Bacon and Bean Pasta

Bacon and Bean Pasta is a quick and satisfying meal built around only a few everyday ingredients. Smoky bacon, tender beans, and fusilli pasta combine to create a simple yet comforting dish. The bacon fat forms a light sauce that coats the pasta and beans, giving every bite rich flavour. This recipe is ideal for busy evenings when time is short but you still want something warm and homemade. The spirals of fusilli catch the bacon pieces and creamy beans perfectly, creating a balanced texture in every forkful. With just a handful of ingredients, this Five Ingredient Friday meal proves that simple cooking can still deliver big flavour.

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Servings Portions

Ingredients

Main Ingredients:

200 g fusilli pasta
150 g streaky bacon chopped
400 g lima beans drained and rinsed
2 tbsp olive oil
Parmesan finely grated

Larder Ingredients:

Instructions

Fill a large saucepan with water and add a generous pinch of salt. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Add the fusilli and cook according to the packet instructions until al dente. Stir occasionally so the pasta does not stick together.
200 g fusilli pasta
While the pasta cooks, heat a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the chopped bacon to the pan. Cook for about 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally. The bacon should become crisp and lightly golden.
150 g streaky bacon
Pour the olive oil into the pan with the bacon. Stir gently so the oil mixes with the bacon fat. This creates a flavourful base for the sauce.
2 tbsp olive oil
Add the drained lima beans to the frying pan. Stir well so the beans coat with the bacon and oil. Cook for 2–3 minutes until the beans heat through.
400 g lima beans
Before draining the pasta, scoop out about half a cup of the pasta cooking water. This starchy water helps bring the sauce together later.
Drain the fusilli in a colander. Add the hot pasta directly to the frying pan with the bacon and beans. Pour in a few tablespoons of the reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce to how you prefer your sauce.
Stir and toss the pasta gently over low heat. The starch from the water will help coat the pasta and beans with a light sauce. Add more pasta water if the mixture looks dry.
Season lightly with salt and black pepper if needed. Sprinkle the chopped parsley over the pasta. Toss once more to distribute the herbs.
salt, Freshly ground black pepper, Parmesan
Divide the pasta between bowls and serve hot. The fusilli should be glossy and coated with the smoky bacon and tender beans.

Equipment

Notes

Serving Suggestions:

Serve with a crisp green salad.

Add grated Parmesan for extra richness.

A slice of warm crusty bread works well alongside the dish.

Storage:

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in a pan with a splash of water or olive oil to loosen the sauce.

Nutrition