This easy recipe for Penne di Parma includes a creamy sauce flavored with bacon, garlic and Parmesan cheese for a quick pasta supper that is fancy enough for a dinner party and speedy enough to make on a busy weeknight. Is there anything better than parmesan cheese, pasta and bacon all one plate? You know the answer!
Jump to:
Why we love this recipe
Now, I do love all my wonderful cookbooks. The Silver Palate Cookbook. The Preppy Cookbook by Christine Nunn. There’s A Chef in My Soup by Emeril Lagasse. My current favorite, The Add A Pinch Cookbook by my friend Robyn Stone (check out her website!)
But I am also a big fan of what I call “back of the box” recipes. I am forever turning boxes and bags and jars over to see what the recipe possibilities are, because pretty much anything edible and in a package these days has a recipe that goes with it. And sometimes they give me some pretty dang good ideas for new recipes.
And that’s where I got the inspiration for this take on the Italian classic Penne di Parma. I had a hankering for some pasta for supper, and I pulled out a fresh box of penne pasta from my pantry and looked at the back. Yes! My good old box of Ronzoni did not let me down, because there was something called Penne di Parma on the back.
Now me being me, I did mess with it a little. It called for mushrooms, and since mushrooms and I are not friends that wasn’t happening. It called for prosciutto and I only had bacon on hand (because I am me).
It wanted me to put the prosciutto in early on in the recipe, and since I know from sad experience that if you put prosciutto (or bacon) into recipes too early, it loses some of its nice salty punch….so I changed that too.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities and nutritional information.
How to make this recipe
Start off by cooking up some penne pasta in heavily salted water. While the pasta is cooking, you can start the sauce by cooking up some chopped bacon in a large deep skillet until it is done just the way you like it. Scoop it out but leave those glorious drippings in the pan.
Now! Add a little butter and chopped garlic and stir it up. Pour in some half and half and let the whole thing simmer for about five minutes.
At this point your pasta will be done, so pour it into the skillet along with some grated Parmesan, a handful of fresh chopped parsley and that bacon, and toss it up until everything is bathed in that creamy, garlicky, cheesy, bacon-y sauce.
Yep, it’s that easy!
Now all that is left to do is dish it out onto warm plates and dig in.
And always look at the back of boxes.
The end!
Want to round out your meal?
This pasta supper calls out for a nice light veggie on the side, and we love keeping the Parmesan going with some asparagus with parmesan breadcrumbs. Or maybe you’d like a nice rustic tomato salad?
And for dessert, let’s have some cannoli cream with berries!
Other easy pasta suppers we love
Looking for more pasta inspiration? Here is our complete collection of pasta recipes!
Could you leave us a review?
If you try this recipe, we would love to hear how it came out for you! I’d be super grateful if you could leave a star rating (you pick how many stars! 🌟 ) and your thoughts in the Comments section.
PrintPenne di Parma
This easy recipe for Penne di Parma includes a creamy sauce flavored with bacon, garlic and Parmesan cheese for a quick pasta supper that is fancy enough for a dinner party and speedy enough to make on a busy weeknight.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- 8 slices bacon, cut into small pieces
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
- 1 cup half and half
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, plus extra for garnish
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions in heavily salted water. Drain and set aside.
- Cook bacon pieces in a large deep skillet over medium high heat until crispy. Remove and drain on paper towels, leaving drippings in the pan.
- Add butter and garlic and sauté for one minute. Reduce heat to medium and add half and half. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add pasta, bacon, Parmesan cheese and parsley and toss.
- Divide among plates and garnish with more cheese and parsley.
Deliciously updated from an earlier Framed Cooks post!
Babs George says
This is a wonderfully satisfying dish. I have made this many times now and actually am having again for dinner today! Thanks Kate!
I’m so glad – it’s a fave in our house too! :)
Barb says
This is delicious! I used proscuitto and added some green peas at the end. Th sauce is light, creamy and just cheesy enough. Definitely good enough for company. Thanks for the recipe.
Barb! I’m so glad you liked this – it is one of our family favorites (and also one of my go-to easy company dishes!) Love your additions! :)
Babs George says
I have now made this wonderful pasta dish several times. Delicious every time!!!
Thank you for a rave-worthy dinner. You have never failed me!
Babs! I’m so glad – it’s a favorite around these parts as well. Happy New Year! :)
Theresa Murphy says
I could eat pasta for every meal and never get tired of it. And when it has bacon and creamy sauce, give me two helpings!
And this is why we are so in sync when it comes to suppertime! Yay pasta! :)
Terry says
I tried the Penna de Parma and it came out great!
I subbed in Broccoli and bacon bu the cream sauce was the best!
Hi Terry! I’m so glad you liked it – thanks for letting me know! And your substitutions sound delicious. :)
Robert Kuenne says
Is this Penne di Parma recipe for 2?
It’s more like 3-4, unless the two of you are super hungry. :)
generic viagra says
I went to a very fancy restaurant last night and I asked Penne di Parma! So I decided to look for the recipe because if I am able of making it at home, I won't worry about paying much money every time I want to eat this dish
Sinful Southern Sweets says
Your recipes are making me terribly hungry today! Great blog! Looking forward to following your recipes to come.
Federica says
wow che buone!!! adoro la pasta!