Rigatoni with Creamy Mushroom Sauce & Crispy Bacon
Yields: 2 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients
For the Pasta & Bacon:
8 oz rigatoni pasta
4 slices bacon, chopped
1 tbsp olive oil (if needed)
For the Creamy Mushroom Sauce:
2 tbsp unsalted butter
1 cup mushrooms, sliced (button or cremini work well)
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ cup heavy cream
¼ cup chicken or vegetable broth
½ tsp black pepper (or more to taste)
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt to taste
Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
Cook the Pasta:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rigatoni and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving ½ cup of pasta water.
Crisp the Bacon:
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crispy (about 5–7 minutes). Remove the bacon bits and set aside, leaving a bit of rendered fat in the skillet. If there's too much fat, drain off some.
Prepare the Mushroom Sauce:
In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the sliced mushrooms and sauté until they soften and begin to brown (about 5 minutes). Add the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
Pour in the heavy cream and broth, stirring to combine. Bring to a simmer, and cook for 3–5 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and black pepper. Season with salt to taste.
Combine Pasta and Sauce:
Add the cooked rigatoni to the skillet with the creamy mushroom sauce. Toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time if the sauce needs to loosen up.
Serve:
Plate the rigatoni on a simple white plate. Scatter crispy bacon bits on top and garnish with fresh parsley.
Drizzle any extra sauce from the pan over the pasta and let it pool naturally on the plate’s edges for that rustic, home-cooked look.
Pro Tips:
For extra flavor: Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce for a bit of heat.
For extra richness: Stir in a tablespoon of cream cheese for an even creamier sauce.
Crispy bacon: For perfectly crispy bacon, make sure to cook it over medium heat and drain on paper towels to keep it crisp.
This dish pairs creamy mushrooms and savory bacon with the hearty rigatoni for a comforting meal. Would you like a MidJourney prompt to go with this?