Bacon and Brussels Sprouts with Pasta
Bacon and Brussels Sprouts with Pasta is a quick and hearty dish ready in just 30 minutes. From Mary Younkin’s Book ‘The Weeknight Dinner Cookbook.’ Everything is easy and delicious!
Brussels Sprouts. Is there any vegetable that evokes for you the same memories I have of this one from my childhood? Maybe even more especially this one that has seen my opinion change so dramatically? For me this is it; hands down. Maybe there was no asparagus or canned pea love either but I could get through those.
Poor Brussels Sprouts got the majority of my childhood ire and by ire I mean literally crying over being told to eat at least one. Maybe if mom had put down that can and served this Bacon and Brussels Sprouts with Bowtie Pasta my childhood would have been filled with better memories?
Like many of us I have learned over the years what a difference the right preparation can mean. No more boiling to death the vegetables that require a lighter hand.
Not only are the texture and taste magnificently different but even the color has more appeal. Forget Army green and imagine a bright, vivid green that has this exceptional little vegetable now at the top of my list for taste and presentation…doggone it, now it’s pretty!
I came upon this recipe when I was asked by Mary Younkin, who blogs at BarefeetintheKitchen.com, if I would consider taking a peek at her new cookbook.
The title appealed to me as I just knew it would to many readers too, ‘The Weeknight Dinner Cookbook,’ a book devoted to getting a meal on the table for our families without spending so much time they’re ready for bed by the time supper is on the table.
Organized by three categories; all devoted to making meals fast and delicious. There are recipes for 5-10 minute prep time for dishes that need to cook on their own in the oven, another group that are 15-25 minutes meals and lastly dishes that take a bit longer but still only 30-45 minutes to get dinner on the table.
I’ve made a couple of dishes from the book and have loved each one but I seriously love the timing. I might cook all day and have nothing prepared for dinner so like you I appreciate a real dinner that I can get made and served in less than an hour. Winner winner chicken dinner? Why yes there is a chicken dish or two!
I’ve made two dishes so far and while I loved both, I decided to first share the Bacon and Brussels Sprouts with Bowtie Pasta. The sprouts are pan roasted and combined with bowtie pasta, bacon, cream and Parmesan cheese to create what was a perfect dinner for me.
I’ve also prepared Mary’s Honey Chipotle Meatloaf and we loved it but no photos to share, oops! Sometimes the people say ‘Let’s EAT!’ and photos are simply not going to happen.
I will be making it again and I’ll probably share it too but if I were you I wouldn’t wait…go buy this book! Perfect for the beginner or more experienced cook…don’t we all need new ideas for dinner?
As for these Bacon and Brussels Sprouts with Bowtie Pasta? Make them if you hated them, make them if you love them now. Make them for Thanksgiving but seriously, just make them. Maybe don’t have company over like I did. I had to share and you won’t have to!
By the way, it is Food Network day and our theme this week is all about Brussels Sprouts; be sure to check out the fantastic recipes from friends!
Want/Need more? Here you go!
- Healthy Eats: 5 Healthier Ways to Spruce Up Brussels Sprouts
- Creative Culinary: Bowtie Pasta with Bacon and Brussels Sprouts (You’re Here!)
- The Fed Up Foodie: Beef and Brussels Sprouts Stew
- Hey Grill Hey: Brown Sugar Bacon Brussels Sprout Bites
- A Mind “Full” Mom: Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad
- Taste with the Eyes: Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Italian Sausage, Balsamic Syrup
- The Mediterranean Dish: Fall Rotini Pasta Salad with Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash
- The Mom 100: Roasted Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts and Leeks with Spicy Drizzle
- Pinch My Salt: Steamed Brussels Sprouts with Dilly Dip
- Devour: Every Day We’re Brusselin’: 4 Craveable Brussels Sprout Salads
- Swing Eats: Braised Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Shallots and Sherry Over Loose Polenta
- In Jennie’s Kitchen: Pan Seared Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Pear & Walnut Salad
- FN Dish: 7 Recipes That Will Make Literally Anyone a Brussels Sprout Believer
[mv_create key=”307″ layout=”numbered” title=”More Favorite Brussels Sprouts Recipes” type=”list”]
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Bacon and Brussels Sprouts with Bowtie Pasta
Ingredients
- 6 strips bacon cut in 1/2-inch-wide strips, about 1/3 lb
- 1 lb Brussels sprouts ends trimmed and halved
- 8 oz bow-tie pasta
- ½ cup cream or half-and-half
- ¾ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp fresh ground black pepper
- ½ cup shredded Asiago or Parmesan cheese optional
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. While the water is heating, prep the bacon and Brussels sprouts. Cook the pasta until it is tender but still a bit firm, about 12 minutes.
- While the pasta is cooking, warm a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and let it cook for 2 minutes, then add the Brussels sprouts. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes, until the bacon is cooked through and the Brussels sprouts have browned. Transfer the bacon and Brussels sprouts to a plate. Drain the grease, leaving a teaspoon or so of grease in the skillet.
- Place the skillet back over medium-high heat. Scoop 1/2 cup of pasta water out of the boiling pasta pot and carefully pour into the hot skillet. Use a flat spatula to scrape up the brown bits and deglaze the pan. Add the cream, salt and pepper to the skillet and stir to combine. Lower the heat to medium and let the sauce simmer for 1-2 minutes, until it thickens slightly. If the pasta hasn’t finished cooking yet, move the sauce off the heat until the pasta finishes.
- Drain pasta well and add it to the skillet with the sauce, stirring to coat well. Add the Brussels sprouts and bacon to the skillet with pasta and stir to combine. Taste and adjust salt, if needed. Sprinkle with cheese before serving, if desired. Enjoy!
Hello! How many would you say this serves? I have a family of 4. Wondering if this is a single serve recipe or feeds many. I’m also considering adding asparagus!
I should have included that information in the recipe Kaili; thanks for asking and I’ll fix that momentarily.
So I WANTED to answer, ‘Well, for me, just give me the whole pan!’ but I know that’s not what you were looking for. From the author, it’s 4-6 servings. Hope you enjoy it, it’s SO good!
I wish I had known that when you print the recipe, you get the full 17 pages. What a waste of ink and paper!
I only needed to read the story one time.:(
Can I make ahead and reheat?
You can Lise as I’ve certainly reheated leftover but just be cautious; reheating too much or too high could overcook either the pasta or the Brussels sprouts. I’ve served them at room temperature so just taking the chill off is all that is necessary.
This was incredible. My wife and kids had never had brussel sprouts before this, and they loved it. The daughters also helped cook it (which I’ve learned helps then eat new stuff better). Thank you for the great recipe.
Your children are very lucky Adam, when I was a kid Brussel Sprouts were most often from a can and were awful and mushy, sort of like green peas from a can and they were one of those foods I dreaded seeing on the plate. Having them available fresh and roasting them changed everything for me and a lot of people and my children, though older, were like yours…lucky that this preparation is all they’ve ever known!
I love that your daughter is helping in the kitchen; both of mine did too. Not always willingly but I’m certain as adults they will also say now that they are so grateful they know how to cook; so many of their friends do not. I raised two ‘Martha Stewart’s.’ 🙂
Hi! Found this recipe in Pinterest, trying to make it to today but could you please tell me what kind of cream you used? I’m not if it’s regular/heavy whipping cream or sour cream or half & half cream.. thank you !!! Denisse
Anytime you see cream called for in a recipe Denisse it’s meant to be heavy cream (also called whipping cream). Although if I didn’t have it, I would use half and half in a heartbeat! I’ll go clarify that now…thanks for letting me know it was confusing; I don’t want that!
Thank you so much !!! – I’m not very knowledgeable in the cooking field?, so I try to follow the recipe as close as possible… your recipe looks amazing ? so tonite I will give it try tonite for dinner.. thank you again!!
Denisse
You are most welcome; I’ve had several readers make it with success so I’m sure you will do just fine…enjoy!
Hated Brussels sprouts when I was a kid, too. My mom subscribed to the “cook until limp and smelly” school of cooking when it came to these little cabbages. To big cabbages, too, alas. 🙁 Anyway, love them now — they’re great when properly cooked. Don’t usually use them in pasta dishes — need to try this. Thanks!
I love this recipe so much! I am thrilled that you enjoyed it. All of these Brussels Sprouts recipes look really fantastic. Thank you so much for your support for the cookbook! I really appreciate it.