This deliciously easy pea and bacon pasta dish is a great way to use up frozen peas - and it only takes minutes to prepare.
This is one of our quickest and simplest pasta dishes. The bacon cooks whilst the pasta is boiling in a big pan of water, you simply chuck the peas in with the pasta for the last couple of minutes of cooking time, and then it's just a case of stirring everything together so the crème fraîche melts into a creamy sauce over everything. Absolute perfection and quicker than ordering a takeaway. This speedy supper is also really cheap to make - with only four ingredients (plus cooking oil). In fact it's one of the stars of our brilliant cheap family meals collection.
Ingredients
- 350g (12oz) pasta shapes
- 175g (6oz) frozen peas
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 225g (8oz) smoked bacon, cut into small pieces
- 4 tbsp half-fat crème fraîche
WEIGHT CONVERTER
Method
- Cook the pasta shapes in a large pan of boiling salted water for as long as it says on the packet, adding the frozen peas for the last 2-3 mins.
- Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large, deep frying pan and fry the smoked bacon pieces until browned. Drain the pasta and peas and add to the pan with the crème fraîche.
- Heat through gently, stirring all the time, until the crème fraîche melts and coats the pasta. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper and serve immediately.
Top tip for making pea and bacon pasta
Add a couple of spoonfuls of pesto sauce with the crème fraîche for a richer flavour.
Octavia Lillywhite is an award-winning food and lifestyle journalist with over 15 years of experience. With a passion for creating beautiful, tasty family meals that don’t use hundreds of ingredients or anything you have to source from obscure websites, she’s a champion of local and seasonal foods, using up leftovers and composting, which, she maintains, is probably the most important thing we all can do to protect the environment.
-
Tomato, bean and basil pasta salad
This tomato, bean and basil pasta salad is a great alternative to sandwiches for lunch boxes and is also an excellent vegan buffet option if you’re hosting a party.
By Rose Fooks Published
-
Simple chorizo and tomato linguine with rocket
This simple chorizo and tomato linguine with rocket is the perfect family dinner. Swap the rocket for some steamed broccoli if it’s too spicy for your little ones.
By Rose Fooks Published
-
Prawn pasta with cherry tomatoes and lemon
Our prawn pasta with cherry tomatoes and lemon is so simple to make at home and is bursting with plenty of flavour - the perfect mid-week meal.
By Jessica Dady Published
-
Stuffed lamb shoulder with feta and apricot
Our stuffed lamb shoulder with feta and apricot is infused with lots of Middle Eastern flavours and it only takes 30 minutes of prep
By Rose Fooks Published
-
Stuffed spring leg of lamb with herby chutney
This stuffed spring leg of lamb with herby chutney is best made the night before so it can marinate and intensify in flavour.
By Jules Mercer Published
-
Easter coconut and lemon cake
This Easter coconut and lemon cake serves 12 and leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to three days.
By Jules Mercer Published
-
5 easy ways to let children take risks (without your anxiety going through the roof)
Here's why allowing children to put themselves in 'healthy' risk situations is actually good for them
By Selina Maycock Published
-
I’m a child psychologist - this 2-step technique will stop your kids answering back… and it sounds so easy
We've spoken to a child psychologist and parenting expert about how to handle kids who answer back, and she shared a simple two-step tip.
By Ellie Hutchings Published
-
Top 10 positive traits children learn from their parents - and #5 is no easy task
Have you passed any of these on to your kids?
By Ellie Hutchings Published