Description
Spaghetti gets a creamy makeover with this bacon cream cheese pasta that delivers serious comfort. Crispy bacon and rich cream cheese turn your weeknight dinner into a quick, satisfying meal everyone will devour.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb spaghetti
- 4 cups milk
- 10.5 oz condensed cream of bacon soup
- 7.5 oz Philadelphia whipped chive cream cheese
Cheese and Bacon:
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup real bacon bits
Seasonings:
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
Topping:
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup real bacon bits
- 1 tablespoon chopped chives
Instructions
- Heat your oven to precisely 400°F, preparing a clean 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Pour 4 cups milk, 10.5 oz cream of bacon soup, and 7.5 oz whipped chive cream cheese into a large pot set at medium heat.
- Sprinkle 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tbsp garlic powder, and 1 tbsp onion powder into the pot, whisking until the mixture becomes completely smooth and warm.
- When the liquid reaches a gentle boil, add 1 lb halved spaghetti noodles and simmer for exactly 8 minutes, stirring periodically to prevent sticking.
- Fold 2 cups mozzarella cheese and ½ cup bacon bits into the creamy pasta, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
- Carefully transfer the entire spaghetti mixture into your prepared baking dish, spreading it into an even layer.
- Generously scatter the remaining 2 cups mozzarella cheese across the top, then sprinkle ½ cup bacon bits and 1 tbsp chopped chives over the surface.
- Slide the dish into the preheated oven and bake for 14-15 minutes until the cheese turns golden and starts bubbling around the edges.
- Remove from oven and allow the pasta to rest for 5 minutes, letting the sauce settle and flavors meld before serving.
Notes
- Using thick-cut bacon gives a deeper, richer flavor and ensures crispy bacon bits throughout the dish.
- Check cream cheese temperature before mixing to avoid lumps and create a smoother sauce.
- For a lighter version, swap whole milk for skim milk and use reduced-fat cream cheese and mozzarella.
- Experiment with additional herbs like fresh thyme or rosemary to enhance the overall flavor profile of your pasta.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 23-24 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 474 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 1020 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 49 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg