Name: Penne with Mushrooms & Bacon
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 16 oz. penne pasta; 8 pieces bacon; 2 c. light cream (I used 1 c. heavy cream + 1 c. milk); 16 oz. baby bella mushrooms; 2 Tbsp. brandy; 1 Tbsp. olive oil; 1 Tbsp. butter; 1 c. Parmesan cheese; 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes; fresh parsley (for garnish)

Penne Pasta is a classic comfort dish, and this recipe is our favorite. Loaded with mushrooms, bacon, Parmesan, and a light cream sauce, it’s everything you want out of your favorite pasta. It’s easy to make, ready in under 30 minutes, and has the most amazing flavor!

You can never go wrong with a good pasta dish… and around here, it’s one of our go to dinners.

Nothing beats the ease of boiling some noodles, tossing in a handful of other ingredients, and covering it in your favorite sauce. And best of all, it’s one of the few things everyone can agree on!

Of course, when you eat as much pasta as we do, it’s important to mix things up. And this Penne with Mushrooms & Bacon is one of our all time favorites.

It’s creamy, cheesy, and packed with the delicious flavors of mushrooms and BACON. And the fact that it’s ready in just 30 minutes? Well, that makes it a guaranteed win. Every time!

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🥓 Ingredients

I love a recipe that’s made with just a handful of ingredients, and this is one of them. The ingredients for this recipe are simple, and they’ll last for a while in your refrigerator, too!

16 oz. penne pasta
8 pieces bacon
2 c. light cream (I used 1 c. heavy cream + 1 c. milk)
16 oz. baby bella mushrooms
2 Tbsp. brandy
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. butter
1 c. Parmesan cheese
1-2 tsp. red pepper flakes
fresh parsley, for garnish

*Note: you can substitute 2 Tbsp. of bacon drippings for the olive oil and butter if you’d like.

📋 Instructions

This recipe couldn’t be easier to make, and aside from the pot you use to boil the noodles, requires just one pan.

Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
While pasta is cooking, fry the bacon in a large skillet until crispy. Remove from pan and chop.
Use reserved bacon drippings in pan OR melt 1 Tbsp. olive oil and 1 Tbsp. butter in skillet.
Add mushrooms and saute for 5-6 minutes, then add bacon back into pan.
Stir in brandy and cream; heat, stirring, until bubbly.
Stir in cooked pasta and Parmesan cheese.
Garnish with red pepper flakes and parsley as desired.

🍗 Recipe variations

As with any pasta dish, one of the nice things about this recipe is how easy it is to personalize. I love the combination of bacon and mushrooms, but there are plenty of substitutions and/or additions you can make according to your family’s tastes. Here are some of my favorite variations… feel free to share yours in the comments!

Stir a couple handfuls of fresh spinach in with the mushrooms and bacon
Add 1-2 c. cooked chicken
Saute 1 c. onion with the mushrooms
Use a variety of different mushrooms
Double the bacon for an extra satisfying dish
Replace the penne with any pasta of your choice
Stir some cayenne pepper into the sauce for a spicy dish

🥗 Side dishes

We love pairing our pasta with anything from bread to soups and salads. These are some of our favorite recipes to serve with this Penne Pasta:

🍝 Related recipes

If you love pasta as much as we do, here are some more recipes you’ll love!