Indulge in a culinary journey with our delectable Penne with Bacon, Spinach, and Two Cheeses recipe. This tantalizing dish combines the smoky, savory flavors of bacon with the vibrant freshness of spinach and the rich, gooey goodness of two perfectly melted cheeses. The penne pasta provides a hearty base that perfectly soaks up the creamy sauce, resulting in a delightful and satisfying meal. With easy-to-follow instructions and a list of readily available ingredients, this recipe is perfect for home cooks of all skill levels.
In addition to the classic Penne with Bacon, Spinach, and Two Cheeses, the article also features two variations to cater to diverse tastes and dietary preferences:
1. **Penne with Bacon, Spinach, and Goat Cheese:** For those who enjoy a tangy twist, this variation incorporates creamy goat cheese, adding a layer of tanginess that complements the other flavors of the dish.
2. **Penne with Bacon, Spinach, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes:** Sun-dried tomatoes bring a burst of umami and Mediterranean flair to this variation, creating a delightful harmony of flavors.
Each variation offers a unique taste experience while retaining the core elements of the original recipe. Whether you're a fan of classic comfort food or enjoy exploring new culinary horizons, these recipes are sure to tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more.
BACON AND SPINACH PASTA WITH PARMESAN
Bacon and Spinach Pasta with Parmesan is a quick and flavorful weeknight dinner that only requires a few ingredients.
Provided by Beth - Budget Bytes
Time 30m
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Cut the bacon across the strips into one-inch pieces. Sauté the bacon in a large skillet until it is brown and crispy (no extra fat needed). Remove the browned bacon to a bowl with a slotted spoon. Carefully pour the fat off into a separate bowl, leaving about one tablespoon in the skillet.
- While the bacon cooks, dice the onion. Once the bacon is removed and the fat is drained from the skillet, add the diced onions and sauté until they are soft and transparent. Allow the moisture from the onions to dissolve some of the browned bits off of the bottom of the skillet.
- Add two cups of chicken broth to the skillet and dissolve off any remaining browned bits of bacon drippings from the bottom of the skillet.
- Finally, add the uncooked pasta to the skillet, place a lid on top, and let the skillet come to a boil over high heat. Once it reaches a boil, give it a quick stir, turn the heat down to low, and let simmer for 10 minutes with the lid in place. Give the skillet a stir to loosen the pasta from the bottom every few minutes or so, replacing the lid quickly each time. After 10 minutes the pasta should be tender and most of the broth absorbed. There should be a little bit of thick, saucy broth remaining in the bottom of the skillet.
- Add the fresh spinach to the skillet and stir until it has wilted into the pasta. Turn off the heat, add the cooked bacon back to the skillet, sprinkle the Parmesan over top, stir to combine, and then serve.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 Serving, Calories 428.43 kcal, Carbohydrate 46.9 g, Protein 17.1 g, Fat 19.05 g, Fiber 2.75 g, Sodium 924.4 mg
CHEESY SPINACH BAKED PENNE
Making homemade tomato sauce for this recipe really allows you to control what goes into it. Here, it's mixed up with chunks of mozzarella for extra bursts of cheesy goodness, along with cottage cheese for all the satisfying qualities of ricotta with only a fraction of the fat and calories.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 1h21m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Mist a 2 to 2 1/2-quart rectangular or oval baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne and cook according to package directions for al dente.
- While the pasta cooks, heat the oil in a medium pot set over medium heat. Add the fennel seeds and garlic and cook until aromatic, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, basil sprig, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Simmer, lowering the heat if the sauce bubbles too vigorously, until the sauce has thickened slightly, the flavors have blended together and the raw tomato taste has cooked out, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the heat, discard the basil and season with additional salt and pepper. Pour over the cooked pasta and toss well to coat. Add the cubed mozzarella and transfer half the pasta to the prepared baking dish.
- Put the cottage cheese in the bowl of a food processor and process until smooth. Add the shredded mozzarella and Parmesan and pulse two to three times. Combine half the cottage cheese mixture with the spinach and mix to break up the spinach. Drop in spoonfuls over the pasta in the baking dish. Top the spinach layer with the rest of the pasta and then the remaining cottage cheese mixture.
- Bake until bubbly and golden brown on top, about 30 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes, and then scatter the torn basil over the top.
CHEESY BACON PENNE
This satisfying classic gets its flair by mixing in two of the best foods around: bacon and garlic!-Sharon Skildum, Maple Grove, Minnesota
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 50m
Yield 6 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, saute garlic in butter for 1 minute. Stir in flour and pepper until smooth; gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat; stir in 2 cups of cheese until melted. Remove from the heat. , Drain pasta; add pasta and 1/3 cup bacon to cheese sauce. Transfer to a greased 2-qt. baking dish. Cover and bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining cheese and bacon. , Bake 5-10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 402 calories, Fat 24g fat (16g saturated fat), Cholesterol 83mg cholesterol, Sodium 708mg sodium, Carbohydrate 26g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 22g protein.
BACON AND PARMESAN PENNE PASTA
This pasta recipe is so easy to make and so flavorful, you will want to make it part of your regular dinner routine. It is a great option for bacon lovers, and those who want something other than red sauce on their pasta.
Provided by SusieQ
Categories Side Dish
Time 30m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Place the chopped bacon and onion in a skillet over medium heat, and cook and stir until the bacon is crisp and the onion is beginning to brown, about 10 minutes.
- While the bacon and onion are cooking, fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the penne, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain pasta, transfer to a large serving bowl, and stir in the olive oil to coat the pasta.
- Drain the bacon grease from the skillet, leaving a couple of tablespoons or to taste. Stir the cooked bacon mixture into the pasta, and sprinkle the Parmesan cheese over the pasta. Stir to mix in the cheese, and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 411.6 calories, Carbohydrate 45.5 g, Cholesterol 24.9 mg, Fat 17.3 g, Fiber 2.8 g, Protein 17.2 g, SaturatedFat 4.6 g, Sodium 508.8 mg, Sugar 1.4 g
PENNE WITH BACON, SPINACH AND TWO CHEESES
Steps:
- Cook bacon in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat until crisp. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels and drain. Pour off all but 3 tbsp. drippings from skillet. Add bell pepper and onion to skillet and saute until tender, about 4 minutes. Remove skillet from heat. Meanwhile, cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite. Drain. Immediately return pasta to same pot. Add Fontina, Gorgonzola and butter and toss until cheeses and butter melt and coat pasta. Add spinach and brandy and toss over medium heat until spinach wilts, about 3 min. Gently mix in red bell pepper mixture and cooked bacon pieces. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer pasta to large bowl. Sprinkle with nuts and chives and serve.
PENNE PASTA WITH SPINACH AND BACON
This is a quick light meal. Wilted spinach, bacon and tomatoes are tossed with penne pasta. Good for any season and will complement anything.
Provided by Jean Tagliere
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 25m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta, and cook until tender, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Place bacon in the skillet, and cook until browned and crisp. Add garlic, and cook for about 1 minute. Stir in the tomatoes, and cook until heated through.
- Place the spinach into a colander, and drain the hot pasta over it so it is wilted. Transfer to a large serving bowl, and toss with the remaining olive oil, and the bacon and tomato mixture.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 517.4 calories, Carbohydrate 73.8 g, Cholesterol 15.1 mg, Fat 14.8 g, Fiber 6.6 g, Protein 21 g, SaturatedFat 3.3 g, Sodium 547.1 mg, Sugar 4.1 g
PENNE PASTA WITH SPINACH AND BACON
Make and share this Penne Pasta With Spinach and Bacon recipe from Food.com.
Provided by AZPARZYCH
Categories Penne
Time 25m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
- Add the penne pasta, and cook until tender, 8 to 10 minutes
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Place bacon in the skillet, and cook until browned and crisp.
- Add garlic, and cook for about 1 minute.
- Stir in the tomatoes, and cook until heated through.
- Place the spinach into a colander, and drain the hot pasta over it so it is wilted.
- Transfer to a large serving bowl, and toss with the remaining olive oil, and the bacon and tomato mixture.
PENNE WITH BACON, SPINACH & MUSHROOMS
Make and share this Penne With Bacon, Spinach & Mushrooms recipe from Food.com.
Provided by CookingONTheSide
Categories Penne
Time 30m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Cook pasta as package directs.
- Meanwhile, cook bacon in large, deep nonstick skillet over medium heat until browned.
- Remove bacon to paper towels to drain.
- Remove all but 2 T fat from skillet.
- Add onion and mushrooms to skillet; saute 5 minutes until onion is golden.
- Add garlic and red pepper flakes; cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add spinach; cover and cook, stirring occasionally, 2 minutes until wilted.
- Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup pasta water.
- Add pasta to skillet with some of the reserved pasta water; toss.
- Add more water as necessary.
- Crumble bacon on top of pasta and serve with Parmesan.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 473.6, Fat 19, SaturatedFat 5.9, Cholesterol 25.7, Sodium 364.5, Carbohydrate 65.7, Fiber 10.2, Sugar 1.7, Protein 13.1
BAKED PENNE WITH MUSHROOMS, BACON AND SPINACH
Easy, creamy, savory and veggie-packed, this rich, delicious dish is affordable without tasting like it! And it's ready in just over an hour. See how to make it.
Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Entree
Time 1h10m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook pasta as directed on package. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water. Drain pasta; return to stockpot. Add cream; toss. Set aside.
- Spray 12-inch sauté pan or skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium heat. Add bacon; cook until crisp. With slotted spoon, remove bacon from pan to plate; set aside.
- Add onions, salt and pepper to bacon drippings in pan; cook and stir 4 to 7 minutes or until translucent. Add mushrooms; cook 6 to 10 minutes longer or until browned and liquid evaporates. Add spinach and reserved pasta cooking water; cook and stir 1 minute.
- Pour mushroom mixture over pasta; toss to coat. Pour into baking dish. Top evenly with both cheeses. Cover dish tightly with foil.
- Bake 20 minutes. Remove foil; top with reserved bacon. Bake uncovered 5 minutes longer.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 530, Carbohydrate 41 g, Cholesterol 105 mg, Fat 5, Fiber 3 g, Protein 20 g, SaturatedFat 18 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 850 mg, Sugar 4 g, TransFat 1 g
PENNE WITH TOMATOES, OLIVES AND TWO CHEESES
Categories Cheese Herb Olive Pasta Tomato Bake Kid-Friendly Bon Appétit Small Plates
Yield Serves 4
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat 3 tablespoons oil in heavy large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Mix in tomatoes, dried basil and crushed red pepper. Bring to boil, breaking up tomatoes with back of spoon. Add broth; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium; simmer and mixture thickens to chunky sauce and is reduced to 6 cups, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill. Rewarm over low heat before continuing.)
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite. Drain well.
- Return pasta to same pot. Toss with 3 tablespoons oil. Pour sauce over and toss to blend. Mix in Havarti cheese. Transfer pasta to 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Sprinkle with olives, then Parmesan.
- Bake until pasta is heated through, about 30 minutes. Sprinkle with basil.
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients for the best flavor: choose fresh spinach, crispy bacon, and flavorful cheeses.
- Don't overcrowd the pan when cooking the bacon. This will prevent it from getting crispy.
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Al dente pasta is best for this recipe.
- Reserve some of the pasta cooking water before draining. This can be used to thin out the sauce if needed.
- Add the cheese to the sauce gradually, stirring constantly until it is melted and smooth.
- Serve the pasta immediately, topped with extra cheese and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.
Conclusion:
This easy and delicious penne with bacon, spinach, and two cheeses is a perfect weeknight meal. It's packed with flavor and can be on the table in under 30 minutes. Plus, it's a great way to use up leftover bacon and spinach. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy pasta dish, give this recipe a try.
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