Bacon and Goat Cheese Pasta

Bacon and Goat Cheese Pasta

Comfort food gets dressed up for the holidays but keeps its cozy soul.

Prep: 15 mins (includes cheese crumbling therapy) Cook: 25 mins Serves: 6-8 (or 4 cheese enthusiasts)

Fun Fact: Goat cheese has been around since at least 5000 BCE. Ancient peoples probably weren't putting it on pasta, but we bet they wish they thought of it.

Cooking the bacon
Preparing the sauce
Tossing pasta with sauce

Ingredients

  • • 1 lb pasta (the fancy shapes you save for company)
  • • 8 oz bacon (the good stuff, not the sad thin strips)
  • • 6 oz goat cheese (room temperature, like your personality)
  • • 2 cups baby spinach (to make it "healthy-ish")
  • • 4 cloves garlic (minimum, adjust for vampires)
  • • 1/4 cup olive oil (extra virgin, like your intentions)
  • • Red pepper flakes (to taste and to show off)
  • • 1 cup reserved pasta water (the magic sauce maker)
  • • Fresh thyme (that fancy touch)

Instructions

1

Cook pasta until al dente (that's fancy for "still has some bite").

2

Cook bacon until crispy. Try not to eat it all while cooking.

3

Sauté garlic in bacon fat because we're here for a good time, not a long time.

4

Toss everything together, let goat cheese melt into a creamy sauce.

5

Add pasta water as needed until it's silky smooth.

6

Feel fancy while eating what is essentially upgraded mac and cheese.

Final creamy pasta dish

Serve With

  • 🍞 Crusty bread (for sauce soaking)
  • 🧀 Extra crumbled goat cheese (because why not)
  • 🌶️ More red pepper flakes (for the brave)
  • 🍷 Your best wine glasses (you deserve it)

Storage Tips

  • ❄️ Keeps 3 days in fridge
  • 🥛 Add splash of cream when reheating
  • 🥓 Bacon will lose crispiness but flavor remains
  • ✨ Best eaten fresh (like you had to be told)

Pro Tips

  • ✨ Room temperature goat cheese is non-negotiable
  • ✨ Save that pasta water like it's liquid gold
  • ✨ Don't skimp on the bacon quality
  • ✨ When in doubt, add more cheese

Make-Ahead Tips

  • ⏰ Cook bacon ahead
  • 🧀 Prep ingredients
  • 🍝 Final assembly should be fresh
  • ✨ Have extra goat cheese ready (trust us)