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    Home » Recipes » Dinner

    Creamy Corn and Bacon Pasta (Easy Weeknight Meal)

    Modified: Apr 1, 2025 · Published: Dec 7, 2021 by Katy McAvoy

    I love when you share my recipes!

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    Creamy Corn and Bacon Pasta.

    Sweet corn and salty bacon pair up with an easy, creamy Parmesan cheese sauce for this delicious, creamy Corn and Bacon Pasta. 

    Creamy Corn and Bacon Pasta
    Jump to:
    • What's in Corn and Bacon Pasta
    • How to Make Creamy Corn and Bacon Pasta
    • Recipe Tips
    • Dinnertime Drink Pairings
    • Don’t Miss These Pasta Recipes
    • More Delicious Dinner Recipes You’ll Love 
    • Print the Recipe Card
    • Creamy Corn and Bacon Pasta

    Maybe it’s the colder days or that it’s getting darker outside earlier and earlier, but I find myself wanting comfort food more and more, which is almost always in the form of a pasta dish. 

    Pasta, frozen corn, bacon, and Parmesan cheese are always in our house. Finding a way to combine them into dinner was inevitable! Creamy Corn and Bacon pasta is one of my go-to dinners when I don’t really want to cook, but also don’t want take out. It’s decadent enough to feel like a restaurant meal while simple enough to make at home. 

    This easy dinner is great for busy weeknights and is especially good if you’re in a hurry. The sauce comes together while the noodles cook, so you can have dinner on the table faster than delivery. 

    What's in Corn and Bacon Pasta

    Ingredients for bacon and corn pasta.
    • Pasta - Choose your favorite shape. I love cavatappi for all its curves and ridges.
    • Bacon - Thick cut bacon works well here.
    • Sweet corn - Use either fresh or frozen.
    • Fresh herbs - Choose one: Sage, thyme, tarragon, or basil for your dish. All of these are delicious in this recipe.
    • Lemon - Fresh lemon juice helps keep the richness of this recipe in check. Squeeze a fresh lemon for the best flavor.
    • Heavy cream - Don't swap this out for anything else. With the lemon juice in the dish, anything besides heavy cream runs the risk of curdling.
    • Parmesan cheese - Shred fresh Parmesan from a block. Skip the green plastic bottle.
    • Black pepper, cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes - Optional, for recommended those who like a little spice.

    How to Make Creamy Corn and Bacon Pasta

    Cook pasta according to package directions. 

    While the pasta is cooking… 

    Chop bacon into small pieces. 

    Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until bacon is cooked through. Do not remove the bacon fat.

    Bacon frying in a pan

    Add corn and herbs. Cook for 1-2 minutes. 

    Bacon, corn, and thyme cooking in a pan

    Add heavy cream, black pepper and lemon juice to the pan. Stir to combine with the bacon, corn, and herbs. 

    Cream in a pan with bacon, corn and thyme

    Add the Parmesan cheese, stirring until the cheese is melted. Add cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes, if desired.

    Using a slotted spoon, remove cooked pasta from its pot and place directly into the pan full of sauce. (It’s OK if a little pasta water gets into the sauce.)

    Toss hot pasta with sauce. Serve immediately. 

    Creamy Bacon and Corn Pasta

    Recipe Tips

    Can I really use any of those herbs? 

    Yes! I don't like the texture dried herbs give this dish, so I've made it with whatever fresh herb I have in the garden or on hand. Sage, basil, tarragon, and thyme are all delicious in this recipe. (Thyme is used in the photos.)

    Do I have to use heavy cream? 

    Yes. Using anything less than heavy cream will curdle when you add the lemon juice. 

    How do I make this dairy free? 

    You don’t. If you don’t or can’t eat dairy, this is not your recipe. I do not recommend any dairy substitutes in this one. 

    How can I use fresh corn in this recipe?

    Cut the corn off of 2 (uncooked) ears of fresh corn if you’re making this during sweet corn season! 

    Dinnertime Drink Pairings

    A rich pasta dinner pairs well with a crisp, tart drink.

    A pair of lemon drop martinis.
    Lemon Drop Martini
    A pair of basil gimlet cocktails.
    Basil Gimlet Cocktail

    Don’t Miss These Pasta Recipes

    We are huge fans of pasta dinners in our house! If you are two, give one of these easy recipes a try:

    Bacon Avocado Pasta
    Bacon Avocado Pasta
    Creamy Lemon Shrimp Pasta
    Creamy Lemon Shrimp Pasta

    More Delicious Dinner Recipes You’ll Love 

    • Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad
      Creamy and Crunchy Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad
    • Curry Chicken Salad Sandwiches
      Curry Chicken Salad with Grapes
    • Honey Mustard Chicken
      Easy, 6 Ingredient Honey Mustard Chicken with Bacon
    • Chicken, White Bean and Kale Soup
      Homemade White Bean and Kale Soup with Leftover Roast Chicken

    Print the Recipe Card

    Creamy Corn and Bacon Pasta

    Creamy Corn and Bacon Pasta

    Katy McAvoy
    Sweet corn and salty bacon pair up with an easy, creamy Parmesan cheese sauce for this delicious, creamy Corn and Bacon Pasta.
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe SaveSaved! Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Servings 4 servings

    Ingredients
      

    • 16 oz pasta
    • 4 slices bacon
    • 1 cup sweet corn fresh or frozen
    • 2 tablespoon fresh herbs Choose one: Sage, Basil, Tarragon, Thyme
    • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
    • ½ cup heavy cream
    • ½ cup Parmesan cheese
    • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
    • Pinch cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes optional

    Instructions
     

    • Cook pasta according to package directions. While the pasta is cooking… 
    • Chop bacon into small pieces. 
    • Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until bacon is cooked through. Do not remove the bacon fat. Add corn and herbs and cook for 1-2 minutes. 
    • Add heavy cream, black pepper and lemon juice to the pan. Stir to combine with the bacon, corn, and herbs. Add the Parmesan cheese, stirring until the cheese is melted. Add cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes, if desired. 
    • Using a slotted spoon, remove cooked pasta from its pot and place directly into the pan full of sauce. It’s OK if a little pasta water gets into the sauce. 
    • Toss the pasta with the sauce and serve immediately. 

    Notes

    If the sauce is too thick for your taste, add in some pasta water - 1 tablespoon at a time - until desired consistency is reached. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1.5cupsCalories: 695kcalCarbohydrates: 93gProtein: 24gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 57mgSodium: 367mgPotassium: 450mgFiber: 4gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 780IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 197mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

    I love when you share my recipes!

    154 shares

    About Katy McAvoy

    Katy is the author, photographer, home cook, mixologist, and Michigander behind MittenGirl.com and Homemade Happy Hour. Since 2017, she's been crafting recipes for easy-to-make cocktails and delicious snacks while sharing her love of all things Michigan (a.k.a. The Mitten)!

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    1. Colleen says

      August 01, 2023 at 9:52 pm

      Ended up inadvertently doubling the sauce (and purposely doubling the bacon!), and it was delicious. I'll be making this at least a couple more times while sweet corn and basil are in season. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Katy McAvoy says

        August 02, 2023 at 2:12 pm

        So glad you enjoyed it! Everything's better with extra bacon! 🙂

        Reply
    2. Teegan says

      February 05, 2024 at 1:55 am

      Different but I like it! Didn't have heavy cream so I used what I had... Non fat milk & cream cheese. I used spiracha cause I didn't have red pepper flakes. Next time I'll probably add more corn than 1cup. Great recipe & interchangeable with ingredient. Witch is good for me because I make whatever is in the pantry & fridge. This will be in my rotation for meals because duh it has bacon in it! Thanx for sharing

      Reply
      • Katy McAvoy says

        February 05, 2024 at 3:17 pm

        Glad the substitutions worked for you and that you enjoyed the recipe!!

        Reply
    Katy McAvoy, mixologist and photographer

    Hi! I’m Katy (she/her). I’m an author, photographer, home cook, mixologist, Michigander, and lover of all things food and drink. I never turn down a good happy hour and believe that everyone deserves a delicious drink. Follow me on Instagram to check out what I’m working on next!

    More about me →

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