Creamy Pasta Shells with Sweet Peas and Bacon
Updated Apr 15, 2025, Published Nov 15, 2021
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This creamy pasta shell meal with sweet peas and bacon is always a crowd pleaser and it is ready in less than 30 minutes!
More easy pasta recipes: Penne Pasta and Peas Recipe with Mascarpone, Creamy Smoked Salmon Pasta with Mascarpone and Peas, and Easy Lemon Ricotta Pasta with Asparagus.
Make sure to read: How Long to Boil Pasta Perfectly Every Time to elevate this dish even more!
Why this recipe works
We start with delicious sweet peas that get coated in a creamy sauce and finally, tossed with al dente pasta shells to hold all the delicious sauce.
I like to add the bacon at the end to keep it nice and crunchy!
You will love the fresh pop of flavor from sweet peas and the crunch of savory bacon in every bite. It tastes like home and brings everyone to the table.
Table of Contents
Ingredients
- Pasta shells (any short pasta variety will work)
- Petite sweet peas
- Bacon or pancetta
- Shallot
- Butter
- Heavy cream
- Parmigiano cheese
- Salt and Pepper
See recipe card for quantities.
Weeknight friendly and kid approved!
While the pasta boils, everything else in this dish comes together in one large skillet. Then, toss the pasta in the skillet and stir until combined.
Shower the top with freshly grated parmigiano and that’s it! This is an easy meal that adults and children love!
It’s simple, delicious, and and great dinner recipe to make often. It is ready in about 20 minutes.
I make this so often that I know it by heart, and soon you will too!
Peas
Peas matter…for this recipe I highly recommend the ‘petite’ pea or ‘baby’ sweet pea variety.
Compared to the standard green pea, petite peas are smaller in stature with a more tender skin, and a delicately sweet flavor.
They are also less starchy and simply, better :). Since peas are a main ingredient of this dish it’s important to pick the right ones to create the perfect taste and texture.
Do you want to leave out the bacon in this recipe? Try this recipe instead:
Penne Pasta and Peas Recipe with Mascarpone
Do you want to leave out the peas in this recipe? Try this recipe instead:
Authentic Pasta Carbonara- Italian Recipe (Video)
Authentic Italian Carbonara is an easy meal that tastes restaurant-worthy every time!
Carbonara: silky creamy egg and cheese sauce drown…
Whats the difference between pancetta and bacon?
The biggest difference between pancetta and bacon is that bacon is smoked and pancetta is salt-cured and dried.
In terms of cooking, that means that bacon is still raw and should be cooked. On the other hand, pancetta can be eaten both cooked or uncooked.
Both pancetta and bacon work well in this recipe! Use what you have on hand, or the taste you prefer.
More Bacon Recipes For You
- Crispy bacon, tender asparagus, and a hint of honey-soy. This easy bacon-wrapped asparagus steals the show!
Made with Amore, Elena
From my Cucina to your Table, Mangia! Mangia! (Eat!)
More Delicious Pasta Recipes for you
Creamy Mushroom and Spinach Pasta
No Fuss Fusilli Pasta with Zucchini (Easy)
Easy Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad (Vegetarian)
Delicious salty bacon and sweet delicate peas come together in this quick and easy creamy pasta dish recipe, ready in only 20 minutes.
You will come back to this recipe time and time again!
Have you checked out my NEW CBE PRODUCTS? Take a look at the 2-in-1 cutting and charcuterie board, gorgeous apron, and unique pasta server that you that you absolutely need. The wood products are all handmade in Salt Lake City, Utah. They make great gifts as well!
Favorite Tools
I love my Cuisinart Skillet for this recipe.
Easy peasy creamy sweet peas and bacon pasta shells! This comforting meal is packed with flavor for the entire family to enjoy.
Make it soon and come back to leave a star review and rating.
Creamy Pasta Shells with Sweet Peas and Bacon
Ingredients
- 6 strips bacon or pancetta, cut into chunks
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 large shallot, finely chopped
- 2 cups petite peas
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup freshly grated parmigiano cheese, more for topping
- 1 pound short pasta, such as small shells
- ¼ cup reserved pasta water
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large stockpot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions. (Important: When pasta is almost done cooking, use a measuring cup to remove and reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water)
- While pasta is cooking, heat a large saucepan or skillet over medium heat. When hot, add bacon and sauté until golden and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and reserve for later.
- Drain off all but a thin layer of bacon grease from the pan. Reduce heat under the pan to low-medium.
- Add butter and shallots. Sauté until shallots are tender, 3 minutes. Add in peas and cook for 3 more minute. Drain pasta and add reserved pasta water to the pan. Add cream. Stir to combine and bring to a low simmer until bubbly, about 3 minutes. The starches from the pasta water will thicken the cream slightly and create a yummy sauce.
- Take pan off heat. Add the parmigiano cheese and stir to combine. Add the hot pasta to the pan. Stir until incorporated. Top with bacon and stir slightly to keep the bacon on top and still crunchy. Add freshly ground pepper, if desired. Sprinkle with extra parmigiano cheese and serve hot! Mangia!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This recipe was AMAZING! She gives the perfect instructions and ingredient ratios. I’m Italian myself and really picky. We loved this recipe and will be using it in the future! Thank you Elena!! 🙏🏼
So happy to hear this! Hope you love it time and time again!
This recipe is good and very easy, so we have made it multiple times. The first couple of times I made it as shown and it was delicious. After that, we decided we like it with more sauce and will 1.5 times, or even double the cream and cheese (you could also go milk instead of cream for the extra bit), and/or reduce the amount of pasta a bit. We love it! I have one person in my house that can’t have black pepper, so I added a dash of nutmeg instead, which really suits the cream sauce.
I am happy you loved it.
Absolutely obsessed with this, and have adjusted to using canned tuna in olive oil instead of bacon for protein, as well as adding broccoli and cauliflower to up the veggies. I also use soy cream as it leaves less of an aftertaste in my mouth than dairy cream but pile on the parmesan and devour every time. i also add more shallots when i add the veggies to up the zing. original recipe is awesome, my add ons are an attempt to give me an excuse to eat it a few times a week.
Can’t wait to try this 🙂
Are frozen peas ok to use? Could you put them in frozen, or thaw them first?
Yes! Frozen peas are great!
Put them in frozen.
Incredible pasta dish! Full of flavor and the ultimate creamy perfection ! Was loved and enjoyed by the entire family. I love that this is authentic Italian- nothing better 🤤
Yes, so easy and full of flavor!