The Easiest Creamy Bacon & Pea Pasta

After a busy weekend we needed a quick meal for a lazy work from home Monday. This creamy bacon and pea pasta is a quick lunchtime indulgence that only calls for 7 simple ingredients and takes about 15 minutes to make. You can even make it in one pot for max convenience.

We were really wiped out today. We haven’t done this much over the weekend in months. But the lockdown cabin fever was starting to set in and we decided to get out of the city for some fresh air and a socially distanced game night. So on Saturday we went to visit our friends in Hilversum, a small city about 2o minutes by train from Amsterdam. We missed the last train home and ended up spending the night so it was a whole weekend of fun for us and the puppers.

Hilversum is really quaint. Our friends moved there earlier this year and it’s given us the opportunity to get to know the area. There’s a lot of interesting architecture in the city, it’s very walkable, and it also happens to be tucked right in the middle of the Gooi, a region known for historical charm and an abundance of natural beauty including forests and lakes.

We went for a long hike in the woods with the dogs on Saturday and then had a lovely Greek themed dinner (an ode to our group trip to Corfu in August) followed by a few rounds of President and a really depressing board game called The Grizzled. Anyone ever played it? It was all strategy and no fun.

On Sunday we had a leisurely breakfast and then got out for another long hike in the woods followed by a walk in the city. It was beautiful. The dew on the grass looked like little jewels and we even saw some urban chickens.

By the time we got home it was 3pm and we were wiped out. #thisis30 By monday lunchtime we were still low energy so lunch had to be easy and ideally a bit comforting. All the comfort.

So bacon and pea pasta was just the thing. It’s a great flavour combination. The bacon is salty, the peas are sweet, and the creamy sauce makes it all feel luxurious.

Besides spices and dry pasta all you need to put this meal together is the following:

• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1/2 cup bacon or ham
• 1/2 cup aged cheese like parmesan or cheddar
• 2/3 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon flour

With 2.5 cups of dry pasta, this makes enough for 2 portions. After boiling and draining the pasta you can set it aside in a colander and use the same pot to make the sauce. Just fry up the bacon, add the flour and mix until incorporated, then add a couple tablespoons milk to thicken the flour. Add the rest of the milk, the peas, and the cheese and mix until it thickens.

Finally, just put in whatever spices you like. I used 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper, a little sprinkle of garlic powder, and an Italian seasoning mix.

The Easiest Creamy Bacon & Pea Pasta

This creamy bacon and pea pasta is a quick lunchtime indulgence that only calls for 7 simple ingredients and takes about 15 minutes to make. You can even make it in one pot for max convenience.

• Author: Cristina
• Prep Time: 3
• Cook Time: 10
• Total Time: 13 minutes
• Yield: 2 servings 1x
• Category: Quick & Easy Meals
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: Italian

Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 2.5 cups of dry pasta
• 1/2 cup bacon or ham
• 2/3 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon flour
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1/2 cup aged cheese like parmesan or cheddar
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Euroma Funghi Trifolati or any Italian seasoning

Instructions

• Boil and drain the pasta according to package directions.
• Wait for the pasta to finish and use the same pot or start the sauce in another pot.
• Fry up the bacon or ham then sprinkle in the flour and mix until incorporated.
• Add a couple tablespoons milk to the flour and mix it until the flour has incorporated.
• Add the rest of the milk, the peas, the cheese and any spices you’re using.
• Mix well and simmer, stirring often, until it thickens into a sauce and the cheese is melted.