I love one pot/skillet meals.  This pasta is no exception~with pasta, bacon and, arugula it covers a lot of ground for a balanced meal.  It’s an easy dish that can be prepared for just one or for as many people as you need to feed.  Just figure 1 piece of bacon, 1 cup of cooked pasta, and 1 cup of arugula for every serving.  It’s all tied together with olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes, then topped with Parmesan cheese.

Just a few ingredients…big flavor!

Cut bacon into 1/2 inch pieces…I used kitchen shears

After frying bacon, use pasta water to deglaze pan…add olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes

Add pasta, arugula, and bacon, stirring until arugula is wilted.  Add more pasta water if necessary.

Penne with Bacon & Arugula
Serves 1

1 slice of bacon, cut into pieces
1 cup cooked penne pasta, 1/4 cup pasta water reserved
1 cup fresh arugula
1 small clove garlic, finely chopped
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

In a large skillet, saute bacon pieces until browned and crispy.  Remove bacon from skillet and add 2 tablespoons of reserved pasta water to deglaze pan, stirring up browned bits.  Add olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes and allow to simmer for 1 minute.  Add cooked pasta and the arugula to the skillet, stirring until coated and arugula has wilted, about 2 minutes.  If dry, add more pasta water.  Stir in bacon and serve with Parmesan cheese.