People think that because I write a food blog that I must cook constantly. Well, it is true that I do enjoy getting in the kitchen and making great food for my family. However, if I’m being totally honest, there are days when by dinner time I’m just completely wiped out. Does that ever happen to you? I bet it does! And the last thing you want to do on those days is cook something complicated for dinner. That’s when I’m thankful for simple recipes like this BLT Pasta. This recipe is just bursting with flavor from the crispy, salty bacon, tangy fresh tomatoes and peppery arugula. And comes together quickly so you can have dinner on the table before you know it. It’s even easier if you plan ahead – cook a little extra bacon on the weekend and stash it in the fridge for a week night when you’re just too frazzled to deal with anything more complicated.
You start this recipe by putting on a large pot of water to cook 12 ounces of penne pasta. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Just a note – I’ve been using Dreamfields Pasta lately and we really like it. I can’t tell any difference in taste and with its lower glycemic index it’s much better for us than traditional pasta. This is not an advertisement for Dreamfields, just an opinion :-)
While the pasta is going, cook 8 slices of bacon until they’re nice and crisp. Drain the bacon but leave 3 tablespoons of the drippings in the pan for the sauce. Crumble the bacon and set it aside. I had some already waiting for me in the fridge the day I made this recipe. So easy!
In the same pan that you used for the bacon, add a chopped red onion, the garlic, red pepper flakes and salt. Cook until the onion starts to wilt and soften.
Then add the tomatoes and cook for about 12 to 15 minutes. Once the tomatoes have cooked down, add in the half-and-half or cream. I used the fat-free half-and-half in this and it turned out just great. Stir everything together well and cook for a couple more minutes.
Drain the pasta and add it to the pan along with the arugula, bacon and basil. Toss everything together. Add a splash or two of the pasta cooking water if you think it’s needed.
Top individual servings with Parmesan cheese. All you really need with this is some nice crusty garlic bread and you have a complete week night dinner!
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BLT Pasta
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
-Recipe adapted from Food Network Magazine
Other bacon and pasta recipes you might enjoy from around the Internet:
- Macaroni and Cheese with Bacon from Recipe Girl
- Pasta with Bacon and Onions from Lottie and Doof
- Fusilli with Tomatoes, Bacon and Blue Cheese from Amateur Gourmet
- Spaghetti Carbonara with Peas from Closet Cooking
What I was cooking…
- One year ago: Chocolate-Chocolate Cake
- Two years ago: Seafood Casserole
Katrina says
atThat looks de-lish and would be a hit here (because it has bacon!) ;)
Lana says
atEverybody loves bacon, don’t they Katrina?
Mari @ Mari's Cakes says
atI am sure it is as delicious as it looks. Great recipe Lana, I am sure we will love this for dinner or lunch. Thanks
Lana says
atIt’s a great recipe for either time of day, Mari.
Elizabeth @SpiceOpolis says
atI make something kind of like this.. but.. THIS looks delicious too, and I think my daughters would like this better! I’m adding it to the menu in a couple weeks! With credit to you :) Thank you!
Lana says
atHope you enjoy it, Elizabeth.
Cookin' Canuck says
atThis is the kind of low-maintenance dish I love to make on weeknights. And yes, sometimes I do feel completely wiped out by dinnertime and the last thing I want to do is cook!
Lana says
atI’m so glad it’s not just me, Dara. I love cooking but there are just some days when life gets ahead of me and I simply can’t face hours in the kitchen :-)
Shelby says
atI hear you about what people think just because your a food blogger! Honest to goodness, I don’t cook THAT much! This pasta salad looks so yummy and would be a great light dinner here!
Lana says
atThanks, Shelby :-)
Nutmeg Nanny says
atThis looks easy and delicious! I’m always looking for quick dinner time meals.
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts says
atWhat a great pasta dish! I love having everything all in one meal – pasta, sauce, veggies! Looks amazing!
Denise @ Creative Kitchen says
atI love BLT anything….this looks incredible!!
Aimee says
atOoohh yes please!! Looks amazing and delicious :D
Shop with Me Mama (Kim) says
atOh that looks/sounds good!!!
Barbara | Creative Culinary says
atI went to make a BLT last year but didn’t have any bread so ended up with a pasta not unsimilar to this. No L though but arugula is a great choice. Now I might be craving some since I have the last of my summer tomatoes dying for the perfect dish…this looks YUM! (Sorry about the use of that verboten word; sometimes it just is what I am thinking!).
Lana says
atThere are no verboten words here, Barbara. We say yum anytime we feel like it :-) We use smiley faces, too.
Feast on the Cheap says
atOh yum! The sudden drop in temperature here in the NE has me craving carbs!
blackbookkitchendiaries says
ati really love these flavors in here:) excellent combo!
Alison @ ingredients, Inc. says
atlove this! What a great idea
Renee (kudos kitchen) says
atLana this looks amazingly tasty and quick. Perfect for those days when you want to get in and out of the kitchen fast. Thanks for the new recipe!
Renee (kudos kitchen) says
atOh Lana this sounds wonderful, and quick! I’ll bet the red pepper flakes and arugula really gives it a zip! Glad to hear you like time off from cooking too. Everybody needs recipes like this just for those occasions!
Megan says
atCould I use spinach in place of arugula or would that completely change the taste of the dish?
Lana says
atOf course you could use spinach. It would change the taste, but I think it would be good.
Anna says
atI think this looks wonderful! Going to cook it this week hopefully for my boyfriend, though I’ll be switching the arugula with spinach, because I absolutely loathe arugula (don’t hate me!!!), but can’t wait to try it!
Monica says
atThis is my second tine making this, and my daughter, whom is a picky eater, asks for this pretty much every other day
Lana Stuart says
atThank you, Monica. I so appreciate it when someone lets me know that they found a good recipe to enjoy here. I’m so glad your picky eater likes this one!
FRN-USA says
ati really love these flavors