One Pot Creamy Alfredo with Peas and Bacon

Try making this One Pot Creamy Alfredo with Peas and Bacon! It's a tasty, filling, and delicious pasta made with a thick alfredo sauce, crispy bacon, and sweet peas.

If you are craving more delicious alfredo-inspired recipes, then be sure to try the 3 Ingredient Alfredo Sauce, Chicken Alfredo Biscuit Pizza, or Broccoli Chicken Alfredo.

By now I think that it's safe to say that this blog is all about simple meals and desserts. I'm also pretty sure that you find yourself like me in regards to being short on time, but still wanting to cook yourself, family, and friends a decent homemade meal.

When I was growing up we rarely and I mean rarely ate out. My mother cooked a home-cooked meal every day and dinner was served at the dinner table around the same time each evening. Eating out back then, was rare and considered a special treat reserved for occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries.

These were considered to be a big deal. And I will be the first to tell you that these meals were serious Sunday dinner type meals, not no hamburger helper or meals from a freezer section was ever involved and the cornbread was always made from scratch and served piping hot from the oven.

Nowadays I may not create a Sunday-type meal on a weeknight, but the desire to be in control of what I feed my family is still there. I do prefer to make a homemade meal for my family instead of grabbing fast food. So I try to find and create recipes that combine a few ingredients to help me have dinner on the table quickly like in an hour or less.

This easy pasta recipe should help you be able to do that. Be sure to add it to your weekly recipe list soon. Let's get started!

Ingredients You'll Need

1. Bacon - Try to use thick-cut bacon for this alfredo recipe. It provides a nice saltiness that cuts through and balances the rich creamy pasta sauce.
2. Pasta - Use any short pasta that you prefer for this recipe. I prefer to use shells, penne, or rotini pasta.
3. Garlic - This recipe requires two cloves of garlic, but feel free to use more if you would like. Gives the pasta sauce a nice aromatic flavor.
4. Chicken Broth - Provides salt and gives the pasta great flavor. You can also use vegetable broth or chicken stock instead.
5. Peas - Adds a slightly sweet bit to the pasta and adds a different texture. I prefer to use frozen peas.
6. Heavy Cream - Helps to give structure to the alfredo sauce and makes it thick, rich, and creamy. May substitute whole milk instead in the same unit of measure.
7. Parmesan Cheese - Helps to thicken the sauce and adds in a cheesy element. Try to use freshly grated parmesan cheese instead of the bag or powder version.
8. Salt & Ground Black Pepper - Adds spice to the pasta and prevents it from tasting flat. Make adjustments as needed to your preference.

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient quantities and instructions.

How to Make Bacon Alfredo with Peas

Begin the recipe in a large pot, pan, or deep skillet over medium-high heat, add the chopped bacon, and cook until crispy. Carefully drain off the fat. Add the minced garlic and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Stir in the pasta, chicken broth, water, salt, and ground black pepper. Allow all of the pasta ingredients to come up to a rolling boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot/ large skillet with a lid, and allow it to cook for about 10 to 15 minutes, until the pasta becomes al dente (fork tender, but firm).

Remove the lid and add in the frozen peas, heavy cream, and parmesan cheese. Stir to combine and then stir often for about 2 minutes to combine and heat all of the ingredients.

The sauce will thicken as it cools.

Serve warm topped with some additional parmesan cheese grated on top. Enjoy!

Recipe Tips & Tricks

• Grate the parmesan cheese yourself for the best results. Try not to use the bag version of shredded parmesan cheese or the powder version that is located on the grocery store shelf.
• Use any short pasta that you prefer, like penne, rotini, or medium shells. Gluten-free pasta will work as well.
• I recommend using fresh or frozen green peas and not canned.
• Do not overcook the pasta, it should still have a little bite to it. Cook it until it is fork tender, al dente.

Storage Tips

Storage. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Reheating. Reheat on the stovetop in a saucepan over low heat until warm or in the microwave.

Freezing. I do not recommend freezing this particular pasta recipe.

Want More Easy Pasta Dishes? Try These:

• Chicken Enchilada Pasta
• Easy Baked Ziti
• Chicken Macaroni Salad
• Easy Lasagna Recipe
• Hamburger Casserole Recipe
• One Pot Pasta with Ricotta and Lemon
• Ranch BLT Pasta Salad

Have any comments, questions, or other delicious ideas and ways to enjoy this Alfredo with Peas? Please share them in the comment section below!

📖 Recipe

Original post date 04/22/2019. Updated 03/29/2023 and 09/02/2024.