Most of the pasta dishes on this website are best served as entrees, but pasta can also make a great side dish to serve along side some of your favorite main dishes. So today I thought I would share one of my favorite pasta side dish recipes. It is light and full of wonderful flavors. Let me start by saying,  I am a huge fan of the herb and garlic cheese spreads. Most commonly they are served along side meats, veggies and crackers, but for this recipe I added it to hot pasta so it melted and lightly coated the pasta. While that is delicious on its own, in addition to the garlic and herb flavors you get from the cheese you’ll also find shallots, spinach and crispy bacon.

For this recipe, I used medium shell pasta because that is what I had on hand, but you could easily substitute penne, farfalle or even elbow macaroni.

Herb and Garlic Shells with Spinach and Bacon
10m
Prep
12m
Cook
22m
Total

Servings

4

Ingredients

  • 3 slices bacon (chopped)
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove (minced)
  • 1 shallot (minced)
  • 2 handfuls baby spinach leaves
  • 2 cups dried medium shell pasta
  • 3 tablespoons herb and garlic spreadable cheese (such as Rondele)
  • kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Start a pot of water for your pasta.
  2. In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until it crisps up, about 5-7 minutes. Transfer to paper towel lined plate and set aside. Reserve 2 teaspoons of pan drippings.
  3. Once your pasta water starts boiling, cook pasta according to package directions. Strain.
  4. Meanwhile, in the same skillet you cooked the bacon in, add 1 teaspoon olive oil. Stir in garlic and shallots. Cook just until softened about 3 minutes.
  5. Stir in spinach, cook 1 minute. It will wilt slightly.
  6. Stir in cooked pasta. Stir in herb and garlic cheese. As the cheese melts, stir to lightly coat the pasta. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  7. Transfer to serving platter, sprinkle with bacon and serve.
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Deseree

Whether it is cooking it, eating it, shopping for it or watching TV about it, food is one of my favorite things.

5 Reviews

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  4. Deseree May 26, 2009

    Thanks Memoria! I bet turkey bacon would be a nice substitute.

  5. Memoria May 20, 2009

    Wow! I love how easy this recipe is! I have some turkey bacon in the refrigerator I could use for this dish. Thanks!

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