Brussels Sprouts and Pancetta Pasta - Brussels Sprouts are finely chopped and cooked with cubed pancetta before being tossed with pasta and cheese. A quick to come together pasta dinner that is sure to get you out of a boring pasta rut!
Now that my youngest daughter is in preschool twice a week, I'm realizing that shopping alone is THE BOMB! Seriously. I forgot. I can drive to a store, get out of my car and go right in. Then proceed to browse and purchase what I want. If you don't have kids you won't understand this small victory. If you do have kids you can celebrate in my freedom. I am no longer in a rush for fear that the kids will see some shiny new sugary cereal they "have to have". I don't have to pretend that I'm not seeing the judgmental eyes on me while I bribe my children to behave, with the promise of candy at the checkout (by the way stop judging, I do what I gotta do).
The other day after dropping Nora off I went to Trader Joe's. I haven't been there in ages. While I love the store, it's just too small, cramped and crowded to ever attempt dragging my kids through. So as you can imagine this was a special treat for me. I grabbed a ton of stuff. None of course of which I needed but it all looked good. One thing I grabbed, besides a ton of random cheeses was a package of cubed pancetta. I had zero plan for it but I knew I would figure something out. I mean it's pancetta, of course I could find a use.
A few busy days later, I'm rushing trying to get some kind of dinner on the table, grab some pasta from the cabinet and DING DING - pancetta!
I see a lot of pancetta and pea pastas but I had some brussels sprouts in the fridge, so that's where this all started.
Easy To Make
To keep it quick and easy I chopped the sprouts super thin, basically "shaved". While the pasta was cooking I quickly cooked the pancetta and brussels sprouts in a saute pan in a little butter. Once the pasta is cooked I combine it with the pancetta and brussels sprouts and toss in some parmesan cheese and black pepper. That's it! From beginning to end, 20 minutes, tops!
Printable Recipe Card
Brussels Sprouts and Pancetta Pasta
Ingredients
- 12 oz Orecchiette pasta
- 4 oz Diced Pancetta
- 1 T Olive Oli
- 1 T Butter
- 12 oz Brussels Sprouts shaved or thinly chopped
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
- ½ C Parmesan Cheese grated
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions (be sure to salt the cooking water liberally). Drain pasta, reserving ½ C cooking water.
- While pasta is cooking, heat olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add pancetta. Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add butter to skillet with pancetta and stir in Brussels Sprouts. Cook another 4-5 minutes, stirring. Season with black pepper.
- Add drained pasta and cheese into skillet, reduce heat to low and stir well. Cook, stirring 1 more minute.
- If pasta seems to dry, add reserved cooking water, ¼ C at a time. Taste for seasoning and add salt/pepper as needed.
- Enjoy!
Patty Haxton Anderson says
I celebrate the shopping alone - with kids it's insane. Without, order and peace.
Dee says
I love Brussels sprouts, but nobody else in the family does, so I'm definitely trying this recipe. And yep, shopping for groceries without the kids is amazing -- the last time I went to Sprouts, my son tried to make a basket by throwing cabbage at the produce scale. Never again! 😉
foodyschmoody says
OMG, while I'm sure that wasn't funny for you, it's hysterical.
KC the Kitchen Chopper says
I absolutely love the idea of using shaved Brussels for a pasta dish. Fantastic!
Kecia says
Oh how I can relate to that! Of course now I have a teenager and when he needs things he goes with me... Oh boy!!!
This pasta looks amazing!!
Platter Talk says
Call me the recipe whisperer if you will but before I had a chance to see the complete title of this post, I KNEW there was going to be pancetta in it. Almost scary! I need this dish. It looks perfectly delicious and we thank you for sharing it!
foodyschmoody says
You have me dying laughing over here Recipe Whisperer!
Angela says
Cant wait to give this a try! Fast, flavorful and its pasta so thats a winner for me!
Carlee says
I love brussel sprouts with bacon, so I know I would love this! Plus it turned out so pretty!
foodyschmoody says
Thanks Carlee. Yes brussels sprouts and bacon are a great match up!
nancy@skinnykitchen.com says
Oh yummy Christine. This sounds wonderful!
Linda (Meal Planning Maven) says
What a creative dish Christine....and I loved that you used orecchiette which adds a nice textural and whimsical touch!
foodyschmoody says
Thanks Linda. I really love the way orecchiette catches all those little bits of pancetta.
Agatha says
I like how you've shredded the brussel sprouts - I think it makes it more palatable for people who don't like them.
Peter @ Feed Your Soul Too says
Really cool flavors in this dish, especially the brussel sprouts.
Kim says
My mom used to make a similar dish with ham, cabbage and egg noodles. I am going to definitely be making this. Can't wait!
linda spiker says
Trader Joe's and Target, both places you can never get out of with only what you need! Beautiful recipe!
lizzy wermuth says
I am not a fan of brussel sprouts but this recipe looks INCREDIBLE. I actually am going to try this tonight,thank you! How creative, I love the addition of pancetta!
The Food Hunter says
What a wonderful combination