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Creamy Pink Sauce Pasta with Bacon

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A quick and comforting pasta dish featuring a luscious pink sauce made from cream and tomatoes, smoky bacon, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh basil. Perfect for easy weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 oz (225 g) spaghetti or fettuccine
  • 6 strips bacon, sliced
  • ½ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed preferred)
  • ½ cup fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped
  • 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
  • ½ cup (120 ml) canned crushed tomatoes
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional: ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • Optional: 1 teaspoon lemon zest

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 oz (225 g) of spaghetti and cook according to package directions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Reserve ½ cup (120 ml) pasta water before draining.
  2. While pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced bacon and cook until crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Leave about 1 tablespoon bacon fat in the pan.
  3. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil (if needed) to the bacon fat and sauté minced garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in chopped sun-dried tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes.
  4. Pour in 1 cup heavy cream and ½ cup crushed tomatoes. Stir gently and bring to a low simmer. Let sauce thicken for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes.
  5. Add drained pasta and crispy bacon to the skillet. Toss together, adding reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time if sauce is too thick, until pasta is coated with creamy sauce.
  6. Remove from heat and stir in grated Parmesan and chopped fresh basil. Add lemon zest if using. Taste and adjust seasoning.
  7. Serve immediately with extra Parmesan and basil leaves for garnish.

Notes

Do not overcook bacon to avoid bitterness. Simmer sauce gently to prevent cream from curdling. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Add fresh basil and Parmesan off heat for best flavor and texture. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta or rice noodles. For dairy-free, substitute heavy cream with coconut cream and Parmesan with nutritional yeast.

Nutrition

Keywords: creamy pink sauce pasta, bacon pasta, sun-dried tomato pasta, easy dinner, weeknight meal, comfort food, creamy pasta sauce

Find it online: https://tempotaste.com/creamy-pink-sauce-pasta-with-bacon-recipe-easy-homemade-dinner-idea/