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
Kayla says
Great recipe! My family really enjoyed this!
★★★★★
Jenna says
In my store, it is next to the milk and with the half-and-half! Hope you can find it.
Amber Fusco says
This may be a stupid question, but where do you find whipping cream at the grocery store?
Jenna says
I have not tested this recipe with an Instant Pot yet and I don't just want to give out instructions without trying it first myself. Using a stovetop is just as easy, give that a try first!
Barb says
How can i make this in a instapot?
Kj says
Quick and easy and delicious
★★★★★
Jenna says
That's awesome!
Stepher says
Whole family loves this dish! My 3 year old had seconds because he said it was “so good mom!” Can’t go wrong with this recipe: super simple, made with “pantry” ingredients, one pot❤️
Monica says
I need to make this for 25 people. Should I multiply ingredients times 5?
Brittany says
I've made this a few times now and love it. It's yummy and easy to make.