Spicy Bacon Broccoli Orecchiette (Print View)

Pasta with bacon, broccoli, and creamy gochujang sauce delivers a quick, flavorful, and satisfying meal.

# Components:

→ Pasta

01 - 8 1/2 ounces orecchiette pasta

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 small head broccoli, chopped into bite-sized pieces
03 - 1 brown onion, diced
04 - 2 garlic cloves, minced

→ Meats

05 - 7 ounces bacon bits

→ Spices and Condiments

06 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
07 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste
08 - 2 tablespoons gochujang paste, or to taste
09 - Salt, to taste
10 - Freshly ground black pepper, for serving

→ Dairy

11 - 1 1/2 cups heavy cream

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook orecchiette according to package directions until al dente. Add broccoli in the final 3 minutes of cooking. Drain both together and set aside.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, cook bacon bits until crisp. Remove cooked bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside, reserving rendered fat in the skillet.
03 - Add diced onion to the skillet with bacon fat and cook until translucent, about 3–4 minutes. Add minced garlic and dried thyme, sautéing for another minute.
04 - Stir in tomato paste and gochujang paste until well incorporated. Pour in heavy cream and bring to a simmer, allowing sauce to thicken slightly.
05 - Add drained pasta and broccoli to the sauce, tossing to coat thoroughly. Stir in crispy bacon and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
06 - Serve immediately, garnished with extra black pepper if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Uses familiar supermarket staples easily found any time of year
  • Ready from start to finish in under thirty minutes
  • Kid approved with enough zest to delight grownup palates
  • Customizable heat level for every taste
  • Cleanup is a breeze only two main pans used
02 -
  • Hearty but not heavy this dish delivers protein fiber and rich flavor
  • Make ahead friendly the sauce and pasta reheat beautifully for lunches
  • Ready for tweaks with vegetarian swaps or different vegetables
03 -
  • Use a heavy bottomed skillet for even sauce simmering and no scorching
  • Taste as you go the gochujang paste can vary in spice level from brand to brand
  • Save a little pasta water in case your sauce needs loosening right before serving

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