thepioneerwoman
Baked Orecchiette with Bacon Breadcrumbs
A creamy sauce, spinach, and bacon breadcrumbs make this baked orecchiette pasta extra special!
👥 6 Servings⏱️ Prep & Cook: 1h⏳ Prep: 35 min👤 Ree Drummond📖 thepioneerwoman
🥘 Ingredients
Check off ingredients as you prepare them:
🍳 Cookware
- ●pot
- ●baking dish
- ●oven
- ●pan
- ●skillet
- ●bowl
📝 Preparation Steps
1
For the pasta: Preheat the oven to 375˚. Butter a 9-by-13-inch or other 3-quart baking dish. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package directions, then drain and set aside.
2
Meanwhile, for the bacon breadcrumbs: Cook the bacon in a medium skillet over medium heat until crispy, about ⏱️ 5 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon to a medium bowl, leaving the fat in the pan. Add the butter to the pan and let melt, then add the panko and salt and stir to coat. Cook, stirring, until the panko is a light golden brown, about ⏱️ 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and add to the bowl with the bacon. Let cool slightly, then toss with the parmesan. Set aside.
bacon, chopped4 slices
3
Make the sauce: Melt 2 tablespoons butter in the empty pasta pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until softened and starting to brown, about ⏱️ 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and spinach and cook until the spinach has released any remaining liquid, about ⏱️ 5 minutes. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper.
large onion, thinly sliced1
4
Add the cream cheese and remaining 2 tablespoons butter to the pot and stir until melted. Sprinkle in the flour and stir, then reduce the heat to medium and cook until the flour is golden brown, about ⏱️ 1 minute. Add the milk, 1 cup at a time, stirring until slightly thickened between each addition, 2 to ⏱️ 3 minutes total. Fold in the monterey jack until melted, about ⏱️ 2 minutes. Season the sauce with the remaining ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper, if needed, then add the pasta, stirring until coated. Transfer to the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with the bacon breadcrumbs. Bake until the breadcrumbs are crispy and the sauce is bubbling, 20 to ⏱️ 25 minutes.
bacon, chopped4 slices
Nutrition Facts
calories
919 Calories
fat Content
47 g
fiber Content
5 g
sugar Content
11 g
sodium Content
940 mg
protein Content
40 g
trans Fat Content
1 g
cholesterol Content
121 mg
carbohydrate Content
78 g
saturated Fat Content
26 g
Reviews & Ratings
Share your thoughts and feedback about this recipe
Write a Review
Community Feedback
0 ReviewsLoading reviews...