One-Pot Pasta with Peas and Bacon

Pasta with peas and bacon is an Italian recipe, quick to prepare, but really delicious.

The special thing about this easy recipe that I love is that it’s all cooked in one pot! 

I am sure you will love this pasta; the sweetness of the peas and the delicious salty bacon go beautifully together.

The pasta is cooked directly in the sauce like a risotto, just like pasta e fagioli and pasta e patate; this step makes a perfect touch of creaminess in this easy pasta dish.

In short, the result is the best pasta and peas in the world for every night of the week!

Ingredients Needed

These are the main ingredients you need for this recipe.

For the step-by-step directions and measurements, scroll down to our printable recipe card. 

• Short pasta: Types of pasta that will be good with this dish include pasta shells fusilli, farfalle, penne pasta and even cut spaghetti. You can choose your favourite shape of pasta.
• Peas: Peas can be either fresh or frozen.
• Onion: Sautéed onion is the base of this recipe. To make it even more flavorful as a base you can use classic Italian soffritto.
• Basil leaves: I would put basil on everything. In this recipe it adds a fresh and slightly sweet flavor to dish.
• Vegetable broth: It is the liquid where the peas will be cooked and also the pasta. You can use the broth you prefer, such as chicken broth or beef broth.
• Bacon: Use your favorite regular bacon. Itadds a rich, smoky flavor to dishes. When I’m in Italy I use pancetta.
• Salt and black pepper: Salt and pepper are essential seasonings that enhance the flavor of any dish. They will be used to season the pasta and peas dish to taste.
• Olive oil: It will be used to sauté the onions and other ingredients and to coat the pasta and peas before serving.
• Parmesan cheese: Parmesan goes great with bacon peas pasta, I even use it to mantecare everything together at the end of cooking.

How To Make Pasta With Peas Step by Step 

Step 1

Finely chop the onion (tip to not cry, put the onion in the refrigerator for half an hour before cutting it).

In a large skillet, cook the diced onion over medium heat with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. 

Add the bacon when the onion has softened.

Cook the bacon for a few minutes until it has released its bacon grease.

To give more flavor add some basil.

Step 2

 Now it is time to add the peas to the cooked bacon. 

Cook the peas over medium-high heat for a couple of minutes, season with salt and pepper.

After sautéing the peas, add the broth. The broth should cover the peas entirely.

Bring to a boil and let cook, adding more broth if needed.

Step 3 

When the peas are cooked, add the pasta to the peas.

Add more broth gradually if needed; the pasta should be thinly covered by the broth. 

Cook as directed in the package.

Remember to stir often to prevent the pasta from sticking to the pot.

When the pasta is cooked, turn off the heat and add a little olive oil and grated parmesan and mix well.

Serve the pasta piping hot.

Dish tip: Since this is a recipe that is made in one pot, if you feel like dirtying up another, it is a good idea to make some crispy bits of bacon to put on top before serving the pasta.

Recipe Variations Of Pasta And Peas

Vegetarian: Just don’t put bacon. Usually when I don’t add bacon, I add carrot to the sauté. 

Make it spicy: Add a pinch of crushed red pepper chili flakes for a nice kick.

Add some tomato: One version I love is adding tomato sauce to this pea pasta. You can add it after sauteing the onion, and then add the peas and broth . 

Lemon and parmesan pasta with peas: Squeeze some fresh lemon juice and some lemon zest over the top of the pasta for a fresh pop of flavor.

Mushroom pasta with peas:  Add sliced mushrooms as mushrooms and peas go great together

Sausage and peas pasta: Tastes spectacular with the sausage. Brown it with the onion before adding the peas.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

• Remember to always have broth on hand, in case the pasta gets too dry while cooking.

• Stir often so that the pasta does not stick to the pot.

• Always cook pasta al dente, taste it at least two minutes before the time indicated on the package.

• While the pasta is cooking, add the broth gradually; the end result should not be brothy, but a creamy pasta.

What To Serve With Pea And Bacon Pasta

As an Italian, pea and bacon pasta is a classic dish that can be enjoyed on its own as a main course or served with a variety of side dishes.

One of my favorite dishes to serve with peas and bacon pasta is caprese salad, a light and refreshing complement to the creamy, savory flavors of the pasta.

Serve this pasta with focaccia as well; it’s a crowd-pleaser and makes perfect sense here, a crunchy goodness that soaks up every last drop of sauce.

For those who want a little protein, I recommend serving this chicken cutlet after the pasta. 

Finally, open an Italian white wine to top it all off. An Italian meal is not complete without the perfect vino!

How to store & reheat leftovers

After chilling, you can store the dough in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to two days. To reheat it, you can do so in the microwave for a minute or two, or in a large frying pan with a drizzle of oil.

Freezing pasta and peas is not recommended; however, you can freeze only the cooked peas if you have used fresh ones.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you cook frozen peas for pasta?

It’s super easy, you just need a couple of cups of salted water or broth in a pot ,and let cook them for about twenty minutes at least.

No need to thaw – just add them frozen.

How do you cook fresh peas for pasta?

Fresh peas are only available in spring. Here is how you should treat them while they are still in their pods.

Before cooking them, they should be shelled.

This is a very simple and fun operation: use your fingers to open the leading part of the pod and gently pull the peas apart, running your thumb over them.

Fresh peas need gentler cooking to keep all their freshness intact.

How long should the fresh peas cook?

The exact cooking time will depend on the size of the peas, taste them while cooking, it should be soft and easy to chew.

Are peas good for you?

Yes.

They are rich in phosphorus and decidedly low in calories, peas are therefore suitable for low-calorie and hypolipidic diets.

As for minerals and vitamins, raw peas provide ( for 100g):

• Potassium 193 mgPhosphorus 97 mg
• Calcium 45 mg
• Iron 1,7 mg
• Vitamin C 32 mg
• Vitamin B1 0,2 mg
• Vitamin B2 0,08 mg
• Vitamin B3 2,6 mg
• Vitamin A 64 g

Among legumes, peas are the least caloric ones, in fact they have only 52 kcal for every 100 grams of fresh product.

After we’ve talked a bit about the properties of peas, let’s move on to our recipe.

Pasta With Peas & Bacon Recipe

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• Pasta Alla Norma Recipe, if you are an eggplant lover, you will love this pasta
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