Pappardelle Pasta with Leeks and Bacon

What's better than a big old plate of warm, flavorful pasta? How about going back for seconds?

This easy Pappardelle Pasta with Leeks and Bacon will have you doing just that.

This easy pappardelle pasta recipe is so good and so easy that I knew I couldn't keep it to myself!

I found this recipe in the February 2013 issue of Bon Appétit magazine as I was paging through my huge pile of food magazines trying to whittle down the stack into something manageable. Ha! Like that will ever happen.

**Please Note - The printable recipe card with detailed instructions, complete ingredient measurements, and nutritional information for making Pappardelle with Leeks and Bacon is available at the end of this post. OR you can hit the "jump to recipe" button (found above) to be taken directly to the recipe. 

The ingredient list:

**Note - The following lists of ingredients plus kitchen tools and equipment contain affiliate links (highlighted in blue) for your consideration and shopping convenience. #CommissionsEarned

• leeks
• bacon
• pappardelle pasta
• olive oil
• butter
• heavy cream
• Parmesan cheese
• dried thyme
• salt and pepper

Kitchen tools and equipment needed:

• pasta pot
• large skillet
• cheese grater (optional)
• chef's knife
• cutting board
• large bowl (for cleaning the leeks)
• wooden spoon
• measuring cups and spoons
• paper towels (to drain bacon)

The beautiful leek:

Every time I cook with leeks I'm reminded why I love them so much!

Leeks are a truly fascinating vegetable. Visually they look like very much like scallions, but on steroids.

When you slice a leek in half, and you'll see layers upon layers of oniony goodness.

They really are quite beautiful and cooking with them will elevate your everyday dishes to something very special.

What does a leek taste like?

Leeks are members of the allium family.

Allium means "garlic" in Latin but the allium family also contains onions, shallots, chives, and scallions (green onions).

Leeks have a mild onion-like flavor and they tend to be sweeter and milder in flavor than their smaller counterpart, the scallion.

Cleaning leeks:

The one thing you do have to be aware of when you're cooking with leeks, however, is that you need to make sure to clean them properly.

It is because of all those wonderful layers of flavors that sometimes a bit of dirt and grit can get trapped inside.

Always make it a practice to soak cut leeks in a bowl or sink full of water so that the dirt and grit have an opportunity to fall away and not end up in your completed dish.

It only takes an extra couple of minutes to do, but doing so is a must!

How to properly clean leeks:

How long does it take to make this easy pappardelle pasta recipe?

Less than 30 minutes from start to dinner.

Pappardelle with leeks and bacon is definitely a company-worthy recipe and yet it's something you could easily whip together on any random Tuesday night for a quick family-friendly meal.

Can other pasta be used in place of the pappardelle?

Sure! Use whatever pasta is your favorite.

How to make easy pappardelle with leeks and bacon:

• In a large skillet, cook the chopped bacon until just shy of crisp.
• Remove the bacon from the skillet and drain all but 1 tablespoon of bacon fat from the skillet.
• Prepare the leeks by cutting off the root end and most of the deep green stalks.
• Slice the white and light green part in half and soak in cold water to release the dirt and grit.
• Splay the layers with your fingers to make sure you've cleaned them properly.
• Drain thoroughly and cut into thin slices.

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• Sauté the leeks in the same pan as the bacon, making sure you've drained all but approximately 1 tablespoon of fat.
• Add butter and season with dried thyme, salt, and pepper.
• Add in the cooked bacon, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese (photo not shown).

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• Meanwhile, cook the pappardelle just shy of the package directions.
• Drain the pasta, add olive oil and stir in the leek and cream mixture.
• Toss and serve.

For additional easy pasta dishes, please click on the following titles for:

• One-Pot Linguine with Italian Sausage and Capers (pictured below) from (yours truly) Kudos Kitchen

"One-Pot Pasta of Linguine, Italian Sausage, Tomatoes, and Capers is an easy and satisfying meal for busy nights when time is tight, the family is hungry, and you don’t want to fuss with too much prep or clean up."

• Spaghetti Aglio e Olio from Olive and Artichoke

• Mediterranean Pasta with Roasted Peppers and Artichokes from Veggie Inspired

• Roasted Tomato Bacon Basil Linguine (pictured below) from (yours truly) Kudos Kitchen

"If you can turn on the oven and boil water, then you’ll be successful at making this delicious family favorite Roasted Garden Fresh Tomato Bacon Basil Linguine."

Kitchen helpers:

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Below is the printable recipe card along with the exact ingredient measurements and nutritional information for making today's easy pasta dinner of pappardelle with leeks and bacon.

I sincerely hope you've enjoyed today's fast and easy dinner recipe for pappardelle pasta as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you.

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