🐽 Creamy Bacon & Mushroom Pasta Bake

Serves: 4

Prep time: ~20 min Cook time: ~25 min Total: ~45 min Vibe: Comforting, cheesy, and a bit indulgent - like carbonara meets lasagna in a weeknight outfit.

Ingredients

Pasta & Base:

• 350 g short pasta (penne, rigatoni, or fusilli)
• 150 g smoked bacon or pancetta, chopped
• 250 g mushrooms, sliced (chestnut or button work best)
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp butter + 1 tbsp olive oil

Sauce:

• 250 ml cream (single or double, depending on how rich you want it)
• 100 ml milk (or substitute with 50 ml milk + 50 ml dry white wine for depth)
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• § t sp dried thyme (or a few fresh sprigs)\n- 50 g grated Parmesan
• 100 g grated mozzarella (plus extra for topping)
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Optional extras (choose 1-2 for fun):

• A handful of spinach or kale (stir in at the end)
• 1 small courgette, grated
• § t sp chili flakes for a gentle kick
• 1 tbsp breadcrumbs for a crispy top

💧 Directions

1. Preheat oven to 200 ° C (fan 180 °). Get a medium casserole or baking dish ready.

2. Cook the pasta in salted water until al al dente (about 1 - 2 minutes less than the packet says). Drain and set side.

3. Cook the bacon: In a large frying pan, heat the olive oil and butter. Fry bacon until golden and crisp. Remove some crispy bits for topping if you like.

4. Add the mushrooms, onion, and garlic: Säutå until the mushrooms are soft and have released their liQuid, and the onions are translucent (about 5-7 min).

5. Deglaze with wine (optional but lovely) - pour in 50 ml white wine, let it bubble away for 1 min.

6. Stir in the cream, milk, mustard, and thyme. Simmer gently for 2-3 min. Then add Parmesan and half the mozzarella until melted into a smooth sauce. Taste and season generously.

7. Combine everything: Add the cooked pasta and toss until fully coated. Stir in any extras (spinach, chili, etc.).

8 . Assemble: Transfer to your baking dish. Top with the remaining mozzarella and (if using) a dusting of breadcrumbs and the reserved bacon bits.

9. Bake: Bake for 20-25 min until bubbling and golden on top.

10 . Serve: Let it rest for 5 minutes before diving in. A crisp green salad or garlicky bread on the side is perfect.

🔃Optional Wine Pairing

if you did add wine to the dish: serve the rest of the bottle!  Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio works beautifully with the creamy, smoky flavours.