One-Pan Tomato Bacon Spaghetti
Savor this easy one-pan tomato bacon spaghetti. Fresh tomatoes and rendered bacon fat combine with a touch of ketchup for a deeply flavorful, rich sauce.
This dish combines the comforting familiarity of spaghetti with the smoky depth of crispy bacon. Cooking the noodles directly in the tomato broth allows them to absorb maximum flavor while releasing starches that naturally thicken the sauce. The secret lies in using the rendered bacon fat to sauté the fresh tomatoes, creating a robust base that is perfectly balanced by a hint of ketchup. It is an ideal weeknight dinner that requires minimal cleanup and delivers satisfying results.
Ingredients
- 200 g bacon
- 3 medium red tomatoes
- 1 small bowl water
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 200 g dry spaghetti noodles
Instructions
- 1Fry the bacon
Place the sliced bacon into a frying pan over medium heat. Fry until the bacon is crispy and the fat has fully rendered out.
Tip: Do not add extra oil to the pan; the fat from the bacon is sufficient for cooking the aromatics. - 2Render the bacon fat
Continue frying the bacon until it achieves a golden brown color and the fat is rendered. Remove the bacon pieces from the pan, keeping the rendered fat for the next step.
Tip: Watch the heat to ensure the bacon fat does not burn while rendering. - 3Sauté the tomatoes
Add the cut tomato chunks into the pan with the reserved bacon fat. Sauté over medium heat until the tomatoes begin to soften and release their juices.
Tip: Pressing down on the tomatoes with a spatula will help them break down faster into a sauce. - 4Add water to the base
Pour a small bowl of water into the pan with the sautéed tomatoes. This will help create a liquid base for the sauce to simmer.
Tip: Adding water helps balance the intensity of the tomato flavor. - 5Add ketchup
Squeeze a generous amount of ketchup into the pan. Stir to combine with the tomatoes and water, allowing the mixture to simmer into a rich, flavorful sauce.
Tip: Ketchup provides a quick way to add sweetness, acidity, and deep tomato flavor to your sauce. - 6Add the spaghetti
Place the dry spaghetti noodles directly into the bubbling tomato sauce. Gently stir and press them down to coat them well with the liquid, ensuring they are submerged so they can cook evenly and absorb the rich flavors.
Tip: Ensure the noodles are submerged in the sauce for proper softening and flavor absorption. - 7Combine ingredients
Add the previously fried bacon pieces back into the pan with the spaghetti and tomato sauce. This allows the bacon to integrate with the noodles and sauce, infusing the dish with its savory flavor.
Tip: Ensure the bacon is evenly distributed throughout the pan for consistent flavor in every bite. - 8Simmer the pasta
Cover the pan with a glass lid and let the spaghetti simmer with the tomato sauce and bacon for about ten minutes. Covering the pan traps the steam, ensuring the pasta cooks thoroughly and absorbs the flavors of the sauce.
Tip: Check occasionally to ensure the liquid has not evaporated too quickly; add a splash of water if needed. - 9Final stir and serve
After simmering, remove the lid and thoroughly stir the spaghetti, bacon, and thickened tomato sauce together until well coated. The dish is now cooked, combined, and ready to be served immediately while hot.
Tip: A quick toss ensures the sauce coats every strand of pasta perfectly.
