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A cast iron skillet of Melted Leek and Bacon pasta sits alongside a white bowl of pasta sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.

Melted Leek and Bacon Pasta

Cassie Waltman
Simple ingredients combine for dinner alchemy in this Melted Leek and Bacon Pasta. Smoky bacon and sweet softened leeks are flavor powerhouses that make a simple pasta shine.
5 from 1 vote
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Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 576 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 12 oz. bacon (diced)
  • 2 cups leeks (5½ - 6 ounces, sliced in half moons)
  • 1 pound spaghetti (linguine or any other long pasta)
  • ½ cup parsley (chopped, plus extra for garnish)
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt (or to taste)
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper (ground)
  • 2 oz Parmesan cheese (grated)

Instructions
 

  • Start a pot of salted water to boil and cook spaghetti. Reserve ¼ cup of pasta water and drain the pasta.
  • While the pasta water is coming to a boil, start the rest of the recipe. Chop the bacon and get that started while you prep the rest of the vegetables.
  • Brown the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until golden. Take care not to let the bacon burn.
  • Remove the bacon from the skillet and drain over paper towels. Add the leeks to the bacon grease and cook over medium-low heat for 10 minutes.
  • Allow the leeks to soften but avoid any caramelization. Add the garlic for the last 2 minutes of cooking.
  • Remove most of the bacon fat, reserving about one tablespoon. Add the reserved bacon and pasta to the skillet. Toss the pasta with the parsley and reserved pasta water until all ingredients are well combined. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Serve with additional parsley and top with Parmesan cheese.

Notes

I find that the timing of cooking the pasta (if I'm using standard spaghetti) perfectly matches the time of getting the bacon browned and the leeks melted.  In this happy timing, I can use tongs to transfer the pasta directly from the cooking pot to the skillet with the bacon and leek mixture.  I still grab a bit of extra pasta water to get the final texture just right, but this eliminates the step of draining the pasta. 

Nutrition facts are sometimes provided below and are calculated using an online calculator. With specific brands of ingredients and additions, omissions, or substitutions the nutrition facts may change. We encourage you to use your own nutrition facts calculator to obtain the most accurate nutrition facts for your meal.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 576kcalCarbohydrates: 62gProtein: 21gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 44mgSodium: 734mgPotassium: 376mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 1011IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 157mgIron: 2mg
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