you can finish the sauce.

Finishing the Cheese Sauce: To finish the sauce, turn off the heat and temper in the grated cheddar by adding it a little bit at a time. Stir each time until the cheese melts. By adding a bit of cheese at a time, you prevent the sauce from splitting. Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste.

Finishing the Dish: To finish the dish, drain the pasta and return it to the pot. Then pour the sauce over top and gently fold everything together. If the sauce seems a bit too thick, you can thin it out with a bit of the reserved pasta water. Taste for seasoning, serve immediately and enjoy.


bacon recipe source: Tony M (British Columbia), Rouxbe Cooking School

3793. LINGUINE with ONION, BACON and PARMESAN

makes 4 servings

1/2 pound sliced bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch strips

2 onions, sliced thin

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1/8 teaspoon dried red-pepper flakes

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 pound linguine

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1/2 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper

In a large frying pan, cook the bacon until crisp. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat. Put the pan over moderate heat. Add the onions, the thyme, the red-pepper flakes, and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are brown, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat.

In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the linguine until just done, about 12 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water. Drain the linguine and toss with the bacon, onions, 3/4 cup of the reserved pasta water, the Parmesan, parsley, the remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt, and the pepper. If the sauce seems too thick, add more of the pasta water. Serve with additional Parmesan cheese.

bacon recipe source: Food & Wine, August 2014

3771. TAGLIATELLE with BACON, BURST CHERRY TOMATOES and ARUGULA

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Extra-virgin olive oil
4 ounces slab bacon, cut into 1/4-inch dice
3 cloves garlic, smashed
Pinch crushed red pepper
1 pint cherry tomatoes, assorted colors
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
Kosher salt
1 recipe all-purpose pasta dough (recipe below), cut into tagliatelle, 1/4-inch wide pasta pieces
1 1/2 cups baby arugula
Big fat finishing oil
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano

All-Purpose Pasta Dough:
1 pound all-purpose flour
4 whole eggs, plus 1 egg yolk
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 to 2 tablespoons water (or more if needed)
Kosher salt

All-Purpose Pasta Dough: Put the all-purpose flour on a clean, dry work surface. Make a hole (this is also called a well) in the center of the flour pile that is about 8 inches wide (bigger is definitely better here). Crack all of the eggs and the yolk into the hole and add the olive oil, water and salt.

Using a fork, beat the eggs together with the olive oil, water and salt. Using the fork, begin to incorporate the flour into the egg mixture; be careful not to break the sides of the well or the egg mixture will run all over your board and you will have a big mess! Also, don't worry about the lumps. When enough flour has been incorporated into the egg mixture that it will not run all over the place when the sides of the well are broken, begin to use your hands to really get everything well combined. If the mixture is tight and dry, wet your hands and begin kneading with wet hands. When the mixture has really come together to a homogeneous mixture, THEN you can start kneading.

When kneading it is VERY important to put your body weight into it, get on top of the dough to really stretch it and not tear the dough. Using the heels of your palms, roll the dough to create a very smooooooth, supple dough. When done, the dough should look VERY smooth and feel almost velvety. Kneading will usually take from 8 to 10 minutes for an experienced kneader and 10 to 15 for an inexperienced kneader. Put your body weight into it, you need to knead! This is where the perfect, toothsome texture of your pasta is formed. Get in there and have fun!

When the pasta has been kneaded to the perfect consistency, wrap it in plastic and let rest for at least 1 hour. If using immediately do not refrigerate.

Roll and cut the pasta into desired shape.

Coat a large wide pan with olive oil. Toss in the bacon, garlic and red pepper; bring to medium-high heat. When the garlic turns golden and is very aromatic, 2 to 3 minutes, remove it from the pan and ditch it -- it has fulfilled its garlic destiny. Add the cherry tomatoes to the pan and roll them around until coated. Add 1 cup of the stock, season with salt, reduce the heat to medium and let the tomatoes cook until they start to burst, 8 to 10 minutes.

Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Drop the pasta in the boiling water and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until it's tender but toothsome.

Drain the pasta and add it to the veggies along with about 1/2 cup reserved cooking water; toss vigorously to combine. Remove the pan from the heat, toss in the arugula, drizzle with the big fat finishing oil and sprinkle with Parmigiano. Serve immediately.

bacon recipe source: Anne Burrell, "Revisit Your Past Before the Last," Worst Cooks in America, Food Network

3770. CREAMY COURGETTE and BACON PASTA

Serves 4

1 tsp olive oil

150g diced smoked bacon lardons

4 courgette, coarsely grated

1 garlic clove, crushed

handful freshly grated Parmesan

1 small tub (200g) low-fat crème fraîche

300g tagliatelle

Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan and sizzle the pancetta or bacon for about 5 mins until starting to crisp. Turn up the heat and add the grated courgette to the pan. Cook for 5 mins or until soft and starting to brown then add the garlic and cook for a minute longer. Season and set aside.

Cook the tagliatelle according to the pack instructions and scoop out a cupful of cooking water. Drain the tagliatelle and tip into the frying pan with the bacon and courgette. Over a low heat toss everything together with the crème fraiche and half the Parmesan adding a splash of pasta water too if you need to loosen the sauce. Season to taste and serve twirled into bowls with the remaining Parmesan scattered over.

bacon recipe source: Barney Desmazery, BBC Good Food, June 2012

3763. CAVATELLI with BACON, CREAM and SNAP PEAS

1 lb. cavatelli or other tube pasta

3/4 lb snap peas, ends removed and cut diagonally into 1-inch pieces

1 garlic clove, minced

1 shallot, minced

2-3 strips thick-cut bacon, cubed

Handful of parsley, minced

1 cup grated parmesan cheese

3/4 cup light or heavy cream

Lots of pepper to taste

Bring a large pot of well-salted water to boil. The pasta should come out of the water just as you're completing assembly of the sauce, so begin browning the bacon about 5 minutes before you add the pasta to the water. (Reserve a little pasta water for thinning the sauce, just in case. You probably won't need it but better safe than sorry.)

Brown the bacon in a large skillet. When the bacon has started to crisp up add the shallots and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Next add the peas; stir to coat them with fat and cook for no more than another 2-3 minutes. The peas should darken and maybe even brown in a few spots but you don't want them to lose their crunch. Stir in the garlic for 30 seconds, then the cream.

At this point the pasta should be out of the pot and into a colander.

Allow the cream to reach a simmer, then throw in half the cheese, half the parsley, and all of the pasta. Stir everything together and allow to simmer for a minute or two, or until the sauce is at an ideal consistently. Serve immediately topped with the rest of the parsley and parmesan and a few healthy turns of black pepper.

bacon recipe source: Andrew Bartholomew (@AndrewBart), February 3, 2013

3759. CREAMY FARFALLE with PEAS and BACON

serving: 4


12 ounces dried farfalle (bow-tie pasta)

6 ounces lean bacon, chopped

1 large garlic clove, pressed

1¼ cup heavy cream

1 cup green peas, thawed if frozen

⅔ cup grated parmesan cheese

¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped

Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add farfalle and cook according to package instructions until done. In a large skillet, over high heat, saute bacon until browned (3-4 minutes). Remove from heat and use a paper towel to soak up most of the fat. Place skillet with bacon back over high heat. Add garlic and saute about 1 minute. Add heavy cream to skillet and simmer for about 5 minutes. Add the peas to the skillet and return to a simmer. Cook about 3 more minutes. Add parmesan cheese into sauce. When pasta is ready, drain it and put it back into the pot. Pour sauce over pasta and stir in the chopped parsley.

bacon recipe source: Natasha, NatashasKitchen.com, October 27, 2010

3756. BACON and AVOCADO MACARONI SALAD

yields 4 servings


12 ounces elbows pasta

5 slices bacon, diced 

2 avocados, halved, seeded, peeled and diced

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, for garnish

For the lemon thyme dressing

3/4 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice 

1 1/2 tablespoons lemon zest

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1/3 cup olive oil

To make the dressing, combine mayonnaise, lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar and thyme in the bowl of a food processor; season with salt and pepper, to taste. With the motor running, add the olive oil in a slow stream until emulsified; set aside.

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions; drain well.

Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add bacon and cook until brown and crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.

In a large bowl, combine pasta, bacon, avocado, lemon-thyme dressing, salt and pepper to taste.

Serve immediately, garnished with thyme.

bacon recipe source: Chungah, Damn Delicious (@damn_delicious), June 28, 2013

3745. ANGEL HAIR PASTA with BRUSSELS SPROUTS, BACON and WALNUTS

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 pound angel hair pasta

1 cup reserved pasta water

1/2 pound bacon (finely diced)

2 cloves garlic (minced)

1/2 cup walnuts (finely sliced)

4 cups Brussels sprouts (thinly shaved or sliced)

1/2 cup parsley (roughly chopped)

1 cup parmesan (grated)

1 lemon (zest and juice)

kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)

In a large pot bring 5 quarts of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook to al dente, about 10 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water.

Meanwhile, in a large saute pan add the olive oil and bacon and heat over high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally until the bacon is crisp and has rendered most of its fat, about 4-5 minutes. Add garlic, walnuts, Brussels sprouts and cook until wilted. Season with Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper.

Add the pasta and reserved pasta water and combine. Add the parsley and mix. Remove from the heat, add the Parmesan, lemon zest and juice and mix to combine. Serve with extra grated Parmesan, olive oil and fresh black pepper.

bacon recipe source: Michael Symon, The Chew (@thechew), ABC