Easy Creamy Bacon & Herb Penne
with Cherry Tomato Salad & Parmesan
- Gluten
- Wheat
- Milk
- Eggs
- Soy
- Milk
- May contain traces of allergens
The best part about tonight's pasta dish, apart from the bacon? You'll throw it together in four simple steps that will see dinner on the table before you know it. The kids can lend a hand too — keep an eye out for our 'Little cooks' tips! Farmers across Australia are still experiencing the impacts of the recent heavy rains. This is affecting our supply of fresh veggies and as such, you may notice some changes to your ingredients. Don’t worry, your recipe will be just as delicious!
Ingredients
1 packet
penne
(Contains: Gluten, Wheat May be present: Eggs, Soy, Milk)
1 packet
diced bacon
(May be present: Soy, Milk)
1 packet
garlic paste
1 packet
light cooking cream
(Contains: Milk)
1 sachet
vegetable stock powder
1
zucchini
1
carrot
1 bag
mixed salad leaves
1 sachet
Italian herbs
1 packet
grated Parmesan cheese
(Contains: Milk)
½ punnet(s)
snacking tomatoes
Not included in your delivery
olive oil
1 drizzle
balsamic vinegar
Utensils
Cooking Steps
• Boil the kettle. Pour the boiled water into a medium saucepan over high heat. Add a pinch of salt, then bring to the boil. • Cook penne in the boiling water until 'al dente', 12 minutes. • Reserve some pasta water (1/4 cup for 2 people / 1/2 cup for 4 people), then drain pasta and return to pan.
TIP: 'Al dente' pasta is cooked through but still slightly firm in the centre.
Little cooks: Older kids, help add the pasta to the saucepan under adult supervision. Be careful, the water is boiling!
• Thinly slice zucchini into half-moons. • In a large frying pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium-high heat. • Cook diced bacon and zucchini, breaking up bacon with a spoon, until browned, 3-4 minutes. • Add garlic paste and Italian herbs and cook until fragrant, 1 minute.
• Add light cooking cream, reserved pasta water and the vegetable stock powder to the pan and cook, stirring, until heated through, 30 seconds. • Add cooked penne and grated Parmesan cheese. Cook, tossing, 1-2 minutes. • Remove from heat. Season with pepper.
• Halve snacking tomatoes (see ingredients). Grate carrot. In a large bowl, combine a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Season, then add mixed salad leaves, carrot and snacking tomatoes. Toss to combine. • Divide creamy bacon and herb penne between bowls. Serve with tomato salad. Enjoy!
Little cooks: Lend a hand by combining the ingredients for the dressing, and tossing the salad!
Customer reviews
Review summary
Updated on July 2026- Flavour: Most families found the creamy bacon sauce full of flavour, though a notable number felt the dish leaned salty or bland depending on how the seasoning was balanced.
- Ease of prep: This is a genuinely quick and easy weeknight meal that older kids and teenagers can confidently prepare with minimal supervision.
- Suggestions: Many reviewers found the Italian herbs and vegetable stock powder overpowering — using half the quantity of each and adding to taste is a popular tip. Some also reduced the garlic paste, while others added mushrooms, chicken, or roasted cherry tomatoes to the pasta for extra depth.
- Leftovers: Several reviewers noted the dish reheats well and makes a great next-day lunch, though a few found the sauce dried out a little when reheated.
- Portions: Quite a few reviewers felt the pasta quantity was too small for two people and added extra from home, while others found the overall serving size generous — particularly for families with younger children.
