This Creamy Bacon Mushroom Pasta is a perfect date night at home meal, or even just an average weeknight! It is also deceptively fast and easy to make, coming together in under 30 minutes. Savory bacon and mushrooms in a creamy sauce, all tossed together with pasta will have you coming back for seconds!
Sometimes we just want a big bowl of creamy pasta and nothing else will do. I’m not sure why, put pasta seems to be a perfect dish to serve for date night at home. Maybe it’s that scene in Lady and the Tramp with the spaghetti that made an impression on all of our young brains, subconsciously teaching us all that pasta = love.
Speaking of which, the first time this Creamy Bacon Mushroom Pasta appeared in our house was when I came home from working out and Mr. Briar was busy in the kitchen making this for dinner. I do have to say that walking into the house and discovering your partner is making dinner IS pretty romantic. My workout may have been negated by a big bowl of creamy pasta with bacon but it was worth it.
What I love about this recipe is that it is very fast and easy to make, but it seems like something you would be served in a restaurant. Savory bacon and mushrooms in a creamy white wine sauce is something that rarely goes wrong, and it will certainly make YOUR loved one happy! If you don’t want to use wine in the sauce, feel free to sub chicken broth.
Creamy Bacon Mushroom Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 ounces linguine can also use fettuccine or spaghetti
- 2 slices thick cut bacon diced
- 8 ounces crimini mushrooms sliced
- 1/2 sweet onion sliced
- 1/2 cup white wine or chicken broth
- 1/2 cup Half and Half
- 3-4 garlic cloves minced
- 1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the pasta water and set aside. If pasta finishes before sauce, toss in a little olive oil to keep it from sticking.
- Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced mushrooms and saute until they have released all of their water and the pan is dry. Remove mushrooms and set aside.
- Add the bacon to the pan and allow to render its fat and start to become crisp. Remove bacon from pan but leave the fat.
- Add the sliced onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
- Add the mushrooms back to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the garlic and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until mushrooms and onions are browned.
- Add the wine, scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Allow the wine to cook and reduce for 2-3 minutes. (The alcohol needs to cook out so that the cream doesn't curdle).
- Pour in the half and half, stir and allow sauce to start to thicken. Add the fresh thyme.
- Add the bacon back to the sauce, then add the Parmesan cheese, stir to combine and allow cheese to melt into sauce.
- Taste the sauce and season with salt and pepper if desired.
- Combine the pasta with the sauce. If sauce is too thick, slowly add a little bit of the pasta water and toss to combine until sauce is desired consistency ( I usually only use up to 1/4 cup of the pasta water).
Notes
Nutrition
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Mat says
just made it … very nice. I’d recommend it.
Meghan says
So happy to hear that Mat!
Tracey says
Just made this for the family tonight it was amazing my 12 year old said. I didn’t change anything just made more of it. We also had the garlic butter mushrooms with it too, also a fantastic recipe. Thank you will use again
Meghan says
Hi Tracy – Yay! I am so happy to hear that!
Vlad says
Great recipe! I added fiddleheads to mine and love a bit of fresh-ground pepper in my sauces. This was good for my celiac spouse as I have trouble on my own thickening sauces without starches or flour. Thanks again. The aroma in the house was wonderful.
Meghan says
I am so happy to hear that! Love that you added fiddleheads, sounds amazing!
clare holmes says
I have just made this and it was absolutely delicious I don’t like parmesan so swapped with mozzarella and worked just as well added that bit of pasta water at the end the tastiest of recipes and I have made other versions defo a 5/5
Meghan says
Mozzarella sounds like a great addition. Thanks Clare!
Emily walsdorf says
I loved everything about this. Instead of adding pasta water at the end I threw in a raw egg. Other than that no changes except I doubled the recipe.
Meghan says
Great idea, thanks so much Emily!
mICHELLE says
WHAT IS THE CHINA PATTERN OF THE BEAUTIFUL PLATE USED TO DISPLAY YOUR DELICIOUS CREAMY BACON AND MUSHROOM PASTA?
Meghan says
Hi Michelle, Ahh, I’m sorry, I’m not sure what it is called! The only marking on the back says “Two’s Company” which I think is the company that made them. I bought them at a thrift shop so I don’t know where they are originally from!
Joleen says
Delicious!! Easy to make, budget friendly and family approved!! Thank you so much for sharing.
Meghan says
Yay! I’m so happy to hear that. Thanks Joleen!
Margaret says
Yummie. Will keep this recipe handy. Shouda stired in spinach. Even my finicky eater ate it.
Meghan says
Great idea to add spinach! I’m so glad your family enjoyed it Margaret!
Catherine says
This looks yummy but what’s half and half?
Meghan says
Hi Catherine – Half and Half is an American dairy product. It is half whole milk and half cream. I believe it is equivalent to light cream that is sold in other countries. If you don’t have half and half you can use heavy cream. I hope that helps!
Rhianon says
I have just made this! It is DELICIOUS! Dont think about it, go cook… seriously. My belly is VERY happy 🙂
Meghan says
Hi Rhianon – Yay! So happy to hear that you enjoyed it!
Jo says
When I look at reviews, I do not want to hear your opinions on what the recipe May taste like!
Really! How important do you think you are? There are 4 “reviews” for this recipe and not one has actually made it! Ridiculous!
Meghan says
Hi Jo, I wish people would leave reviews after trying the recipe too. Unfortunately, most people don’t. Did you try the recipe?
Sandra says
wow Jo, your about a rude little thing!
Karin Taylor says
Since this is a reasonably simple meal and the ingredients are handy, people like to comment on how wonderful it sounds and any ideas for expanding on the recipe. That’s not a bad thing. Have some grace. I’m sure you can read right over the ones you’re not interested in. Why be unkind especially over something so trivial. Wishing you a better day tomorrow. I didn’t make it either, but I’m happy to keep the recipe to add to my monthly meal list.
Meghan says
Hi Karin, thanks for your kind comment! Hope you love the recipe.
Alyssa says
I’ve been brainstorming a recipe in my head that I can serve up for date night with my hub, and I was thinking…..bacon, mushrooms, pasta, white sauce. So I just came across your recipe and I can’t wait to give it a whirl! I know it’s sure to be a hit with my husband for the sheer fact that it involves cheese AND bacon. I’m thinking about adding peas possibly. Thank you!!
Meghan says
It is perfect for date night! Peas sound like a great addition. Thanks Alyssa!
Meg | Meg is Well says
Nothing goes together better than pasta, cream, mushrooms, and bacon. I think it’s Lady and the Tramp but also when I was young, Italian restaurants always seemed so much fancier and expensive, so they were always a treat. And this looks fancy and delicious, so it’s a treat, which equals date night!
Meghan says
It is true, Italian food just feels romantic! Thanks Meg!
Marissa says
Maybe it is Lady and the Tramp that made pasta the romance food – and, I agree, I would take a delicious meal like this, cooked by my one and only any day over flowers or other ‘romantic’ gifts. Putting this on our week’s menu.
Meghan says
Absolutely! Thanks Marissa, I hope you enjoyed it!
E.A. says
This sounds like a perfectly delightful meal! Thanks for sharing…I agree; coming home to find Hubby finishing up a scrumptious dinner would earn big romantic points with me~~what an interesting combination of ingredients, too!!
I love the dishes and just the display of your meal, too!
This is a must-try😍
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Meghan says
Thanks so much!