Cajun Bacon & Pea Pasta
A zesty one-pot pasta with crispy bacon, sweet peas, and a spicy Cajun seasoning for a quick, flavorful meal. This Southern-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs bowtie pasta, bacon, peas for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 12 oz bowtie pasta
- 4 slices, diced bacon
- 1 cup, frozen peas
- 1/2 cup, diced bell pepper
- 1/2 cup, diced onion
- 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 2 cloves, minced garlic
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: Cook bowtie pasta in salted water for 8-10 minutes until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add bacon and cook for 5 minutes until crispy. Remove and set aside.
- Step 3: Add onion and bell pepper to the skillet. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic, Cajun seasoning, and salt. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Step 4: Add peas and tomato sauce. Cook for 5 minutes until peas are tender. Stir in heavy cream and black pepper. Cook for 2 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Step 5: Fold in cooked pasta and crispy bacon. Toss to coat. Serve immediately.
