Italian nonnas never put broccoli in pasta until 1960s when Sicily's sulfur mines closed and farmers pivoted to vegetables.
Creamy Broccoli Pasta with Bacon
Indulge in a mouthwatering bowl of creamy pasta that’s sure to impress! This delightful dish features perfectly cooked broccoli and crispy bacon, all enveloped in a luscious sauce that brings everything together. Whip it up in no time for a family dinner that’s both satisfying and utterly scrumptious!
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
beginner
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥬Fresh Produce(1)
- 1 brócolis Brócolis ou a gosto.
🥩Meat & Seafood(1)
- 300gr de Bacon (escolha um com menos gordura possível) (10.6 oz)
🥛Dairy & Eggs(4)
- 1 creme de leite
- 1 Requeijão cremoso
- Leite para deixar mais cremoso (o molho seca rápido, na hora de servir pode colocar um pouco de leite)optional
- 50g de parmesão (1.76 oz)
🫙Pantry Staples(1)
- 250gr de macarrão (8.82 oz)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Start by frying the bacon.
- 2
Then add garlic, onion, creamy cheese spread, cream, and grated parmesan.
- 3
Next, add the cooked broccoli and pasta, mixing everything together.
- 4
Adjust the seasonings to taste.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Cook bacon at medium-low heat (275-300°F) to render fat slowly and evenly - this prevents the outside from burning while the inside stays chewy and maximizes rendered fat for building your sauce base.technique275-300°F
- ✓Blanch broccoli for exactly 2-3 minutes in heavily salted water, then shock in ice water to halt cooking - this preserves bright green color and maintains al dente texture when reheated in the cream sauce.timing2-3 minutes
- ✓Reserve 1 cup of starchy pasta water before draining because the starch content (typically 2-3%) acts as a natural emulsifier to bind the cream sauce and prevent separation.technique1 cup, 2-3% starch
- ✓Add cream off heat or at lowest temperature setting because dairy proteins coagulate at 180°F, causing the sauce to curdle and break into an unappetizing grainy texture.technique180°F
- ✓Finish with freshly grated Parmesan off heat and toss vigorously for 30-60 seconds - the residual heat activates the cheese's proteins to create a silky emulsion without clumping.timing30-60 seconds
Share this recipe
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
beginner
Share this recipe
Italian nonnas never put broccoli in pasta until 1960s when Sicily's sulfur mines closed and farmers pivoted to vegetables.
Creamy Broccoli Pasta with Bacon
Indulge in a mouthwatering bowl of creamy pasta that’s sure to impress! This delightful dish features perfectly cooked broccoli and crispy bacon, all enveloped in a luscious sauce that brings everything together. Whip it up in no time for a family dinner that’s both satisfying and utterly scrumptious!
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥬Fresh Produce(1)
- 1 brócolis Brócolis ou a gosto.
🥩Meat & Seafood(1)
- 300gr de Bacon (escolha um com menos gordura possível) (10.6 oz)
🥛Dairy & Eggs(4)
- 1 creme de leite
- 1 Requeijão cremoso
- Leite para deixar mais cremoso (o molho seca rápido, na hora de servir pode colocar um pouco de leite)optional
- 50g de parmesão (1.76 oz)
🫙Pantry Staples(1)
- 250gr de macarrão (8.82 oz)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Start by frying the bacon.
- 2
Then add garlic, onion, creamy cheese spread, cream, and grated parmesan.
- 3
Next, add the cooked broccoli and pasta, mixing everything together.
- 4
Adjust the seasonings to taste.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Cook bacon at medium-low heat (275-300°F) to render fat slowly and evenly - this prevents the outside from burning while the inside stays chewy and maximizes rendered fat for building your sauce base.technique275-300°F
- ✓Blanch broccoli for exactly 2-3 minutes in heavily salted water, then shock in ice water to halt cooking - this preserves bright green color and maintains al dente texture when reheated in the cream sauce.timing2-3 minutes
- ✓Reserve 1 cup of starchy pasta water before draining because the starch content (typically 2-3%) acts as a natural emulsifier to bind the cream sauce and prevent separation.technique1 cup, 2-3% starch
- ✓Add cream off heat or at lowest temperature setting because dairy proteins coagulate at 180°F, causing the sauce to curdle and break into an unappetizing grainy texture.technique180°F
- ✓Finish with freshly grated Parmesan off heat and toss vigorously for 30-60 seconds - the residual heat activates the cheese's proteins to create a silky emulsion without clumping.timing30-60 seconds