Bacon Cheddar Bow Ties Pasta Recipe (2024)

Take comfort food to the next level with this easy and cozy Bacon Cheddar Bow Ties pasta recipe with warm noodles in a creamy, bacon-infused cheese sauce with bits of freshly cooked and crumbled bacon. A childhood favorite, grown-up style!

Bacon Cheddar Bow Ties

This Bacon Cheddar Bow Ties pasta is a total easy weeknight dinner that reminds me of grown-up style mac and cheese. Of course, with all this cheesy goodness, bacon, and warm noodles, the whole family will gobble it up, no problem.

Bacon Cheddar Bow Ties pasta features warm noodles in a homemade, gooey, creamy cheese sauce infused with bacon flavor, and even more crumbly bacon stirred in and sprinkled on top. It takes about 30 minutes to make, so it's quick, easy, and a guaranteed hit for the whole family.

Do I Have to Use Bow Tie Pasta?

Nope! You can use whatever pasta you have on hand, just make sure it's the right amount in weight (16 ounces).

Variations on Bacon Cheddar Bow Ties Pasta

A pasta dish like this is so versatile and so easy to personalize to your own taste preferences. Here are some ideas.

• Protein: You can add some additional protein here to bulk up the meal such as cooked chicken, ham, or sausage.
• Beans: I love adding beans to pasta dishes for extra fiber and protein. Any kind of beans will work, but my favorites to use for our family are black beans, red kidney beans, pinto beans, or great northern white beans.
• Spice: Add some red pepper flakes or a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce, such as Tabasco to give it an extra kick.
• Veggies: Any extra veggies you have from the week will also do wonders in this pasta. Since the sauce is so cheesy, the kids won't even mind. Some of my favorites to add in are shredded carrots (sauteed until soft), broccoli, cauliflower, or zucchini.
• Cheese: With the recipe being called bacon CHEDDAR bow ties, it obviously calls for cheddar. But you can get creative with the cheese. If you stick with cheddar, you can use mild or sharp, yellow or white, or smoked or traditional. Other cheeses that would work in this pasta are smoked gouda (my favorite!), mozzarella, or Monterey or Colby Jack.

What to Serve with Bacon Cheddar Bow Ties

If you're using this recipe as your main dish, I like to pair it with a piece of crusty bread (even better if it's buttery and garlicky) and a fresh green salad or coleslaw.

If you're making it as a side dish, it goes well with any protein, including steak, chicken, pork chops, pork loin, or sausage. Then I'd just add a vegetable like a fresh salad, oven roasted asparagus, or sauteed green beans, and you've got a full meal!

More Super Easy Pasta Recipes You'll Love

• Easy Creamy Cheesy Sausage Pasta - a super simple creamy tomato pasta with Italian cheese and melty mozzarella cheese.
• Crockpot Spaghetti and Meatballs - this recipe is cooked completely in the slow cooker, from the meatballs to the sauce. Including the spaghetti noodles!
• Ground Beef Stroganoff - creamy classic! This quick stovetop pasta features a creamy mushroom sauce with ground beef that's hearty and satisfying.
• American Goulash - a fantastic quick and easy weeknight dinner with noodles in a tomato sauce with ground beef.
• Taco Stuffed Shells - creamy taco-seasoned filling with taco sauce on top. Top with all of your favorite toppings for a fun and tasty family dinner.

Bacon Cheddar Bow Ties Video

UPDATE INFO: This recipe was originally published in January 2017. It was updated with new tips and video and republished in August 2023.

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