You’re going to love this roundup of the best pasta with bacon recipes. Seriously, is there any more comforting combo? Whether you’re craving a classic Spaghetti Carbonara recipe or an easy chicken bacon ranch pasta, we’ve got you covered.
These mouth-watering meals feature a variety of your favorite tasty noodles, including spaghetti, penne, macaroni, bowtie pasta and more. For the most perfect pasta, be sure to check out my cooking tips below!
You’ll love the flavors of pasta and bacon combined with delicious ingredients like chicken, lobster, sausage, scallops and veggies in casseroles, skillet meals and even a slow cooker recipe.
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How to Cook Bacon for Pasta
Here at BENSA, you know our primary focus is all about the bacon! Ready to cook some crispy bacon to add to your pasta recipe? These are some of our favorite bacon cooking methods:
- Cooking Bacon in the Oven
- How to Make Bacon Lardons
- Cooking Bacon on the Grill
- The Best Way to Microwave Bacon
- How to Cook Bacon in a Crock Pot
- Making Bacon on a Pellet Grill
Prefer to cook bacon on the stovetop? We hear you, and here’s our favorite frying pan for cooking bacon.
10 Pasta Cooking Tips
For the most perfectly cooked pasta noodles, follow these helpful directions:
- Salt the water generously, to help flavor the pasta. The general rule of thumb is 1 tablespoon of kosher salt (or substitute 1 1/2 teaspoons table salt) for every gallon of cooking water.
- Bring your water to a rolling boil before dropping in the pasta.
- Stir the pasta several times during cooking with a long handled fork so that it floats freely and doesn’t stick together.
- Don’t add oil to the cooking water, as this can later prevent the sauce from clinging to the pasta.
- Don’t cover the pot during cooking, or the pressure and heat will cause it to overflow. (Ask me how I know this!)
- The exact cooking time will vary depending on your altitude, the size of the pasta, how hot your stove cooks, and other factors. For an approximate cooking range, refer to a table of pasta cooking times or look at the manufacturer’s directions on the box.
- At the early end of the cooking range, check the pasta by tasting a strand. It should be al dente, or tender to the bite. If it’s too firm, cook a little longer. (But don’t throw it on the kitchen wall to see if it sticks, because you might damage your paint finish. Ask me how I know this!)
- Don’t rinse the pasta after cooking, as you’ll wash off the starches that help the sauce cling to the pasta.
- Serve the hot noodles or add them to the recipe right away, so they don’t stick together.
- Save a cup or two of the pasta cooking water while draining the pasta, in case you need it to loosen a thick sauce. Because the reserved pasta water contains starches from the pasta, it can be used to improve the consistency of a dish and make sauces more silky.
Best Pot for Cooking Pasta
When looking for the best pot for cooking pasta, find a nice deep pot that can hold plenty of water. The general rule is to allow 1 gallon of water per pound of uncooked pasta. This will give your pasta plenty of room to circulate in the boiling water and cook evenly.
A pot with a built-in strainer like the All Clad Stainless Steel Pasta Pot above makes it easy to remove the pasta, shake off excess water, and add it to another dish.
The Bacon Pasta Recipes
Let’s get cooking, shall we?
1. Chicken Bacon Spinach Pasta – The Cozy Cook
This loaded chicken bacon spinach pasta dish is tossed in a thick and creamy garlic Parmesan sauce (that’s made with half and half instead of heavy cream). It’s a perfect blend of flavors that will make you think you’re eating at a restaurant!
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2. Best White Cheddar Mac and Cheese (with Kale and Bacon!) – Good Life Eats
Baked White Cheddar Mac 'n Cheese with Kale and Bacon is pure comfort food. The macaroni noodles are coated in a creamy cheese sauce that is loaded with sharp white cheddar cheese and fresh parmesan. Chopped kale, bacon, and a crunchy garlicky breadcrumb topping are added to round out this delicious baked mac and cheese recipe.
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3. The Best Pasta with Lobster Bacon Cream Sauce – Sweet Tea + Thyme
This pasta with lobster sauce is your easy date night go-to dish. Think of it like a spin on lobster carbonara, with a creamy lobster sauce filled with garlic, bacon, and big chunks of butter poached lobster. It's a decadent and absolutely gorgeous dish that your special someone will swoon over no matter the special occasion!
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4. Easy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta – Fantabulosity
A comforting baked dish casserole recipe that’s an easy dinner idea to make with everyday ingredients that the whole family will love on a busy weeknight! Using ingredients like crispy bacon, chicken breasts, and creamy ranch dressing, makes this a delicious recipe, ultimate comfort food in only 30 minutes!
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5. Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta – Amanda’s Cookin’
It doesn't get much tastier than Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole! One of our favorite weeknight dinner recipes, this dish is loaded with cheese and bacon and cooks in less than 30 minutes.
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6. Creamy Bacon Mac and Cheese – BENSA Bacon Lovers Society
Homemade stovetop creamy bacon mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food! You'll love the tender macaroni topped with creamy, cheesy sauce and crunchy bacon.
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7. Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato (BLT) Pasta – Lana’s Cooking
Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato (BLT) Pasta has all the elements of a BLT sandwich combined with penne pasta and a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese. This tasty meal can be on your table in about 30 minutes!
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8. Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad – Barley and Sage
This super simple chicken pesto pasta salad is light, fresh, and comes together in less than 20 minutes! With creamy pesto and mascarpone cheese, grilled chicken, bacon, spinach, and tomatoes it's the perfect easy lunch!
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9. Pasta Carbonara – Chef Savvy
This Spaghetti Carbonara will be your new favorite weeknight meal and is one of the best creamy bacon pasta recipes! Spaghetti noodles are coated in a thick and creamy egg sauce with crispy bacon and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
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10. Easy Bacon Broccoli Pasta Recipe – The Forked Spoon
This Bacon Broccoli Pasta Recipe is so easy and creamy, and comes together in less than 30 minutes!
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11. Linguine with Brussels Sprouts, Bacon, and Shallots – Good Life Eats
This recipe for Linguine with Brussels Sprouts, Bacon, and Shallots is a simple way to enjoy the delicious flavors of caramelized brussels sprouts with bacon.
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12. Creamy Pasta with Scallops and Bacon – Gastronotherapy
Make this creamy, garlicky, and silky pasta with scallops and bacon for a special occasion or just because you want an easy and elegant dinner on the table in 30 minutes. It's like Italian pasta carbonara but with pan-seared scallops!
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13. Slow Cooker Chicken Bacon Pasta – The Magical Slow Cooker
Hearty Chicken, bacon, mushrooms and spinach with pasta in a tomato sauce. Great for feeding a crowd. Pasta sauce, bacon, and boneless, skinless chicken breasts simmer all day. Pasta and spinach are stirred in to complete the dish.
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14. Garlic Harissa Bacon Pasta – Recipes From A Pantry
This Garlic Bacon Pasta recipe is incredibly simple and made with just 5 simple ingredients. Yes, this tasty 15 mins Bacon Garlic Pasta will be your new favorite weeknight supper, date night pasta and all round supper.
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15. Scallop And Bacon Pasta – Sabrina Currie
With just 6 ingredients and only 30 minutes you’ll be eating this fragrant, silky scallop and bacon pasta in no time! Scallop and bacon pasta is made like carbonara but with a west coast twist featuring West Coast Wild Scallops.
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16. Garlic Chicken Parmesan Pasta with Bacon – BENSA Bacon Lovers Society
Everyone in the family will love this easy pasta with chicken, bacon and creamy Parmesan garlic sauce. It's simple to make and ready in less than an hour!
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17. Bacon Pasta – The Cozy Cook
This Creamy Bacon Pasta recipe has an indulgent tomato cream sauce with garlic, Parmesan cheese, simple seasonings, and crispy bacon! Your family will love this restaurant-quality dinner.
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18. Bacon and Mushroom Carbonara – Sweet Tea and Thyme
Bacon mushroom carbonara is an Italian restaurant-quality dish that gives a delicious and comforting twist to the classic carbonara. Crispy bacon, sliced mushrooms, and a creamy sauce coating al dente pasta, it's simple, cozy, and will satisfy the pickiest eaters at your dinner table.
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19. Cheesy Bacon Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake – BENSA Bacon Lovers Society
Tender pasta is oven baked with a creamy Alfredo sauce, chicken, cheese, broccoli, tomatoes, roasted garlic, and of course, plenty of tasty bacon!
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20. Bacon Jalapeno Mac and Cheese – Baking Beauty
Jalapeno popper mac and cheese features creamy pasta loaded with crispy bacon and spicy jalapenos. This decadent main dish tastes like your favorite bar food.
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More Tasty Dinner Recipes with Bacon
If you love the flavor of tasty bacon at mealtime, you won’t want to miss these bacon dinner recipes!
- Smoked Pork Tenderloin Wrapped in Bacon
- Bacon for Dinner: 60 Easy Recipes
- 15 Best Turkey Recipes with Bacon
- Best Bacon Weave Meatloaf
- 20 Best Bacon Soup Recipes
Save for Later
If you use Pinterest to save and share recipes, here’s a handy pin:
I’ve definitely got my eye on about 20 of these recipes! We made the carbonara and it was delicious comfort food!
I tried the Spinach Pasta and Pasta Carbonara so far and both were pretty successful given the bowl was rendered empty in a couple of minutes and my daughter asked me to make them again. I will definitely explore the other options too!