Toss together this Creamy Pasta with Asparagus and Bacon recipe for an easy and delicious dinner idea. Sizzle pieces of tender asparagus, onion and garlic with bacon and simmer with heavy cream, to make the most amazing sauce for your favorite pasta. Make my Bacon and Mushroom Pasta for another delicious variation of this dish.
For more delicious recipe ideas using Asparagus, I highly recommend trying my Asparagus Mushroom Soup or my very popular Alfredo Asparagus Bundles recipe! Try making my Sheet Pan Miso Honey Chicken or my Creamy Spinach Turkey Meatballs for more fun and delicious dinner ideas!
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Ingredients
Gather just a few simple ingredients, and you'll be able to make this Creamy Pasta with Asparagus and Bacon for a quick and easy supper.
- Pasta - Penne, Farfalle, Fusilli, Rigatoni or even Spaghetti or Fettucine
- Bacon
- Fresh Asparagus
- Red Onion
- Garlic
- Chicken Broth
- Heavy Cream
- Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
- Lemon
See recipe card for quantities.
How to make Creamy Pasta with Asparagus and Bacon
Start by cooking your preferred pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water, or as directed on the packaging.
Chop up the bacon slices in bite-sized pieces and place them in a large frying pan on medium heat.
Add the chopped asparagus and onion in the pan with the cooked bacon and cook for 5 minutes before adding the garlic. Cook for another 2 minutes.
Pour the broth and the heavy cream in the pan. Bring to a simmer.
Place the asparagus tips to the sauce and keep simmering the sauce until it reduces by a third and thickens up slightly.
Add the larger amount of freshly grated parmesan into the sauce and stir to combine. Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and and toss to cover evenly.
- Squeeze the lemon juice into the finished Asparagus Bacon Pasta.
- Serve with more freshly grated parmesan and freshly cracked pepper.
- Grate some lemon zest on top of the pasta as an option for even more zesty lemon flavor.
Substitutions and Variations
- Pre-made Alfredo - Cook up the bacon and veggies and then pour in your favorite alfredo sauce (650ml) in the pan to replace the broth and heavy cream. No need to cook it down , simply warm in up before adding the cooked pasta.
- Broccoli - Replace the Asparagus with Broccoli for a delicious variation of this dish.
Storing leftovers
Store leftover Creamy Pasta with Asparagus and Bacon in airtight containers and refrigerate for 2-3 days. This makes great portions to keep in the freezer for delicious and comforting lunch on the go.
Recipe
Creamy Pasta with Asparagus and Bacon
Ingredients
- 300 grams Pasta
- 1 pound Fresh Asparagus
- 5 strips Bacon
- 4 cloves Garlic minced
- ½ large Red Onion finely chopped
- ½ cup Chicken Broth or your preferred broth
- 1 cup Heavy Cream
- ⅛ teaspoon Freshly Cracked Pepper
- 1½ cup Parmesan Cheese freshly grated
- 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice (see notes)
- 1 tablespoon Fresh Parsley for optional garnish
Instructions
- Start by bringing a large pot of water to a boil. Add a tablespoon of salt to the water and cook your pasta as directed on the package. While the pasta is cooking, cook the sauce.
- Prepare the asparagus by snapping off the woodier and discolored bottom ends. (see notes). Cut off the top tips and set them aside, they will be added at a different time. For the rest of the asparagus, chop in small ¼ inch pieces.
- Chop up the strips of bacon in ½ inch pieces and add them to a large frying pan on medium heat. Cook until it starts to look crispy.
- Add the small chopped pieces of asparagus and the chopped onion to the pan with the bacon. Cook for 5 minutes or until the onions are translucent. Add the minced garlic and continue cooking for 2 minutes while stirring.
- Pour the broth into the pan and then proceed by adding the heavy cream and freshly cracked pepper. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer.
- Add the Asparagus tips to the sauce and keep simmering for 5-10 minutes, or until the sauce has reduced by a third. It should be able to lightly coat the back of a spoon.
- Turn off the heat and stir in the 1½ cup of grated parmesan cheese until melted. It should thicken up the sauce beautifully.
- Add the cooked pasta into the pan with the sauce. Drizzle in the lemon juice and stir everything together.
- Serve with extra parmesan cheese and optional lemon zest and parsley.
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