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    Home » Recipes » Dinner

    Quick and Easy Bacon Avocado Pasta

    Modified: May 4, 2025 · Published: Jul 13, 2021 by Katy McAvoy

    This post contains affiliate links (paid links). Advertisements displayed on this website do not reflect endorsements or recommendations made by Mitten Girl LLC.

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    Bacon Avocado Pasta.

    Bacon avocado pasta is a favorite in our house. We love the creamy avocado, the fresh tomatoes, and the crispy bacon. Tossed with Parmesan cheese and hot pasta, it makes its own delicious sauce for a light and easy dinner. 

    I’ve been making this dish for years. It’s a go-to for me on any weeknight when I don’t know what else to make and we need something quick and easy. It is also a great way to eat avocados without constantly making guacamole or slicing them on your toast! 

    This is NOT a cold pasta salad, it’s a yummy, comforting, hot pasta dish. If you’ve only ever eaten your avocado cold, this is the perfect recipe to try out something new!  

    A fork full of bacon avocado pasta

    What You Need

    • Bacon
    • Tomatoes
    • Avocado
    • Basil - fresh or dried
    • Lime juice
    • Garlic
    • Parmesan cheese
    • Pasta + pasta water

    How to Make Bacon Avocado Pasta

    Cook pasta according to package directions. 

    While pasta is cooking, chop bacon into small pieces. 

    Cook bacon in a large, high-sided skillet over medium heat until the bacon is crisp. 

    Bacon cooking in a pan

    Leave the bacon fat in the pan. 

    Add the garlic, dried basil (if using), and lime juice. Cook for 2-3 minutes. 

    Cooked bacon, garlic and lime juice in a skillet

    Reduce heat to low. Add diced tomatoes and fresh basil (if using). Stir and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes. 

    Diced tomatoes mixed with bacon, garlic, and lime juice in a pan

    Using a large slotted spoon or cooking spider, scoop the cooked pasta directly from its pot into the skillet with the bacon and tomato mixture. 

    Pasta being scooped into a skillet for bacon avocado pasta.

    Add the diced avocado. Stir gently to combine. 

    Avocado added to a skillet of pasta, bacon, tomatoes, garlic and lime juice.

    Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the pasta mixture, and fold to combine. 

    Freshly grated Parmesan cheese on top of a pan full of bacon avocado pasta.

    If the pasta mixture becomes too thick, add ¼ cup pasta water, stirring to combine. 

    Serve immediately. 

    Enjoy! 

    NOTE: Because of the avocado in this dish, it does NOT keep well in the refrigerator. Do your best to eat it all up right after you cook it. 

    Tips on Bacon Avocado Pasta

    Don’t drain the bacon fat!

    It’s really tempting to grab a paper towel and soak up a little bit of the bacon fat after you’ve cooked it, but leave it in the pan! There is no added oil in this recipe and the bacon fat is needed for cooking the garlic, softening the dried basil and imparting some delicious flavor. If you took out the bacon fat, you’d have to add an oil back to the pan, so we’re saving a step by cooking with the super flavorful grease that’s already there.

    Can I use more than 4 pieces of bacon? 

    I use four strips of bacon, because I find it gives the recipe great flavor and texture without making it greasy or overpowering the other flavors. If you love bacon and want to increase the amount, go for it!

    What kind of Parmesan cheese should I use? 

    Skip the green can, and use freshly grated Parmesan cheese in this recipe. It’s the main ingredient in the sauce and brings a lot of flavor to the dish so go for the Parmesan cheese in the deli section of your grocery store. 

    Why do you use the pasta water? 

    What pasta cooks, it releases starch into the water. This gives the pasta water a little flavor (that matches the flavor of the noodles!), making it a great choice if you need to add a bit of liquid to thin the sauce, but don’t want to change the flavor of your dish. 

    Cocktail Pairing

    Pouring a Strawberry Pineapple Vanilla Vodka Martini

    Enjoy your Bacon Avocado Pasta with a fresh and fruity Strawberry Pineapple Martini. 

    Print the Recipe

    Bacon Avocado Pasta

    Quick and Easy Bacon Avocado Pasta

    Katy McAvoy
    Bacon avocado pasta is a favorite in our house. We love the creamy avocado, the fresh tomatoes, and the crispy bacon. Tossed with Parmesan cheese and hot pasta, it makes its own delicious sauce for a light and easy dinner.  
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe SaveSaved! Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 25 minutes mins
    Servings 4 servings

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 strips bacon
    • 2 medium tomatoes seeded and diced
    • 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves OR 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 avocado diced
    • 1 teaspoon lime juice
    • 8 ounces dry pasta
    • 1 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
    • ¼ cup pasta water reserved

    Instructions
     

    • Cook pasta according to package directions. 
      8 ounces dry pasta
    • While pasta is cooking, chop bacon into small pieces. 
      4 strips bacon
    • Cook bacon in a large, high-sided skillet over medium heat until the bacon is crisp. 
    • Leave the bacon fat in the pan. 
    • Add the minced garlic, dried basil (if using), and lime juice. Cook for 2-3 minutes. 
      2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon lime juice, 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
    • Reduce heat to low. Add diced tomatoes. Stir and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes. 
      2 medium tomatoes
    • Using a large slotted spoon or cooking spider, scoop the cooked pasta directly from its pot into the skillet with the bacon and tomato mixture. 
    • Add the diced avocado. Stir gently to combine. 
      1 avocado
    • Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and fresh basil (if using) over the pasta mixture, and fold to combine. 
      1 cup Parmesan cheese
    • If the pasta mixture becomes too thick, add ¼ cup pasta water, stirring to combine. 
      ¼ cup pasta water
    • Serve immediately. 
    • Enjoy! 

    Notes

    Because of the avocado in this dish, it does not keep well in the refrigerator. Do your best to eat it all up right after you cook it. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1.5cupsCalories: 495kcalCarbohydrates: 51gProtein: 21gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 557mgPotassium: 597mgFiber: 6gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 792IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 330mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

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    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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      Recipe Rating




    1. Meadow says

      August 02, 2021 at 6:13 pm

      What's not to like about bacon and avocado? It's a classic! Delicious through and through with all the tastes of summer.

      Reply
      • Katy McAvoy says

        August 02, 2021 at 8:09 pm

        Agreed! We love this recipe!

        Reply
    2. Jen says

      August 08, 2023 at 11:32 am

      I made mine with gluten free pasta and it was delicious!

      Reply
      • Katy McAvoy says

        August 08, 2023 at 2:59 pm

        So glad you liked it! This avocado pasta is one of our family favorites.

        Reply
    3. Anne says

      October 22, 2023 at 11:52 pm

      This was delicious! We happened to have leftover bacon and just added some saved bacon grease to it to simulate cooking fresh to get that great flavor. Will happily make this again.

      Reply
      • Katy McAvoy says

        October 23, 2023 at 8:44 am

        So glad you liked it, Anne!!

        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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