Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato (BLT) Pasta

Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato (BLT) Pasta has all the elements of a BLT sandwich combined with penne pasta and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

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 it 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 weeknight when you're just too frazzled to deal with anything more complicated.

Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato (BLT) Pasta has all the elements of a BLT sandwich combined with penne pasta and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. Click To Tweet

How to Make BLT Pasta

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!

Enjoy!

More Pasta Recipes on Never Enough Thyme:

• One Pot Pasta Dinner
• Pasta Puttanesca
• Classic Macaroni and Cheese
• Easy Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese
• Penne with Creamy Guanciale Sauce
• Baked Spaghetti

Bacon and Pasta Recipes from Other Bloggers:

• 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

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BLT Pasta

All the elements of a BLT combine with penne pasta and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

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Course: Pasta

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 469kcal

Author: Lana Stuart

Ingredients

• 12 oz. penne pasta
• 8 slices bacon
• 1 medium red onion chopped
• 3 cloves garlic chopped
• 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp. salt
• 4-5 cups chopped tomatoes or cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
• 1/3 cup half-and-half or cream
• 4 cups arugula
• 2 tblsp. chopped fresh basil about 10-12 leaves
• grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

• Cook the penne according to the package directions. While the penne is cooking, prepare the rest of the recipe.
• Cook the bacon until crispy. Drain the bacon reserving 3 tablespoons of the drippings. Crumble the bacon and set aside.
• In the same pan with the reserved bacon drippings, add the red onion, garlic, red pepper flakes and salt. Cook until the onion has wilted and begun to soften.
• Add the tomatoes. Stir together well and cook for about 12-15 minutes.
• Add the cream or half-and-half and cook for additional 2 minutes.
• Drain the pasta and add to the pan along with the arugula, bacon and basil. Toss together. Add a splash or two of the pasta cooking water if needed.
• Top individual servings with Parmesan cheese.

Notes

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Nutrition Information

Serving: 1gCalories: 469kcalCarbohydrates: 64gProtein: 23gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 1055mgFiber: 12gSugar: 25g

Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your health care provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.

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Lana Stuart

Lana Stuart is the cook and occasional traveler here at Never Enough Thyme. Lana has been cooking since she was tall enough to reach the stove and started this blog in 2009 to share her delicious home cooking recipes. You'll find about 700 recipes here so there's sure to be something your family will like!
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