Creamy Bacon Pasta Bake

Ingredients

• 8 ounces thick-cut bacon , chopped
• 1 yellow onion
• 0.25 cups tomato paste
• 0.5 teaspoons crushed red pepper
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 0.5 cups white wine
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 1 pound spaghetti
• 1 tablespoon fresh flat-leaf parsley

Instructions

1. 1

   Gather all ingredients.

2. 2

   Preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C). Scatter bacon evenly over the bottom of a 13-x-9-inch baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven, stirring twice during cooking, until bacon is crispy and fat has rendered, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer bacon to a small paper-towel-lined plate and set aside. Reduce oven temperature to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

3. 3

   Remove all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat from the baking dish. Add onion, tomato paste, and crushed red pepper to reserved hot bacon fat in the baking dish and stir until onion is well coated in tomato paste.

4. 4

   Add chicken broth, cream, wine, salt, 3/4 cup of the Parmigiano-Reggiano, and stir to combine. Spread spaghetti into broth mixture and bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C), uncovered, stirring every 8 to 10 minutes, until spaghetti is tender, has absorbed most of the sauce, and the sauce has thickened, 40 to 45 minutes.

5. 5

   Remove and top with 1/4 cup of the reserved bacon, remaining 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano and parsley.

6. 6

   Serve immediately, garnishing each serving with more reserved bacon, as desired.