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!

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.

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
2. While pasta is cooking, fry the bacon in a large skillet until crispy. Remove from pan and chop.
3. Use reserved bacon drippings in pan OR melt 1 Tbsp. olive oil and 1 Tbsp. butter in skillet.
4. Add mushrooms and saute for 5-6 minutes, then add bacon back into pan.
5. Stir in brandy and cream; heat, stirring, until bubbly.
6. Stir in cooked pasta and Parmesan cheese.
7. 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:

• BLT Caesar Salad
• 3 Cheese Loaded Italian Salad
• Blueberry Feta Salad
• Summer Strawberry Salad
• Creamy Sausage Gnocchi Soup
• Tuscan Sausage Potato Soup
• Cheesy Cauliflower Soup
• White Bean Pesto Soup

Related recipes

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

• Chicken Pesto Pasta
• Easy Manicotti
• Sausage & Pepper Linguine
• Butternut Squash Lasagna
• Creamy Chicken Stroganoff
• Baked Portobello Mushroom Alfredo
• Sun Dried Tomato Pasta

Yield: 8

Penne with Mushrooms & Bacon

Print

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

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

Instructions

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

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 357Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 60mgSodium: 453mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 13g

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!