Presto Bacon Pesto Pasta
with Peas, Tenderstem® and Italian Style Cheese
- Cereals containing gluten
- Milk
- Egg
Hey presto! This speedy Presto Bacon Pesto Pasta is ready in under 25 minutes. Bacon is used here as a cheat's pancetta for an elevated version of classic pesto pasta.
Ingredients
80 grams
Tenderstem® Broccoli
180 grams
Rigatoni Pasta
(Contains: Cereals containing gluten)
2 unit(s)
Garlic Clove
90 grams
British Smoked Bacon Lardons
10 grams
Vegetable Stock Paste
150 grams
Creme Fraiche
(Contains: Milk)
120 grams
Peas
32 grams
Pesto
(Contains: Milk)
40 grams
Grated Hard Italian Style Cheese
(Contains: Milk, Egg)
Not included in your delivery
75 milliliter(s)
Water for the Sauce
Nutrition Values
Utensils
Cooking Steps
a) Boil a full kettle. Cut the Tenderstem® broccoli into thirds.
b) Pour the boiled water into a large saucepan with 1/2 tsp salt on high heat.
c) Add the rigatoni and bring back to the boil. Cook until tender, 12 mins. Add the broccoli to the same pan halfway through cooking.
d)) Once cooked, drain in a colander and pop back in the pan. Drizzle with oil and stir through to stop it sticking together.
a) While the pasta cooks, peel and grate the garlic (or use a garlic press). Cut the Tenderstem® broccoli into thirds.
b) Heat a drizzle of oil in a large frying pan on medium-high heat.
c) Once hot, add the bacon lardons. Stir-fry until golden, 4-5 mins. IMPORTANT: Wash your hands and equipment after handling raw meat. Cook lardons thoroughly.
a) Once the bacon is cooked, drain any excess fat from the pan and pop back on the heat.
b) Add the garlic to the bacon and fry for 30 secs.
a) Stir the veg stock paste, creme fraiche and water for the sauce (see pantry for amount) into the pan. Cook until piping hot, 2-3 mins.
b) Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and stir to combine, then remove from the heat.
a) Stir the peas, pesto and two thirds of the hard Italian style cheese into your creamy pasta.
b) Toss to coat.
a) Share your creamy bacon pesto pasta between your bowls.
b) Sprinkle over the remaining cheese to finish.
Enjoy!
Customer reviews
Review summary
Updated on Aug 2026- Flavour: The combination of pesto, bacon, and crème fraîche creates a rich, creamy sauce that many find deeply satisfying. Some find the overall flavour too salty or heavy, particularly with the pesto and cheese together.
- Ease of prep: This is a genuinely quick and straightforward recipe, with simple steps that even less confident cooks find easy to follow.
- Suggestions: Consider using less crème fraîche if you prefer a lighter sauce, and add a double portion of pesto if the flavour feels too subtle. Some cooks added chicken breast for extra protein, while others swapped peas for green beans or added mushrooms and capers to boost depth. Chopping the lardons into more even pieces before frying helps them cook consistently without smaller bits burning.
- Next-day meals: Leftovers reheat well the following day, though one reviewer noted the dish tasted better once fully warmed through rather than lukewarm.
