Description
Indulge in a comforting plate of Orecchiette with Mushroom Thyme Sauce, a delightful blend of creamy textures and savory flavors. This quick and easy recipe is perfect for busy weeknight dinners or special occasions, featuring tender orecchiette pasta enveloped in a rich mushroom sauce infused with aromatic thyme and crispy bacon. With its crowd-pleasing taste, this dish is sure to impress your family and guests alike.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon
- 16 oz. orecchiette pasta
- 1 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 16 oz. button mushrooms (sliced)
- 1½ tsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1 cup half-and-half
- 1 cup milk
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp minced fresh thyme (or ½ tsp dried thyme)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a large skillet, cook the bacon until crispy. Transfer to paper towels and reserve about 2 tsp of the grease in the skillet.
- Cook the orecchiette according to package instructions until al dente; drain and set aside.
- Add butter and mushrooms to the skillet over medium heat, sauté for 3–4 minutes without stirring. Flip mushrooms, add garlic, and sauté for another 3–4 minutes.
- In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and half-and-half. Add this to the skillet along with milk, crumbled bacon, salt, pepper, thyme, and Parmesan; stir well.
- Simmer over medium-low heat for about 6–8 minutes until sauce thickens.
- Toss the cooked orecchiette into the skillet until well combined.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 55mg