Penne Pasta with Spinach and Bacon
This delightful and simple dish combines rich flavors and nutritious ingredients.
This recipe is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a comforting meal that feels indulgent yet balanced. The combination of crispy bacon, fresh spinach, and al dente pasta creates a harmonious balance of textures and tastes. We served ours with a salad and you could easily add garlic bread if you wanted.
Prep Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 15 mins Total Time: 25 mins Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 1 bag of fresh spinach, rinsed and torn into bite-size pieces
- 9 ounces of whole grain penne pasta
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 4 cloves of garlic minced
- 1 (14.5g ounce) can diced tomatoes no salt added
- Fresh basil and oregano from our herb garden (1/2 Tbsp. dried oregano and 1 Tbsp. dried basil)
- Parmesan cheese (optional)
Directions:
- Place spinach into a colander in the sink; set aside.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes.
- While penne pasta is cooking, heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir bacon in hot oil until browned and crisp. Add garlic and cook for about 1 minute. Stir in tomatoes; cook until heated through.
- Drain hot pasta over spinach in the colander so it wilts. Transfer spinach-pasta mixture to a large serving bowl. Top with bacon-tomato mixture and toss until evenly combined. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
Nutrition Facts: calories: 341 fat 15, carbs 48g, protein 21 g sodium 547 mg
**These are an estimate, actual nutrition counts can vary depending on what type of pasta and diced tomatoes you use.
Items Needed:
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