• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Urban Bliss Life logo

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • contact
  • shop
  • cookbooks
  • resources
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • 30-Minute Meals
    • Air Fryer
    • Appetizers
    • Asian
    • Bread
    • Breakfast
    • Cookies
    • Dairy-free
    • Dessert
    • Filipino
    • Holiday
    • Instant Pot
    • Main Dish
    • Pasta
    • Salads
    • Side Dishes
    • Seafood
    • Vegan
    • Cocktails
    • Dog Treats
  • Wine
    • Food & Wine Pairing
    • Oregon Wine
    • Washington
    • California
  • Travel
    • Travel Gear
    • Travel Tips
    • Hotels
    • USA travel
    • Europe
    • Japan
    • Canada
    • Asia
  • Restaurants
  • About
    • Work With Us
    • Press
    • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • All Recipes
  • Wine
  • Travel
  • Cookbooks
  • About
  • Work With Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Urban Bliss Life » All Recipes » Pasta Recipes » Bacon Pesto Pasta

    Published: February 10, 2025 / Updated: February 12, 2025 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Bacon Pesto Pasta

    13 shares
    Jump to Recipe
    bacon pesto pasta with title text overlay.

    With nourishing pasta and crispy bacon in a bright herbaceous pesto sauce, this Bacon Pesto Pasta recipe is a satisfying, easy recipe for any weeknight dinner.

    bowl of bacon pesto pasta.

    Bacon makes everything better. From air fryer bacon-wrapped asparagus to bacon mushroom quiche to Filipino fried rice, crispy, crunchy, salty bacon adds an irresistible extra layer of flavor.

    And if you're a fan of comfort food, you'll love digging into this bacon pesto pasta recipe.

    This pasta is so cozy and satisfying. The bacon adds a lovely crunch to every bite. And the pesto balances it out with some acidity and brightness. It's truly a dish that I could eat every week!

    Jump to:
    • 🌟 Why this recipe works
    • 🛒 Ingredient notes
    • ✅ Step-by-step instructions
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs
    • 🍽 Serving ideas
    • 🍷 🥂 Wine pairings
    • 🍳 Kitchen tools and equipment
    • More pasta recipes
    • Bacon Pesto Pasta

    🌟 Why this recipe works

    bowl of bacon pesto pasta.

    Making a flavorful, restaurant-style pasta dish doesn't have to be expensive or complicated. You can make this one at home without spending a lot of time or money. Here's why you'll love it:

    • A few simple ingredients: You only need a handful of easy-to-find and inexpensive ingredients to make this pasta.
    • Bright and herby: The addition of the pesto adds both flavor and color to this dish. Use either store-bought or make your own pesto at home.
    • Easy to make vegetarian: If you prefer a vegetarian version of this recipe, use plant-based bacon or simply skip it altogether. This dish will still pack a lot of flavor.
    • Fast and easy: This meal comes together in less than 15 minutes. Perfect for a busy weeknight meal with the family!

    🛒 Ingredient notes

    ingredients to make bacon pesto pasta.
    • Pasta - We love using corkscrew shaped pastas for this recipe, like cellentani, fusilli, and rotini. But it's a versatile recipe in which you can use almost any shape of pasta you wish. From tubular pastas like rigatoni or penne, to long strand pastas like fettuccine, spaghetti or linguine. Your choice!
    • Pesto - Use our homemade fresh basil pesto recipe or your favorite store-bought pesto.
    • Garlic - "Wait isn't there garlic in pesto already?" Yes! But you can never have too much garlic!
    • Bacon - For some smokiness and crunchy texture.
    • Olive oil - Use some extra virgin olive oil to help cook the bacon and garlic.
    • Parmesan cheese - A garnish of parmesan gives the dish a pleasant kick of tanginess.

    ✅ Step-by-step instructions

    Here's an overview and some step-by-step photos to help you create this delicious pasta dish! You'll find the full list of ingredients as well as measurements in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    pasta in a boiling pot of water.
    hand holding bowl of olive oil over pan.
    bacon cooking in a pan.
    • First, boil water in a large pot and start cooking the pasta.
    • Meantime, slice the bacon and sauté it with some olive oil until almost crispy.
    spoon removing bacon grease from pan.
    pasta in a colander.
    • Add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute.
    • Then remove from heat and drain the excess grease from the pan.
    bowl of pesto over pasta.
    wooden spoon in bowl with pasta and pesto sauce.
    bacon pesto pasta.
    • Once the pasta is cooked and drained, toss it together with the pesto.
    • Then add it to the pan and toss with the bacon and garlic.
    • Sprinkle over some grated parmesan cheese and serve!

    👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs

    bacon pesto pasta.
    How do you store bacon pesto pasta?

    Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They should keep for up to 4 days. 

    What's the best way to reheat bacon pesto pasta?

    First, sprinkle some water or olive oil over the pasta. Then either reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave. On the stove, add the pasta to a nonstick pan and cook it over medium heat for a few minutes until the pasta is warmed through. If using a microwave, put the pasta in a microwave-safe bowl and cook it for 30-second intervals until it's reheated.

    Can you make bacon pesto pasta vegetarian?

    Yes! To make it vegetarian, either use plant-based bacon or skip the bacon altogether. You'll still have a flavorful, delicious dish.

    Can I add other proteins to bacon pesto pasta?

    Feel free to add your favorite proteins or veggies to this verstatile pasta dish. It goes great with chicken and shrimp, as well as mushrooms, asparagus, broccoli, and peas.

    🍽 Serving ideas

    bowl of bacon pesto pasta.

    Bacon pesto pasta is a hearty entree dish that can be served with a variety of sides. It goes great with fresh vegetable side dishes like zesty garlic lemon asparagus or roasted Brussels sprouts and carrots.

    Or you can double down on the pesto and garlic and serve it with some warm and crispy pesto bread, air fryer garlic bread, or garlic rosemary focaccia bread.

    🍷 🥂 Wine pairings

    bowl of bacon pesto pasta with glass of white wine.

    A dry white wine will pair best with the bright herbiness in this dish. Here are a few recommendations:

    • Sauvignon Blanc: Sauv Blancs are typically high in acid and herbaceous, which will help cut through some of the richness of this dish and complement the pesto.
    • Chardonnay: Opt for an unoaked chardonnay vs a richer, buttery one. The cleaner flavors and higher acidity will help balance the creaminess of the pesto.
    • Vinho Verde: Produced in northern Portugal, Vinho Verde wine is light, crisp, and floral, an ideal pairing to complement the bright flavors and heartiness of this dish.

    🍳 Kitchen tools and equipment

    bowl of bacon pesto pasta.

    Ready to make this recipe? Here are the kitchen tools and equipment you'll need:

    • High-quality set of pans or skillets - you'll need a few good-quality pans to make all the components of this dish.
    • Wooden spoon - Use a wooden spoon to stir the ingredients.
    • Pasta strainer - This stainless steel pasta strainer is durable and affordable.
    🛍️ SHOP my favorite kitchen tools & equipment

    More pasta recipes

    • chicken and chorizo orzo in a pan.
      Chicken and Chorizo Orzo
    • Marry Me Pasta in a bowl.
      Marry Me Pasta
    • Mexican street corn pasta salad in a white bowl.
      Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
    • chorizo chicken pasta.
      Chorizo Chicken Pasta

    Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!

    bowl of bacon pesto pasta.

    Bacon Pesto Pasta

    5 from 1 vote
    Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
    Total Time: 5 minutes mins
    Recipe by Marlynn Schotland
    A simple and easy 5-ingredient pasta that's full of big flavors in every bite.
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 651kcal
    PRINT PIN RATE 🤍 SAVESaved!

    Equipment

    • 1 Large Pot for Pasta
    • 1 Large Skillet

    Ingredients

    • 12 ounces pasta Twisty/spiral pasta like rotini, cellentani, fusilli, gemelli, cavatappi, etc. work well
    • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 garlic clove, minced
    • 8 slices bacon, sliced into small pieces
    • ½ cup pesto sauce homemade or store-bought
    • salt and pepper, to taste
    • optional: grated or finely shredded parmesan cheese
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions

    • In a large pot, boil water and cook pasta according to package directions.
    • Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook for 4-5 minutes, until the bacon has *almost* reached your desired level of crispness.
    • Add the garlic and sauté with the bacon for 1 minute.
    • Carefully drain/spoon out the excess grease out of the pan, taking care not to discard any of the bacon or garlic, and leaving no more than 1 Tablespoon of grease in the pan.
    • In a large bowl, add the cooked pasta and pesto and toss together to coat the pasta with the sauce.
    • Add the sauced pasta to the skillet and toss together with the bacon and garlic.
    • Season with salt and pepper, to taste. (I usually find about ½ teaspoon of kosher salt and ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper is the right amount, but season to your personal taste preference.
    • Top with parmesan cheese, if desired, and serve immediately.

    Notes

    Makes approximately 4 servings.
    Storage: store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. 
    Reheat: place desired serving with a light splash of water or olive oil in a nonstick skillet and reheat over medium heat until the pasta is heated through. Or, place desired serving with a light splash of water or olive oil in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals until heated through, stirring in-between intervals. 
    Add-in ideas: This pasta is a great recipe to use up veggies or to add your favorite proteins! Add mushrooms, chopped broccoli florets, peas, or chopped asparagus to the pan while cooking the bacon. You could also add cooked chicken or shrimp. You may need to add more pesto sauce if you decide to add additional ingredients. 
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a star rating and comment! Then snap a pic of your dish and share it on social media. Tag @UrbanBlissLife and #UrbanBlissLife!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 651kcal | Carbohydrates: 67g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 586mg | Potassium: 280mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 641IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.

    « Cherry Danish
    Birthday Cake Truffles »
    13 shares

    Get recipes, travel tips, deals and more delivered to your inbox!

      Reader Interactions

      5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating





      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

      Primary Sidebar

      Marlynn Jayme Schotland 2021 profile pic

      Hi! If you're looking for easy, fast, delicious family-friendly recipes, wine pairings, and travel tips, you've come to the right place! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

      More about me →

      Sign up for free meal plans

      meal plans button

      Featured In

      Urban Bliss Life Press Featured In graphic

      Spring Recipes

      • Half of a quiche in a pie pan with salmon, asparagus, and leeks.
        Salmon Quiche
      • strawberry crinkle cookies on a plate
        Strawberry Crinkle Cookies
      • dill pickle potato salad
        Dill Pickle Potato Salad
      • bowl of cucumber dill salad.
        Cucumber Dill Salad

      More Spring Recipes ➡️

      New Recipes

      • glass of bourbon lemonade on a bright colorful napkin with title text overlay.
        Bourbon Lemonade
      • bowl of charred corn salad.
        Charred Corn Salad
      • strawberry spritz with orange and strawberry garnish.
        Strawberry Spritz
      • Greek lamb chops on a white plate with herbs and lemon slices.
        Greek Lamb Chops

      New Travel Tips

      • gold buddha with title text overlay.
        Phuket Thailand
      • bar at Carlotto restaurant in NYC New York.
        Carlotto NYC
      • Sahara Desert camp and camel trek with title text overlay.
        Sahara Desert in Morocco Travel Guide
      • moroccan chicken skewers, moroccan pancakes, colorful plates of moroccan food, and chicken tagine with title text overlay.
        Traditional Moroccan Food

      Visit our Sister Sites

      Fifty cups of coffee logo
      • Twitter
      • Facebook
      • Pinterest
      • Instagram
      • YouTube

      Footer

      ↑ back to top

      logos of media outlets that have featured urban bliss life.

      Recipes

      • 30-Minute Meals
      • 5-Ingredients
      • Air Fryer
      • Asian
      • Dairy-Free
      • Pasta
      • Seafood

      About

      • About
      • FAQs
      • Privacy & Accessibility Policy
      • Terms & Conditions

      Contact

      • Contact
      • Work with me

      As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
      Copyright © 2025 Urban Bliss Life

      All rights reserved. You may not use any photos or recipes on this site for any personal or commercial use without my express written permission.

      Rate This Recipe

      Your vote:




      A rating is required
      A name is required
      An email is required

      Recipe Ratings without Comment

      Something went wrong. Please try again.