Bacon and Leek Pasta

4.91 from 10 votes

This bacon and leek pasta recipe comes together fast and uses just 6 everyday ingredients. It's great for busy weeknights but feels a little special!

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Total Time30

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: bacon and leek pasta

Servings:

Author: Natasha Bull

Ingredients

2 small-to-medium leeks chopped
8 ounces uncooked spaghetti
6 strips bacon cut into small pieces
1 clove garlic minced
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Pepper to taste

Instructions

To prep the leeks: discard the top dark green portion of the leeks, keeping the bulbs. Slice the bulbs into rings. Add leeks to a colander and rinse them thoroughly (use your hands to dislodge any stubborn dirt - it may be hidden).
Boil a salted pot of water for the pasta and cook it al dente according to package directions.
Meanwhile, cut the bacon into small pieces (I find this easiest using kitchen shears) and cook in a skillet over medium-high heat until crispy, then transfer the bacon to a paper towel lined plate. Leave the bacon fat in the skillet.
Turn the heat down to medium and cook the leeks for about 3-4 minutes, or until softened (a bit of light browning is ok too - adds more flavor).
Add in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
Add in the broth and cook for a few minutes until the liquid is reduced by half (and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan).
Prior to draining the pasta, reserve 1/4 cup of the hot pasta water and add it to the skillet, along with the parmesan cheese and the bacon. Turn the heat off and add the drained pasta to the skillet and keep tossing it all together until the cheese melts and the sauce thickens up a bit and coats the pasta. I like to add some freshly cracked pepper (add salt if needed, but I found it plenty salty). Serve immediately.

Notes

This recipe serves 2-4 depending on how much people eat/how much sauce you want each portion to have/what it's served with.
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Nutrition