Easy Creamy Tomato & Bacon Pasta

easy tomato and bacon pasta recipe on ceramic plate

In this creamy pasta, onions and garlic are sautéed in bacon fat and served with red pepper flakes, fresh chopped tomatoes, creme fraiche and salty bacon tossed with wide, flat pappardelle noodles.

Course pasta

Cuisine Italian

Keyword bacon, bacon fat, chives, cream, creme fraiche, pappardelle, red pepper, roma tomato, tomato

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 20

Servings

Calories 972kcal

Ingredients

1 pound bacon, cut into ½” slices
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ medium yellow onion
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
5 medium Roma tomatoes, cored and diced
½ cup heavy cream
½ cup creme fraîche
Kosher salt, as needed
Freshly ground black pepper, as needed
½ pound dried pappardelle pasta
½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon diced chives

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Add the strips of bacon to a large sauté pan and heat over medium heat. Cook the bacon until the fat is rendered and the bacon is crispy, about 5 minutes.
Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon, reserving as much fat in the pan as possible, about ¼ cup.
Return the pan to medium heat, add the butter and allow to melt. Add the onion and sauté, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft and opaque, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
Add the tomatoes, stirring to combine. Let cook until the tomatoes start to break down, about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the heavy cream and creme fraiche. Season the sauce with salt and pepper then set aside.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add salt and bring back to a boil. Add the pappardelle and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 8 minutes.
Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water and set aside then drain the noodles and return to the pot. Add the sauce and ½ cup of the pasta cooking water, tossing to coat.
Add the Parmesan and cooked bacon and continue to toss until the noodles are coated and the sauce is glossy.
Divide the pasta among plates and garnish with the chives.

Nutrition