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Creamy Orecchiette with Spinach, Artichokes, and Bacon

2021-11-23
Creamy Orecchiette with Spinach, Artichokes, and Bacon
Prep Time:
5 mins
Hands On Time:
30 mins
Bake Time:
25 mins
Total Time:
1 hr
Servings:
6
Yield:
6 cups

Ingredients

  • 6 ounce dried orecchiette pasta

  • 6 slices bacon

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 12 ounce jar quartered marinated artichoke hearts, drained

  • 1 10 ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • 1 8 ounce package cream cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil

  • ½ cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 cup shredded whole milk mozzarella cheese

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 3-qt. baking dish. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta water. Transfer pasta to prepared dish.

  2. In a 10-inch skillet cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Drain bacon on paper towels; chop when cool. Reserve 1 Tbsp. drippings in skillet.

  3. Heat skillet with drippings over medium. Add garlic; cook and stir 30 seconds. Add next three ingredients (through cayenne pepper). Cook and stir 2 minutes. Add next two ingredients (through basil) and 3/4 cup of the reserved pasta water. Cook and stir 3 to 4 minutes or until cream cheese melts. (Sauce consistency should resemble heavy cream; if necessary, thin with remaining pasta water, adding 1 Tbsp. at a time.)

  4. Stir next three ingredients (through black pepper) and bacon into sauce mixture. Pour mixture over pasta; stir to coat. Top with mozzarella cheese.

  5. Bake, uncovered, 25 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand 5 minutes.

Tip

Refrigerate artichoke heart marinade in a tightly sealed jar for up to 1 month—it makes a superlative vinaigrette for salad greens and chilled pasta salads.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

495 Calories
32g Fat
31g Carbs
23g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Calories 495
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 32g 41%
Saturated Fat 16g 80%
Cholesterol 82mg 27%
Sodium 719mg 31%
Total Carbohydrate 31g 11%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 23g 46%
Vitamin C 7.1mg 8%
Calcium 393mg 30%
Iron 2.7mg 15%
Potassium 437mg 9%
Folate, total 95.4mcg
Vitamin B-12 1.1mcg
Vitamin B-6 0.2mg

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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