This easy pasta with peas recipe is perfect for any weeknight dinner. It only takes 30 minutes to make and is easy enough for any beginner cook. A light cream sauce hugs long silky al dente pasta tossed with bright fresh peas and herbs for a simple, but satisfying dinner.
Pasta recipes are always such a great choice for any dinner, but especially busy nights. We've got endless variations that will satisfy anyone. Try this easy mushroom pasta or this easy pasta with corn and bacon. And this roasted red pepper pasta is always a hit, along with these Italian lamb meatballs.
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⭐️ Top reasons why you you'll love this one pan pea pasta:
- Delicious and satisfying: Pasta with peas is a classic combination that is loved by many. The sweetness of the peas complements the savory flavor of the pasta, creating a delicious and satisfying dish.
- Easy to make: Pasta with peas is a simple and easy dish to prepare, making it perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends. All you need is pasta, peas, and a few basic ingredients to create a delicious meal in no time.
- Nutritious: Peas are a great source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, making them a nutritious addition to any meal. Pasta with peas is a great way to get your daily dose of veggies and nutrients.
- Budget-friendly: Pasta with peas is an inexpensive meal that can be made with pantry staples, making it a great option for anyone on a budget. It's also a great way to use up any leftover pasta or peas you may have in your fridge or pantry.
🧾 Ingredients you need & why
- dried pasta- you can use any shape of pasta that you like, but I prefer a long noodle for this recipe, but short pasta like penne works equally well.
- peas- fresh or frozen (avoid using canned peas)
- aromatics- onions & garlic
- cheese- parmesan, pecorino, Grana padano (all great choices)
- cream- heavy cream and the parmesan melt together to create a simple but silky and luxurious sauce. *add in some pasta water to thin out the sauce and make it lighter.
- bacon- this is completely optional, but I love the rich saltiness of bacon or prosciutto and how it complements the brightness of the peas and the creaminess of the sauce.
Chef's top tip: Be sure to save a cup of water from cooking the pasta before draining it. It's perfect for adding to thin out the sauce if required.
See recipe card for quantities.
📖 Substitutions & Variations
As with most pasta recipes, peas and pasta are very customizable. You can add in some meat, seafood or change up the herbs, to make this recipe unique every time you make it.
- Adding meat: bacon, pancetta, prosciutto, ham, chicken
- seafood: salmon, shrimp, smoked salmon
- herbs: basil, parsley, mint, lemon zest
- pasta- use gluten-free pasta, like lentil, or use whole wheat pasta
🧂Seasoning the pasta water
I never specify the amount of salt in a recipe because it's completely subjective to your personal taste and possible health requirements, but here are some general guidelines.
- Start with a small amount of seasoning and taste as you go. It's always easier to add more seasoning than it is to try to fix a dish that is overly seasoned. *If you are accidentally heavy-handed with the salt, try adding some lemon juice to balance it out.
- Balance the flavours. A good dish will have a balance of sweet, sour, salty, and bitter flavours.
- Be mindful of the proportions of the ingredients. If a dish has a lot of strong-flavoured ingredients, you may need to use less seasoning.
- Consider the cooking method. Different cooking methods can affect how much seasoning a dish needs. For example, grilling or roasting tends to bring out the natural flavours of ingredients, so you may need to use less seasoning and a moist cooking method (like this gnocchi recipe) will require more seasoning.
👩🏻🍳 Making pasta with peas- step by step
step 1 & 2
- Start with some olive oil (or vegetable oil) in a skillet. *The skillet can be cast iron or stainless steel. Once the oil is hot add in the bacon pieces and fry until crispy.
- Remove the bacon from the pan and drain on a paper towel to remove any excess fat. Drain all but 1 tablespoon of oil from the pan and add in the shallots and garlic. Continue to cook them until they are soft, fragrant and have just started to turn a golden color.
step 3 & 4
- Pour the cream into the pan and stir in the peas. Bring the cream to a very gentle simmer. *If using frozen peas, there is no need to defrost them.
- Stir the grated parmesan into the sauce and let it melt. Taste and adjust the seasoning before adding a squeeze of lemon and some fresh cracked black pepper.
Hint: the squeeze of lemon juice helps to cut through the richness of the sauce and brighten all the flavors.
🍯 Storage
- You can store peas and pasta in the fridge for up to 3 days in air-tight containers. You can store the sauce and pasta separately or together. *Be sure to add a splash of water before reheating in the microwave because the sauce thickens a lot as it cools.
- Not suitable for freezing.
💡 Top tip- avoid canned peas!
While canned peas may be convenient and readily available, they may not be the best choice when making pasta with peas. Here are some reasons why someone might avoid using canned peas:
Texture: They have a softer texture compared to fresh or frozen peas. This results in a mushy texture when added to the pasta.
Flavor: Canned peas are often processed with added salt and preservatives, which can affect their flavor and nutritional value. Fresh or frozen peas tend to have a sweeter flavor and retain more of their nutrients.
Quality: The quality of canned peas can vary greatly depending on the brand and the age of the can. Fresh or frozen peas are typically of higher quality and have a longer shelf life. Overall, while canned peas may be convenient, using fresh or frozen peas can result in a better texture, flavor, and nutritional value in your pasta with peas dish.
❓FAQ
If you are using fresh or frozen peas, you can add them directly to the pasta during the last few minutes of cooking without the need to cook them beforehand.
Yes, you can add other vegetables such as chopped spinach, asparagus, or broccoli to the pasta with peas. Just make sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
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One Pot Pasta With Peas and Bacon
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) olive oil
- 7 ounces (200 g) bacon chopped *optional. If vegetarian, omit the bacon.
- 1 (1) medium onion diced
- 4 cloves (4 cloves) garlic minced
- 2 cups (473 ⅙ ml) vegetable broth *or use chicken broth
- 1 cup (250 ml) heavy cream
- 1 pound (500 g) dried spaghetti *or your favorite pasta
- 1 cup (200 g) frozen peas
- 1 (1) lemon juice only
- 1 (1) bunch mint chopped
- parmesan for sering
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions taking care to not overcook the noodles. *Reserve a cup of the pasta cooking water before draining. Heat the oil in a cast iron or nonstick skillet. Cook the bacon in the pan over medium heat. Once it's browned and crispy, remove the bacon from the pan and drain on a paper towel to remove any excess fat. Drain all but 1 tablespoon of oil from the pan and add in the shallots and garlic. Continue to cook them until they are soft, and fragrant and have just started to turn a golden color.
- Pour the broth into the pan and let simmer for about 5 minutes. Once the broth has reduced by ¼ pour in the cream and stir in the peas. Bring the cream to a very gentle simmer. *If using frozen peas, there is no need to defrost them. Stir the grated parmesan into the sauce and let it melt. Taste and adjust the seasoning before adding a squeeze of lemon and some fresh cracked black pepper.
- Once the sauce is at your desired flavor and consistency, add the drained spaghetti to the pan and toss to coat the pasta. Stir in the mint leaves reserving some extra for serving and top with extra parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Reserve some pasta water: Before draining the pasta, reserve some of the starchy pasta water to use in the sauce. The starchy water helps to create a creamy, flavorful sauce.
- Add the peas towards the end: Add the peas to the pot during the last few minutes of cooking to ensure they remain crisp and sweet.
K Woods says
I made this dish tonight and wanted to thank you! It was easy, tasty, and made a beautiful presentation too! Your thorough walk-through was super helpful. I confess my hubs and young kiddos have a thing about onions, so I just cooked them down a bit longer before removing them from the pan and never mixed them back in at the end. We all loved it!