Wilted spinach, crispy bacon, and diced tomatoes come together with penne pasta in a recipe that takes 25 minutes from start to finish. The dish serves four and is positioned as a quick, light meal suitable for any season.
The recipe requires one bunch of fresh spinach, rinsed and torn into bite-size pieces; a 12-ounce package of penne pasta; two tablespoons of olive oil, divided; six slices of chopped bacon; two tablespoons of minced garlic; and one 14.5-ounce can of diced tomatoes.
Preparation begins by placing the spinach in a colander in the sink. A large pot of lightly salted water is brought to a boil, and the penne cooks for about 11 minutes until tender yet firm to the bite. While the pasta cooks, one tablespoon of olive oil is heated in a skillet over medium heat. The bacon is cooked and stirred until browned and crisp, then garlic is added and cooked for about one minute. The diced tomatoes are stirred in and cooked until heated through.
The hot pasta is drained over the spinach in the colander, which wilts the greens. The spinach-pasta mixture is transferred to a large serving bowl, topped with the bacon-tomato mixture and the remaining tablespoon of olive oil, then tossed until evenly combined.
Each serving provides 517 calories, 15 grams of fat, 74 grams of carbohydrates, and 21 grams of protein, according to the provided nutrition facts.
Editorial Notes