Love Pasta? This is a light and scrumptious Italian pasta recipe. Pasta doesn’t have to be covered in an alfredo sauce to be packed with flavor. This recipe is quick and easy and is made with simple ingredients you probably already have in the fridge. We enjoyed big bowls of this pasta for dinner last night and had enough for Vadim to take to work.
Cost to make: $5 to $7
Servings: about 4
Ingredients:
16 oz Pasta Shells (or your whatever you have on hand)
1 lb Broccoli – cut into small florets
4 oz Bacon (about 5 strips, excess fat removed and cut into ¼ inch strips)
1 to 2 Garlic Cloves (minced)
2 oz Parmesan
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons Butter
How to Make Italian Broccoli-Bacon Pasta:
1. Cook the small broccoli florets in boiling water with 1 teaspoon salt until soft (they should be bright green). Drain and set aside.
2. Cook the pasta in boiling water with 1 teaspoon salt until al dente (follow instructions on the package). Drain and put back in the pot. Melt 2 tablespoons butter and mix into the pasta.
3. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil on medium-high, add the bacon and fry until lightly crisp. Fold a paper towel and put it in the skillet. Move it around the pan with spatula until it soaks up most of the fat. Discard the paper towel.
Reduce to medium heat.
Add the garlic and fry for 2 to 3 minutes stirring constantly.
Add the broccoli and season with salt and pepper. Stir over medium heat for 2 minutes.
4. Add the broccoli mixture to the pasta. Mix well and serve with Parmesan.
Notes:
If you are not big on garlic, use one clove. Also, if you prefer, you can use Pancetta – it’s the Italian version of Bacon – you won’t have to trim the fat.
To cut down on fat, you can sub the 2 tbsp of butter with olive oil.
Orecchiette is often used in Italian cooking and would go well with this dish if you can find it.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh my goodness, now that i saw this recipe i know what to cook for dinner tonight. You are right, it is made of simple ingridients that i already have in the fridge.. Oh la la, my hubby is going to love it… Thank you so much.
Also tastes great if substituted with ground turkey and califlower:)
Thank you for the tips. I’ll have to try that!
hi natasha, i have tried some recipes on your website and i like it a lot
i made this pasta today plus i added some mushrooms, green onion, and parsley that i had on hand. it was very delicious!!! 
Those sound like some tasty add-ins. Glad you liked it
Have you tried making any pasta with sundried tomato cream sauce? If you have, would you mind sharing a recipe? Thanks
I have a recipe posted with shrimp in creamy tomato sauce but not sundried tomato.