Rigatoni pasta with a creamy Afredo sauce and tossed with bacon and peas makes an easy weeknight dinner for all.
Alfredo sauce is a simple sauce made with 2 ingredients: heavy cream, and parmesan cheese. With that sauce, any type of ingredient can be added to it such as chicken, bacon, broccoli, and peas to name a few.
With this dish, everything is made in one pan, so the noodles are cooked in a skillet with some broth and water. The noodles absorb the water and broth and then you add in the ingredients for the alfredo sauce which are the heavy cream and parmesan cheese. Bacon and peas are added for more flavor but you can add in anything else you like. For instance, chicken, sausage cut up into rounds would be a great source for protein.
Ingredients List
Want to know why I used a certain ingredient or looking for substitutions? Check out this section.
Rigatoni - Rigatoni is tubular shaped pasta, but any type of pasta can be used for this
Water and Broth - These two ingredients are used to cook the noodles. If you don't have any chicken broth, just use more water.
Whipping Cream and Parmesan Cheese - The two main basic ingredients found in any alfredo sauce. To make this dish lighter, you can use any type of milk. I have not tried this with unsweetened almond milk but I'm sure it will work.
Bacon and Peas - Don't like bacon and peas? Sub chicken or broccoli.
How to Make Creamy Alfredo with Bacon and Peas
- In a large deep skillet cook the 4 slices bacon until crisp. Remove the bacon and set aside on a plate. Do not drain any grease.
- Stir in garlic; cook and stir for 30 seconds more. Add in pasta, broth, the water, salt, and pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 12 to 15 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring once.
- Stir in peas, whipping cream, and Parmesan cheese.
- Cook and stir about 2 minutes more or until heated through. Serve immediately. If desired, top with crumbled bacon.
- Serving size: 1 cup.
What to Serve with Creamy Alfredo with Bacon and Peas?
You can always serve this dish like it is by itself or if that isn't enough here are a few other ideas.
A side salad with crunchy croutons.
Steamed veggies
Toasted rolls or breadsticks
Other Pasta Recipes
One Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta
*If you make this recipe please comment and rate the recipe below to let everyone know how it is, or tag me on Instagram! If you want to upload a photo you can do that on Pinterest. Just find the post for it.
Creamy Alfredo with Bacon and Peas
- Yield: 6 1x
Ingredients
- 4 slices thick-sliced bacon, coarsely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 ounces dried pasta (rotini, penne, or rigatoni pasta)
- 1 (14 ½ oz) can chicken broth
- 1 cup water
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup frozen peas
- ¼ cup whipping cream
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (1 ounce)
Instructions
- In a large deep skillet cook the 4 slices bacon until crisp. Remove the bacon and set aside on a plate. Do not drain any grease.
- Stir in garlic; cook and stir for 30 seconds more. Add in pasta, broth, the water, salt, and pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 12 to 15 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring once.
- Stir in peas, whipping cream, and Parmesan cheese.
- Cook and stir about 2 minutes more or until heated through. Serve immediately. If desired, top with crumbled bacon.
- Serving size: 1 cup.
Notes
Recipe and nutrition info from Better Homes and Garden
myWW points: Blue 8; Green 8; Purple 8
My WW Personal Points: 8 Click here to see in recipe builder (will have to log in)
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 378
- Sugar: 4
- Fat: 13
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 49
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 16
heather @french press says
bacon and peas in pasta is a family favorite here for sure - and that sauce sounds to die for
Cyrus says
This recipe looks seriously gorgeous! Pinned!
Jenna says
Thank you for the kind words. I love takig pictures of food. 🙂 I've never tried the Morningstar Bacon before, but I've tried some of their burgers.
Jenna says
Thanks Adriana!
Judy@ImBoredLetsGo says
This not only looks fantastic I know it will taste fantastic! Bacon does make everything better. I have a problem as well making way too much pasta since there's only two of us at home now, but thankfully my husband will eat leftovers until they're gone!
Marye says
You can never have to much pasta! This looks like a new family favorite!
Adriana Martin says
OMG this looks just perfect, love the presentation and I am sure tastes like heaven!
Travel Animal Doctor says
Wow! I love the versatility this recipe offers. While I am a vegetarian, I could EASILY replace the bacon and broth with Morningstar Bacon and vegetable broth. This looks delicious, and your photography is phenomenal. My mouth is watering at the sight of the cheese and sauce.
Enjoy your yummy masterpiece!
Travel Animal Doctor
Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen says
This is so gorgeous! I love the brightness of the peas with pasta, and who can argue with adding BACON??
Arman @ thebigmansworld says
I secretly LOVE having peas with pasta- I think it gives it the subtle sweetness and pop of colour! delicious recipe!