This bacon pasta bake is so easy to make and only needs a few things. It’s a great meal for the middle of the week.
Making pasta recipes is one of my favorite things to do. It’s even better when you can add cheese and make it into a pasta bake. This easy bacon pasta bake will become one of your family favourites.
This is a great recipe for making meals ahead of time to bring to work for lunches. My husband loves taking these kinds of meals to work for smoko when he’s building
The bacon should be cut into small pieces and fried until golden. Then the garlic should be added and mixed in. Garlic should be added after the bacon so it doesn’t catch and burn. It also gives the pasta bake a nice strong garlic taste.
Pour in the canned tomatoes and stir then add the the Philadelphia cooking cream and stir again. If you don’t have cooking cream then you can use cream cheese, sour cream or even standard cream. It will still give a similar flavour, I just really like the texture of this cooking cream.
Add the baby spinach and cooked pasta to the sauce once it’s ready. Stir everything together and then pour it into a large baking dish. Scatter over the grated cheese and bake for around 20 minutes until it is golden and bubbling.
Serve your pasta bake immediately with a delicious side salad and some crusty garlic bread. Or you can box it up and have it as leftovers the next day. You can freeze this pasta bake for later use. Just follow the recipe all the way through until you add the grated cheese. Then, wrap it in plastic wrap and freeze it instead of baking it. Go to my Freezer Meals Made Easy course page for more ideas, tips, and tricks on how to make more freezer food.
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As a passionate home cook and bacon enthusiast, I’m always seeking new ways to enjoy this salty, savory treat. One of my favorite recipes is a creamy, cheesy pasta bake loaded with crispy bits of bacon. I used to think the bacon needed to be pre-cooked before adding it to the pasta. But after some kitchen experiments, I discovered that using raw bacon in pasta bakes yields even better texture and flavor.
I will show you how to make amazing pasta bakes with raw bacon in this full guide. You will learn how to cut, season, and bake the bacon so that it melts perfectly with the creamy cheese, tender pasta, and salty sauce. Let’s start making the best raw bacon pasta bake, from picking out the type of bacon to using as a topping to how to make it ahead of time.
Why Use Raw Bacon in Pasta Bake?
Here are some key benefits to using raw, uncooked bacon in pasta bakes:
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Enhanced flavor – Frying leeches out some of the bacony depth Baking from raw infuses more smoky pork essence into the dish
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** Crispier texture** – Raw bacon bakes up shatteringly crisp versus soggy pre-cooked bacon. The fatty bits fry up in the oven.
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Easier process – No need to dirty extra pans pre-cooking bacon. Just toss it in raw!.
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Visual appeal – Raw bacon bits bake into delicious browned, crispy flecks of goodness
Picking the Best Bacon for Pasta Bake
Thicker sliced, artisanal bacon works best for cuting into lardons and baking in pasta bakes. Look for these varieties:
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Thick-cut bacon – Usually sliced about 1/8-inch thick Holds up well during baking
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Applewood or maple smoked – Imparts sweet, smoky depth.
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Dry-cured – Develops crispier texture compared to wet-cured bacon.
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Herb or spice rubbed – Bacon seasoned with pepper, rosemary, brown sugar, etc. boosts flavor.
Avoid paper-thin sliced bacon, which may overcook or burn before the pasta bake is done. Turkey or beef bacon are fine alternatives for a change of pace.
Prepping Raw Bacon for Pasta Bakes
Proper prep is key for baking success with raw bacon:
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Cut into lardons – Slice bacon crosswise into 1/4-inch strips or small squares. Uniform sizes bake evenly.
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Season well – Generously season bacon before baking with spices like pepper, paprika, garlic powder, etc.
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Toss with pasta – Mixing raw bacon pieces with the pasta and sauce distributes bacon flavor throughout.
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Crumble over top – Sprinkle extra bacon bits on top of the pasta bake for bonus crispness and crunch after baking.
How to Bake Pasta with Raw Bacon
Follow these simple steps for perfect pasta bakes using raw bacon:
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Cut bacon into 1/4-inch lardons and toss with seasoning.
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Boil and drain pasta according to package directions.
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Make sauce base of choice, like cheese sauce, tomato sauce, etc.
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Mix pasta with sauce, raw bacon pieces, and any additional ingredients like vegetables or herbs.
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Transfer pasta mixture to a greased baking dish. Top with extra cheese, bacon, breadcrumbs, etc.
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Bake at 375°F until pasta is bubbly and bacon is browned, 25-35 minutes.
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Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley or basil.
Creative Raw Bacon Pasta Bake Ideas
Take your bacon pasta bakes to the next level with fun mix-ins. Consider adding:
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Assorted vegetables – broccoli, spinach, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, etc.
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Cheeses – cheddar, parmesan, goat, bleu, etc. Use a mix.
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Fresh herbs – basil, oregano, chives, sage all taste great.
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Toasted breadcrumbs or panko on top
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Sautéed mushrooms or caramelized onions
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Squash like zucchini or sun-dried tomatoes
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Chicken, Italian sausage, or diced ham
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Olives, artichoke hearts, or roasted garlic
Make Ahead and Freezing Tips
For convenience, prepare raw bacon pasta bakes in advance using these methods:
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Assemble unbaked – Mix everything together except cheese topping and store covered up to 2 days before baking.
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Freeze unbaked – Assemble casserole without cheese and freeze up to 2 months. Thaw overnight and bake.
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Freeze baked – Cool completely after baking then wrap tightly and freeze up to 3 months. Reheat gently covered.
Let’s Get Baking!
Now you’ve got all the tools to start crafting incredible raw bacon pasta masterpieces! I hope you’ll try this easy method and experience how using uncooked bacon takes these creamy bakes over the top. From picking the best bacon to prepping lardons and tossing them in the pasta, you’ll get perfectly browned and crispy bacon goodness with every satisfying bite. What unique bacon pasta bake will you whip up next?
More easy pasta recipes to try:
Easy bacon pasta bakeYield:
This pasta bake is super simple to make and filled with bacon and spinach.
- 500g penne pasta
- 250g bacon, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 can crushed tomatoes
- 250ml Philadelphia cooking cream
- ½ bag baby spinach
- 1 cup grated cheese
- Preheat oven to 200ºC fanbake.
- Cook pasta according to packet instructions.
- In a large pan, cook the bacon until it’s done. Then, add the garlic and stir everything together.
- Add the cream and stir again until everything melts together. Then add the canned tomatoes and stir again.
- Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste, then add the baby spinach.
- Put the cooked pasta and sauce together in a baking dish.
- Spread grated cheese over the top.
- Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until golden and bubbling.
- Serve immediately.
- Do not put this pasta bake in the freezer after step 7. Instead, make it until step 7. After putting the cheese on top, let it cool down, then wrap it in plastic wrap and freeze it.
- Make this recipe ahead of time and pack it for lunch. At work, just heat it up in the microwave for one to two minutes until it’s piping hot.
Nutritional values are approximate. Please use your own calculations if you require a special diet.
Bacon Pasta Bake | One Pot Chef
FAQ
Will bacon splatter in the oven?
Does pasta have to be cooked before baking?
How long does it take to cook bacon in the oven?
Do you have to pre-cook pasta for pasta bake?
Can you put raw bacon in a pasta bake?
Can you put raw bacon in the pasta bake? Yes, you can put raw bacon in a pasta bake. The bacon will cook through during the baking process and add a delicious flavour to the dish. If you are using smoked bacon, you may want to cook it for a few minutes before adding it to the pasta bake, as this will help remove some of the smoky flavours.
How do you cook bacon in pasta?
Place pasta in saucepan with water and bring to the boil. Cook for 2-3 minutes less than recommended on the pasta packet. 3. While the pasta is cooking, fry the bacon pieces with the chopped onions and crushed garlic. 4. Drain the pasta and stir through the tinned tomatoes/passata/pasta sauce, as well as the cooked bacon, onions, garlic and herbs.
Does Bacon and cheese pasta bake need to be boiled?
This easy bacon and cheese pasta bake is so creamy, delicious, and requires no boiling at all! Just fry the bacon, leeks, and mushrooms, then bake them in homemade cheese sauce with pasta shells in the oven. Includes easy-to-follow process shots and a 15-minute air fryer creamy pasta bake version, too!
How do you make a good pasta bake?
While the macaroni is cooking I brown the onion and bacon, then add the tomato and paste to create a sauce. Then all I need to do is stir the sauce through the cooked pasta, spoon into a casserole dish, sprinkle with cheese and put in the oven. Possibly the make or break of a good pasta bake is the cheese.