Creamy pasta with mushrooms and bacon is one of those dishes that instantly puts a smile on your face. It’s simple, quick and full of flavor.
This version with mushrooms and onions is deliciously savory and perfect for a weeknight dinner. Fun fact: in France, they also call this ‘French pasta carbonara’ (just don’t tell the Italians 😉).
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Why this Recipe Works
What I love about this creamy pasta with mushrooms is that it’s easy to adapt to whatever ingredients you have at home. Sometimes I add extra vegetables or use wholemeal spaghetti for a firmer texture.
The combination of creamy sauce, salty bacon and soft onions is always a winner in our house!
Creamy Pasta with Mushrooms Ingredients
- Spaghetti: use classic spaghetti or replace with whole wheat for extra fiber; other pasta is also an option.
- Bacon bits: smoked or lean bacon bits or vegetarian bacon bits. Prefer without bacon bits? Sun-dried tomatoes are also delicious in this dish.
- Onions: yellow onions give the most flavor, but red onions can also be used.
- Garlic: fresh cloves give the most aroma, but garlic powder can also be used if you don’t have any at home.
- Mushrooms: white or chestnut mushrooms are both delicious.
- Chicken broth: adds depth to the sauce; can be replaced with beef or vegetable broth.
- Cooking cream: makes the sauce nice and creamy; whipping cream can also be used, but it makes it a little fattier. A plant-based alternative can also be used.
- Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley: for that finishing touch when serving.
Comforting Creamy Pasta
This creamy pasta dish with bacon is the epitome of comfort food. The caramelized onions are soft and sweet, the mushrooms add a rich flavor and the bacon provides a delicious salty undertone. Adding cream makes it even more delicious!
Short on time? Add a small spoonful of light brown caster sugar to the onions to speed up the caramelization process. This quick pasta dish will be on the table in no time!
If you’re a fan of delicious Italian pasta dishes that are also easy to make, then you’ve come to the right place. Here are some of my favorites: pasta carbonara, pasta Alfredo and gorgonzola pasta.
How to Make Caramelized Onion Sauce
Step 1: Fry the bacon
Fry the bacon in a frying pan without adding any extra fat. Drain the bacon and reserve the fat.
Step 2: Caramelize the onions
Slowly fry the onions in the bacon fat until they are soft and caramelized.
Step 3: Let the onions brown
The onions will turn a light brown color and become deliciously soft when fried.
Step 4: Sautée the garlic and mushrooms
In the same pan, briefly sautée the garlic in a little oil and butter. Add the mushrooms and sautée until browned.
Finally, add the broth and cooking cream and let the sauce thicken. Add the cooked pasta and garnish with fresh parsley and Parmesan cheese.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I prepare the sauce ahead of time?
Yes, that’s fine! Cover and store the sauce in the refrigerator. Heat it slowly in a saucepan, adding a dash of broth or cream if it has become too thick.
How do I make this recipe vegetarian?
For a savory flavor, you can replace the bacon bits with vegetarian bacon strips or sun-dried tomatoes. You can also leave them out altogether and still enjoy a delicious dish.
What kind of mushrooms should I use?
I would recommend using either white mushrooms, chestnut mushrooms or shiitake mushrooms.
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Ingredients
- 200 gram spaghetti
- 250 gram bacon
- 2 large onions (thinly sliced)
- 3 cloves garlic
- 500 gram mushrooms (thinly sliced)
- 250 ml chicken stock
- 150 ml cooking cream
- Oil, butter, pepper, and salt
- To serve: Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley
Equipment
- Skillet
INSTRUCTIONS (how to make this recipe):
- Fry the bacon in a skillet without adding butter or oil. Remove the bacon bits from the pan and drain them on a paper towel. Leave the remaining fat in the pan.
- Fry the onions in the fat until caramelized, adding a generous pinch of salt. If necessary, add a dash of olive oil. To speed up the process, add a small spoonful of light brown caster sugar. Remove the onions from the pan and set them aside.
- Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions. Drain the spaghetti when it is cooked.
- Then, heat a little oil and a knob of butter in the same frying pan. Crush the garlic cloves with a garlic press and fry them briefly until fragrant. Then, add the mushrooms.
- Fry the mushrooms until they are cooked through. Deglaze with the stock. Add the onions and bacon back to the pan, along with the cream.
- Reduce the sauce to the desired thickness and season with salt and pepper.*
- Serve the sauce over spaghetti, garnished with grated Parmesan cheese and finely chopped parsley. Bon appétit!
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