Brussels Sprouts Bacon Pesto Pasta (Print Version)
A hearty 30-minute dish combining crispy bacon, shredded brussels sprouts and pasta shells tossed in flavorful pesto.
# Ingredients:
01 -
4 slices of bacon, cooked and chopped
02 -
12 ounces brussels sprouts, shredded
03 -
1 clove garlic, grated or minced
04 -
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
05 -
Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
06 -
8 ounces uncooked pasta shells or similar shape
07 -
3 tablespoons pesto
08 -
1 lemon, juiced
09 -
1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
# Steps:
01 -
Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
02 -
In a large skillet, cook the bacon until crisp. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Once cool enough to handle, chop into pieces. Reserve one tablespoon of bacon grease in the skillet and discard the rest.
03 -
Add the shredded brussels sprouts and red pepper flakes to the skillet with bacon grease. Season with salt and pepper. Sauté for 3-5 minutes until tender. Add the garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
04 -
Add the chopped bacon, cooked pasta, pesto, lemon juice, and parmesan cheese to the skillet. Stir everything together until well combined and heated through. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
05 -
Serve hot, topped with additional parmesan cheese if desired.
# Notes:
01 -
To save time, you can use pre-shredded brussels sprouts available at most grocery stores.
02 -
For shredding brussels sprouts at home, you can use the shredding attachment on a food processor or thinly slice them with a knife.