This smoky, spicy and super easy 5 ingredient bacon spaghetti aglio olio recipe is perfect for the bacon lover! Learn how to make this traditional Italian recipe in exactly 20 minutes from start to finish.
Please tell me you are a bacon lover! Because then we can be best friends for life. My love for bacon is passionate and strong. Which is evident in the two recipes with bacon I have on the blog. Great going Richa. Today I’m changing all of that with this 5 ingredient bacon spaghetti aglio olio for the bacon lover in you!
Denver says that his favorite dish ever is a simple Spaghetti Aglio Olio. I didn’t even know that till recently Since I’m a super loving wife and all, I decided to take things up a notch or two. Presenting Bacon Spaghetti Aglio Olio. Denver’s reaction: *continues stuffing his face* while I ask him if he likes it.
This is one of those recipes that you should always have in your back pocket because it’s the quickest way to get a hot, tasty meal on the table. The only major time involved is cooking the spaghetti, and if you already have some cooked spaghetti in the fridge, then it’s a matter of 5 minutes.
I first tried this at a fancy hotel a loooong time ago and was amazed at how delicious something so simple can taste. Even before I decided to make a variation of this classic Italian pasta with bacon, I knew it would work. First, everything works with bacon. Second, EVERYTHING works with bacon
The only pre-requisite to this fabulous recipe is to get quality ingredients. Since there are only 5 ingredients, it’s important to use ingredients that really shine. It’s also important to cook everything just right. Don’t overcook your spaghetti or it’ll become a mushy noodle which is not appetizing at all. Don’t buy very fatty bacon or you will have too much fat and no bacon.
I know some of you are vegetarians so you can skip the bacon and just make plain, simple Spaghetti Aglio Olio.
BTW I bought a new Cast Iron pan last weekend. Yes, yet another one. I have a total of three now, all in varying sizes and I love each and everyone of them! Needless to say, I’ve been using the new Lodge pan every chance I get. Case in point: Bacon Spaghetti Aglio Olio. I think I spend waaay more money on kitchen equipment than I do on food Make me stooooooop.
Once again, are you a Bacon lover? Follow me on Pinterest to get more bacon recipes!
Watch Bacon Spaghetti Aglio Olio Recipe Video
5 Ingredient Bacon Spaghetti Aglio Olio
Prep Time: 10 minutes- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 6 -serving 1x
Category: noodles pasta
Cuisine: Italian
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
This smoky, spicy and super easy 5 ingredient bacon spaghetti aglio olio recipe is perfect for the bacon lover! Learn how to make this traditional Italian recipe in exactly 20 minutes from start to finish.
Ingredients
- 400 grams Spaghetti
- 6 strips Bacon (, diced)
- 1 teaspoon Olive Oil ((optional))
- 6 – 7 Cloves Garlic (, finely chopped)
- 3/4 teaspoon Chili (Flakes)
- 1/4 cup Parsley (fresh , finely chopped)
Instructions
- Boil spaghetti in salted water as per package directions until al dente. Reserve cup of the pasta water before draining the pasta.
- While the pasta is boiling, heat a large pan or skillet and add the diced bacon to it. Cook till the bacon is slightly crisp and light brown. Remove bacon on a plate with a slotted spoon, reserving bacon fat in the pan. Leave the flame on.
- Add olive oil to the pan, if using, along with the chopped garlic. Saute for a minute or so and add the chili flakes. Cook for 30 seconds and add the reserved pasta water. Bring this to a boil and continue boiling till the liquid reduces by half.
- Add spaghetti, salt and bacon to the pan, and cook till the liquid is reduced to a thick sauce which coats the pasta. Stir in parsley and let it rest for five minutes before serving.
Samantha says
March 7, 2019 at 8:10 amIts good but it way to spicy. I had to toss it. Next time I make I’m leaving out the chili leaves
★★★★
Tom says
January 21, 2018 at 12:45 pmHi !! I just whipped this recipe up and it turned out FANTASTIC !! I think my ratios of garlic to parsley were a little unbalanced, but it was yum. I’ll be coming back to this one in the future. Great stuff, thanks.
Richa says
January 23, 2018 at 4:50 pmSo glad you liked it!
Lo says
January 1, 2018 at 9:59 amThis sounded really good, but unfortunately, I think there are a few issues with the recipe:
The recipe calls for adding the pasta and bacon to the boiling water-oil-garlic—flakes and to let a thickened sauce form, however oil and water does not make a thick sauce, and when the pasta is added, it soaks the liquid right up.
The ingredients do not call for salt, but the directions do.
The amount of flakes called for makes these obscenely hot – too hot to eat, even for my Indonesian husband who loves heat so much he hardly has taste buds left.
Not sure what I did wrong, but this was inedible when I made it. 🙁
Richa says
February 9, 2019 at 2:00 pmHey there, pasta water contains gluten from boiling the pasta which actually thickens as it cooks. I hope you used the reserved pasta water (as mentioned in step#1) instead of regular water. I’m sorry I missed listing out the salt in the ingredients and I’ve fixed that now. As for chilli flakes, its a personal taste and you can reduce them if its too hot for you.
maria amaya says
October 2, 2017 at 3:54 amI just had this recipe for lunch. I added some onions, it was delicious¡¡¡¡¡
Richa says
October 2, 2017 at 10:03 amYay! Onions are such a great addition! Glad you liked it!
Momma G says
June 27, 2017 at 8:08 pmThis is absolutely delicious! Quick, easy and amazing.
Richa says
June 28, 2017 at 11:46 amThank you! So glad you liked it
Wololo says
March 31, 2017 at 8:24 pmAdding bacon sounds great. Going to try that.
1 tip tho: Traditionally, to make a proper aglio e olio you need to let the garlic infuse! This means adding the garlic to the oil at a low heat (or preferably adding it when the oil is still cold) and slowly letting the garlic infuse. Its only supposed to turn lightly golden! Takes about 10 mins or so. Afterwards you can add the garlic.
I’ve made this dish so many times i’ve lost count. Its my go to for a quick meal. The above always gave me the most delicious result!
Richa says
April 1, 2017 at 7:22 amThat’s a really great tip! Thanks for sharing
Megan says
January 11, 2017 at 11:29 amI just read the recipe for your mushroom version, I think I’m going to combine the two – sounds luscious!
richagupta says
January 11, 2017 at 11:44 amOh yes! That’d be perfeeeect! I hope you like the combination
Tracey says
December 30, 2016 at 4:47 amI don’t eat pork…any chance turkey bacon would work or would it not render enough fat to make the sauce? Thanks!
richagupta says
December 30, 2016 at 10:30 amI don’t think turkey bacon would render as much fat. You can still use turkey bacon if you like and add about two tablespoons olive oil for the sauce. I hope you try it Tracey!
Sai Priya says
November 18, 2016 at 3:52 pmIt looks so yumm and super easy to prepare too..
richagupta says
November 19, 2016 at 12:57 pmThanks Sai 🙂
Richa Gupta says
April 29, 2016 at 3:35 amThanks Juventa 🙂
Juventa says
April 29, 2016 at 3:02 amThis looks awesome!
Richa Gupta says
April 26, 2016 at 8:37 amYaaay so happy you liked it Khadija 🙂 Thanks for trying it out!
Khadija Khadija says
April 26, 2016 at 8:16 amwow! i made this, i added some bok choy and it was so yum!! I live for easy recipes like these
Richa Gupta says
April 19, 2016 at 4:58 amOoooh maybe there is always a first time for the husband? Cast Iron Skillets are the best, aren’t they? I’m slowly trying to move away from non stick pans and move exclusively to better kitchen equipment.
Shumaila | The Novice Housewife says
April 19, 2016 at 3:38 amI love bacon, infortunately the husband has never tasted it nor would ever touch it- so I never cook it at home. Would love loveto make this though. I guess will wait for him to go out of town to use my lodge cast iron skillet to make this. Love my cast iron 🙂
What The Fork Food Blog says
April 18, 2016 at 7:15 pmSimple and delicious – love it!
Richa Gupta says
April 18, 2016 at 5:10 pmThanks Sree 🙂
Sreelatha @ Framed Recipes says
April 18, 2016 at 3:55 pmLooks so good Richa – Sreelatha
Richa Gupta says
April 18, 2016 at 3:13 pmYay yay yay! I’m so glad you are a bacon lover Nidhi 😀
Nidhi says
April 18, 2016 at 2:44 pmThis looks and sounds just awesome. Whatelse could make alio olio better….bacon bacon bacon. Totally going to try this.