Creamy Garlic, Bacon and Tomato Penne with Mozzarella
This delicious Creamy Garlic, Bacon and Tomato Penne with Mozzarella Balls recipe was created when I decided to have fun and create a recipe with some of my favorite things. It was amazing! I love it when a recipe comes together so well and this one did. It’s one of those recipes where I was savoring every bite! Who doesn’t love a creamy garlic penne pasta! I love pasta and one of the many reasons is you can whip up a pasta dish with just about anything. So I joined up with 11 other awesome bloggers to bring you some great recipes using noodles! Gotta love noodles!
Why Penne?
This pasta has a delicious creamy sauce that coats all the noodles with just enough flavor without drowning them. That is one of the many reasons that I love penne noodles. Penne is a cylinder-shaped pasta noodle that I love with a cream sauce. All that delicious sauce can slide right into that pasta noodle, making each bite delicious! You can use whatever pasta you love though!
And the mozzarella balls as they melt just add to the creamy sauce… it’s divine I tell you!
Here’s the amazing pasta recipe…
Creamy Garlic, Bacon and Tomato Penne with Mozzarella
Equipment
- large pot
- skillet
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb Penne Pasta
- 1 lb bacon
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 3 tablespoons basil chopped finely
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese
- 2 Roma tomatoes chopped into bite sized chunks
- 5 mozzarella balls
- 3 basil leaves chopped
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add salt and your penne pasta. Cook as recommended on the packaging.
- In a pan brown your sliced bacon over medium heat till crisp. Remove and place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
- Remove any additional grease from your pan. Add your olive oil and butter to the pan. Once butter melts add the flour and whisk till the flour is combined evenly.
- Slowly pour in the milk whisking quickly to combine. Add the garlic, basil, Parmesan cheese and tomato and let simmer a few minutes while the pasta finishes cooking.
- Add the drained pasta to the pan and mix to coat. Lower temperature to lowest setting and add the mozzarella balls. I tore mine in half, but you can do as you like.
- Add your fresh basil and serve hot.
Notes
Tips and Variations:
- For an extra kick of flavor, sprinkle some red pepper flakes over the finished dish.
- Feel free to add some cooked chicken or shrimp for added protein.
- Substitute regular penne pasta with whole wheat or gluten-free penne for a healthier option.
- If you’re short on time, you can use store-bought pre-cooked bacon to save some prep time.
- This dish pairs beautifully with a crisp green salad and some crusty bread.
Creamy Garlic, Bacon, and Tomato Penne with Mozzarella Balls is the epitome of comfort food done right. With each bite, you’ll savor the rich creaminess of the sauce, the smokiness of the bacon, and the burst of freshness from the tomatoes. And let’s not forget about those delightful little mozzarella balls, perfectly melted and gooey, adding a touch of indulgence to every forkful.
Other Delicious Pasta Dishes:
Creamy Pesto Three Cheese Tortellini with Chicken
Panko Chicken with Butter Garlic Fettuccine
Other Amazon Noodle Recipes
Don’t they look good….
Made tonight and was excellent! Wasn’t sure when to add in the bacon but did so after tomatoes cooked a bit. I had little mozzarella pearls instead of balls but worked just as well, just used a bunch!
This recipe sounds scrumptious, but I have never heard of or seen mozzarella balls – what amount of regular mozzarella would I use instead – or where would I find mozzarella balls? Thanks!
Hi,
Typically you can find fresh mozzarella in small balls (about golf ball size) near the gourmet cheese or sometimes a deli will have them. You could definitely substitute with shredded mozzarella cheese, I’d say about a cup.
Oh, Maryann, this looks and sounds so good. All of those amazing flavors and textures in one dish. YUM!
This looks soooo good! I have a weakness for pasta and this looks like an amazing comfort food recipe!
This sounds so good Maryann! You had me at bacon. 😉
I love pasta and this recipe looks like a real winner!
This sounds absolutely delicious and I’ve already printed the recipe to make very soon.
That looks yummy, and easy to make!! Pinning it to try. Thank you for sharing with us at the #HomeMattersParty
Visiting from Pinch of Joy and so glad I did; this looks amazing and pretty easy to put together too. My family will love it. I’m pinning it for later! Thank you.
This sounds so yummy! I’ll be adding it to my list of recipes to try really soon!
If you have time, I would love for to you come and share this post over at the Really Crafty link party that is live right now! (https://keepingitrreal.blogspot.com.es/2016/01/the-really-crafty-link-party-2-is-live.html).
These kinds of dishes are the ones my family devours. You’ve hit on some of our favorite flavors. Pinning and liking your Facebook page!
This looks delicious! Can’t wait to try it! TFS! Visiting from Dream, Create, Inspire
Oh my word, that sounds amazing! Pinning for sure. 🙂
Oh my word, that sounds amazing!! Pinning for sure. 🙂
This looks so delicious!! Can’t wait to make it. Pinned!
Please publish the measures of dry goods in grammes and ounces. Only the USA uses volumetric measurement. By doing this, you will more than double your potential audience: from Europe and Asia.
Delicious!!! I added chicken pieces and its a full meal! Delicious I will cook again!
Glad you love it! I was just thinking about this recipe yesterday. I haven’t made it for a while… it is amazing!
YUUUUMMM!! <3
YUMMMMMM! This pasta looks so delicious! I can’t wait to try this for my family! They are going to LOVE this! Thanks for sharing! PINNED!
Now this is my favorite kind of recipe: pasta and CHEESE!
I would love for you to share this post at my Show Me Saturday party! We go live each Saturday at 7:00 am EST. My readers would love this!
~ Ashley
This looks delicious! Adding it to my list of must-make dinner recipes 🙂 (here from the SITS link-up)
Oh this looks and sounds amazing. Love the bacon added in the dish!
This looks delectable! My family would LOVE it!
This sounds really yummy, Maryann! I’m a vegetarian but it’d be easy to just eliminate the bacon so I can eat it. 🙂
Oh my goodness this looks so yummy, my boys would love it too!!! Thanks for the fun party!
XO
Kristin
This looks SO good! Love bacon and mozarella together!
My guys will love this! It looks so flavourful and filling – yum! Pinning!
Thanks Heather… it’s SO good!
Your noodle recipe sound scrumptious, Maryann! Thanks for sharing. Pinning!
Thanks Julie!