Cavatelli Pesto with Broccoli and Bacon

Rating: 4.33 stars
9 Ratings
  • 5 star values: 5
  • 4 star values: 2
  • 3 star values: 2
  • 2 star values: 0
  • 1 star values: 0

Try this very quick and excellent pesto dish that combines broccoli and bacon the next time you need a delicious weeknight dinner. Serve while warm with grated Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese over top.

By ashley

Gallery

Recipe Summary

prep:
10 mins
cook:
10 mins
total:
20 mins
Servings:
2
Yield:
2 servings
Nutrition Info
Advertisement

Ingredients

2
Original recipe yields 2 servings
The ingredient list now reflects the servings specified

Directions

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook cavatelli in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, 5 to 7 minutes.

    Advertisement

  • Meanwhile, heat a skillet over medium-high heat and drizzle with olive oil once hot. Add broccoli and season with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook until tender, 5 to 7 minutes; use a spatula to break any large florets into smaller pieces. Add additional oil if needed and continue cooking broccoli until lightly browned and crisp, 5 to 7 minutes more. Remove from heat.

  • Drain pasta and return it to the pot. Add crumbled bacon, then stir in cooked broccoli and pesto. Mix until evenly coated.

Cook's Notes:

You can use fresh or frozen broccoli florets.

You can cook the bacon any way you prefer, but make sure that it is cooked enough so that it is crispy and will crumble.

Nutrition Facts

Per Serving:
359 calories; protein 11.8g; carbohydrates 46.3g; fat 14.9g; cholesterol 5mg; sodium 436.7mg. Full Nutrition
Advertisement

Reviews (8)

Read More Reviews

Most helpful positive review

Heather Campbell Fife
Rating: 5 stars
04/16/2020
This dish was so simple and so delicious my entire family loved it! Instead of frying the broccoli, I put a little bit of chicken broth in the bottom of a pot with a steamer. I steamed the broccoli until it was perfectly crisp tender. Then, I used the chicken broth to thin the pesto in a frying pan, then added the broccoli and cooked pasta. I didn’t have bacon, so I diced a chicken breast and sautéed it with a little bit of Italian dressing and put it on top of the pasta dish. So delicious! I would add a photo, but my family ate it all! Read More

Most helpful critical review

Naomi Weisz
Rating: 3 stars
06/06/2020
I don't think bacon quite belongs in this dish. Even without adding extra salt, the bacon and the pesto just felt too salty for me. I think some people may really like this, but it just wasn't up my alley. Won't be making again. Read More
9 Ratings
  • 5 star values: 5
  • 4 star values: 2
  • 3 star values: 2
  • 2 star values: 0
  • 1 star values: 0
Reviews:
Most Helpful Most Positive Least Positive Newest
Heather Campbell Fife
Rating: 5 stars
04/16/2020
This dish was so simple and so delicious my entire family loved it! Instead of frying the broccoli, I put a little bit of chicken broth in the bottom of a pot with a steamer. I steamed the broccoli until it was perfectly crisp tender. Then, I used the chicken broth to thin the pesto in a frying pan, then added the broccoli and cooked pasta. I didn’t have bacon, so I diced a chicken breast and sautéed it with a little bit of Italian dressing and put it on top of the pasta dish. So delicious! I would add a photo, but my family ate it all! Read More
Naomi Weisz
Rating: 3 stars
06/06/2020
I don't think bacon quite belongs in this dish. Even without adding extra salt, the bacon and the pesto just felt too salty for me. I think some people may really like this, but it just wasn't up my alley. Won't be making again. Read More
Chantal
Rating: 5 stars
01/11/2021
Loved it. Very simple and easy to make. Read More
Advertisement
Smtalla
Rating: 5 stars
01/29/2019
Easy and quick. Ingredients usually in the fridge. Read More
Elsa
Rating: 5 stars
01/25/2019
As I didn t have Cavatelli y used Orzo and it was also great. Very easy and so tasty. Read More
OldBayAllDay
Rating: 4 stars
10/09/2020
I doubled the recipe and instead of cooking the broccoli in a pan, I steamed it. I couldn't find cavatelli so I used orecchiette instead. I thought it was overall a bit dry. I added in extra pesto but it didn't seem to help much. I'm not sure what I could do to try to remedy that, but it was still delicious anyway. I'd still make it again. Read More
Advertisement
Matthew Schromen
Rating: 5 stars
01/26/2019
Doubled everything and it was delicious. Read More
stachman
Rating: 4 stars
02/16/2019
I didn't have fresh broccoli so I used frozen. I think it would have been better with fresh because the frozen was a bit mushy. I'd make it again but I'd double the pesto & add more bacon. Thank you for the recipe. Read More
Advertisement
© Copyright 2021 allrecipes.com. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.allrecipes.com 03/07/2021