Crispy Bacon Tomato Pasta - Insanely Delicious!
Enjoy this savory bacon pasta with fresh tomatoes and garlic, a quick and easy weeknight meal that's incredibly satisfying.
Ingredients
- 160 g / 5 oz spaghetti or other long strand pasta of choice
- 1 tsp olive oil (or butter)
- 150-180 g / 5 - 6 oz bacon (, diced)
- 1 garlic clove (, minced)
- 1/2 onion (, finely diced (brown, white, yellow))
- 400 g / 14 oz canned crushed tomato
- Salt and pepper
- pinch sugar (, if needed (Note 1))
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Finely chopped parsley
Instructions
- Have all ingredients measured and ready to go.
- Boil water, salt generously, and cook pasta 2 minutes LESS than packet instructions.
- While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a skillet over high heat. Add bacon and cook for 1 minute until crisping. Add garlic and onion, cook 3 minutes until onion is translucent and bacon is golden. Drain excess fat if desired.
- Reserve a mug of pasta water. Add about 1/2 cup to the skillet. Simmer and stir, scraping up browned bits from the bottom.
- Add crushed tomatoes to the skillet. Bring to a simmer for 2 minutes, then reduce heat to medium-high.
- Drain pasta (or use tongs to transfer directly into the skillet with the sauce).
- Toss pasta gently with the sauce for 2 minutes until pasta is well-coated and sauce has thickened. Add reserved pasta water, a splash at a time, if needed.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste, remembering bacon is salty.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water! It's liquid gold for emulsifying the sauce and achieving the perfect consistency.
- Don't overcook the pasta; it will finish cooking in the sauce. Aim for al dente.
- Adjust salt carefully at the end, as bacon is already quite salty.
- For extra flavor, a pinch of red pepper flakes can be added with the garlic and onion. Nutrition information is an estimate, calculated automatically. Values vary with brands, substitutions and portion sizes.
- Don't overcook the pasta; it will finish cooking in the sauce. Aim for al dente.
- Adjust salt carefully at the end, as bacon is already quite salty.
- For extra flavor, a pinch of red pepper flakes can be added with the garlic and onion. Nutrition information is an estimate, calculated automatically. Values vary with brands, substitutions and portion sizes.