Tomato, Basil, and Bacon Pappardelle Pasta for Two

We’re on a roll with the pasta recipes! Here’s another quick recipe with cherry tomatoes, bacon, fresh basil, and pappardelle noodles. If you’ve never worked with pappardelle before, it’s a very wide, flat, long noodle typically used in ragú. If you can’t find pappardelle noodles, fear not. Any long, flat noodle will do. Some of my favorite alternatives are fettuccine, linguine, or tagliatelle.

This is a small batch pasta recipe for two people, and comes together in about 30 minutes. Feel free to double (or triple) the recipe if necessary! Ingredients, ingredient notes, tips, tricks, and step-by-step photos are all listed below!

Ingredients

• 4 oz. Uncooked Pappardelle*
• 2 strips Bacon
• 1 tbsp. Olive Oil
• 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes**
• 1/2 tsp. Red Pepper Flakes***
• 2 cloves Garlic
• 1/3 cup Half & Half****
• 1/4 packed cup fresh Basil
• 1/4 cup Grated Parmesan
• 1/2 cup Reserved Pasta Water
• Salt & Cracked Black Pepper

Ingredient Notes

*Pappardelle noodles are very wide, flat noodles. They can be found at some specialty grocers (and Trader Joe’s!). Also, one serving of pasta is considered to be 2 oz. I really use about 3 oz. per person, so if you’re feeling hungry, up the amount to 6 oz. for two people!

**Cherry or grape tomatoes will work for this recipe.

***Red pepper flakes are totally optional!

****Half and half or heavy cream will work for this recipe. (Half and half has less fat content than heavy cream, so be sure to stir constantly when adding it so it will incorporate into the other ingredients without separating.)

Is there a Pappardelle Substitute?

Definitely. You can use any long, flat noodle that you love (or can easily find.) I recommend fettuccine, linguine, or tagliatelle noodles as a substitute for pappardelle noodles. Really, any noodle that you love will work!

I love to create these recipes to share with you because I hope that we get to learn and experience new flavor combinations together. Pasta is such a versatile dish: it can be tossed with a creamy sauce, or maybe a fresh tomato and herb sauce (like my Small Batch Spicy Spaghetti recipe!), or with a hearty, meaty pasta sauce. It’s a gorgeous vessel for any flavor or texture you’re seeking, and you can check out more of my favorite pasta recipes below!

Directions

• Cut the bacon into small bite-size pieces. Cut the cherry tomatoes in half (or for larger tomatoes, cut them into quarters), mince the garlic, and cut the basil into very thin strips.
• Heat a large non-stick pan over medium heat. Cook the bacon until partially cooked, about 4-5 minutes.

• Stir in the olive oil, cherry tomatoes, a pinch of salt, and the red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes until the bacon is crispy and the tomatoes are blistered.

• While the tomatoes and bacon are cooking, boil the pappardelle noodles in a large pot of salted water according to package directions, minus one minute (for al dente pasta).

• Turn the heat underneath the pan with the bacon and tomatoes down to medium-low. Stir in the garlic and cook for one minute.

• Pour in the half and half and stir constantly until creamy and slightly thickened.

• Use tongs to carefully transfer the cooked noodles directly to the pan (leaving the pasta water in the pot).

• Toss the noodles to coat them in the creamy tomatoes and bacon.

• Sprinkle in the basil and parmesan, and toss to combine the ingredients evenly with the noodles.

• For a creamier consistency, add reserved pasta water (about 2 tablespoons at a time), and toss to combine. Add more as needed.
• Taste and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Serve hot!

While it may seem interesting to combine fresh herbs with bacon and tomatoes in pasta, the outcome is undeniably delicious. This recipe has been on my mind ever since I took a solo recipe development retreat about five months ago, and I’m so happy to share it with you today!

Other Pasta Recipes for Two People

• Creamy Cajun Linguine is the most popular recipe on the blog for two people. It’s a vegetarian option, but you could totally add bacon, shrimp, chicken, or sausage to it!
• Carbonara for Two is creamy, luxurious, and comes together in 20 minutes. I use shallots in my recipe, and it’s always a favorite with the people I love! The creaminess comes from tossing a parmesan and egg yolk mixture with hot, starchy pasta water; a truly incredible flavor and texture experience.
• Creamy Pesto Gnocchi has six ingredients (plus reserved pasta water), and is an easy “pasta” recipe that is ready in 15 minutes. Win win. (Note: I say “pasta” because gnocchi is technically a dumpling, but it’s fun to use with pasta sauces.)
• Cacio e Pepe with Shallots is another small batch pasta recipe that’s luxuriously creamy, packed with shallots, and ready in just 20 minutes! I use a splash of white wine and Pecorino cheese for ultimate flavor in no time.

Wine Pairings for Bacon Basil Papparedelle

A light, fruity Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley in Oregon would be wonderful with this pasta! Or white wines with more body to them would work, too – such as a Chardonnay. I would recommend a dry rosé, as well! Check out more in-depth wine pairings and information at our sister site: Polished Pairings.

For a quick reference, here are the wines I would pair with a tomato, bacon, and basil pasta:

• Chardonnay
• Dry Rosé
• Pinot Noir

I sincerely hope you love this pasta! If you make it and do love it, please leave a recipe rating and comment below if you have time! I would love to see your pasta if you tag me on Instagram, too! As always, feel free to reach out to me with any questions you may have.

xx Sara