Creamy Bacon Penne with Sweet Peas

• Penne pasta

  7.1 oz
• Smoked streaky bacon

  3.5 oz
• Heavy cream

  10.0 tbsp
• Frozen peas

  3.5 oz
• Garlic

  2 cloves
• Parmesan cheese

  1.1 oz
• Olive oil

  1 tablespoon
• Salt

  0.5 teaspoon
• Black pepper

  0.3 teaspoon

All Steps

1. 1

   Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente.

2. 2

   While the pasta is cooking, cut the bacon into small pieces. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the bacon. Cook until crispy, then remove with a slotted spoon and set aside on a paper-lined plate, leaving the rendered fat in the skillet.

3. 3

   Mince the garlic. Add the olive oil to the skillet with the bacon fat (if needed) and add the minced garlic. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.

4. 4

   Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens.

5. 5

   Drain the cooked pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Add the drained pasta and frozen peas to the skillet with the cream sauce. Stir well to combine.

6. 6

   Add the crispy bacon back into the skillet. Grate in half of the Parmesan cheese. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash or two of the reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency.

7. 7

   Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve immediately, garnished with the remaining grated Parmesan cheese.