An easy and fast spaghetti with vegan bacon and peas recipe. Perfect for a busy weeknight or a romantic weekend dinner for two.
Pasta! It’s been a while since I shared a good pasta recipe. Well, I guess if you count this lasagna recipe it hasn’t been that long. Who’s keeping track? Certainly not me.
Wouldn’t you love to eat pasta every day? No wonder people are so happy and passionate in Italy. CARBS! As much as you shun them, your body needs them for energy. And today, I’m going to have lots of that. Good thing, because I have a seven mile run coming up in a few hours and I’ll need it.
Another great thing about pasta is that it’s romantic. Think about it, when you and your honey (viva Viagra commercials) want to go to a cozy restaurant that puts you in the mood for love, you go to an Italian place. Am I right? That’s amore! That’s pasta!
Talk about flavor, this plate of yumminess has it going on. You get the smoky bacon and the savory onion, garlic, and spices, and the sweet peas. And then there are the textures. Chewy spaghetti, crispy bacon, crunchy breadcrumbs, and firm peas. This is truly one of my favorite pasta recipes ever. You have to try it.
This recipe takes fifteen minutes to make if you don’t include the time it takes to boil the water. That leaves you a ton of time to do other things besides cooking. Like laundry, cleaning, helping the kids with homework, or ♥. 😉
To make this you’ll need a red onion, garlic, peas, seitan bacon (I used Upton's), panko breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, and of course, spaghetti.
While the pasta water is heating up you can finely chop the onion and seitan bacon and mince the garlic. If you use frozen peas—I did—defrost them.
When the pasta water comes to a full boil salt it and put the spaghetti in the water. Two minutes before the pasta is ready add the peas to the water.
Heat up a large skillet and pour two teaspoons of olive oil in the pan. When the oil is hot add the onions and cook until they begin to caramelize. It should take about 6-8 minutes, and don’t forget to stir them occasionally. Now add the seitan bacon pieces and the panko bread crumbs and mix them in with the onions. Cook for two minutes and add the garlic and the Italian seasoning and stir well. You can also add sea salt and ground black pepper if you like. That’s totally optional, although, I prefer my food well-seasoned, so I added them. Cook the garlic for two minutes and remove from the pan from the heat.
By now the pasta and peas should be done. Drain the water and return the pasta and peas to the pot. Drizzle a little bit of olive oil and grind a bit of sea salt on top the pasta and toss to coat. Add the onion and seitan bacon mixture to the pasta and peas and toss. Plate your pasta and sprinkle with some vegan parmesan cheese to finish.
Tell me:
Is Italian your go to for romance food?
What are you planning on eating for Valentine’s Day?
Are you doing anything fun for the long weekend?
I'm not doing much this President's Day weekend, but I am going to take Monday off, so look for a post on Tuesday. I'm reviewing the most fabulous cookbook, Dining at the Ravens. Your'e going to want to hear all about this book because of the incredible recipes (I'm sharing one with you) and where the restaurant is located. Good stuff!
Alex and I love hearing from you. Please leave a comment and let us know what you think of our recipes. And let’s connect! Hop on over to Facebook page and give it a like, or follow us on Instagram or Twitter, and follow us and share this and other Veganosity recipes on Pinterest. We'd be so grateful if you did.
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Easy and Fast Spaghetti with Vegan Bacon and Peas
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons of olive oil plus a little more to drizzle on the cooked pasta
- 1 medium red onion – peeled and finely chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic – peeled and minced
- 2 cups of peas – if frozen defrost them
- ½ package of vegan bacon I used Upton’s – chopped
- ¼ cup of panko bread crumbs
- 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning
- Sea salt and pepper to taste
- 1 package of spaghetti – follow cooking instructions
Instructions
- For the spaghetti and the peas:
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. Follow the instructions on the package for the spaghetti. Two minutes before the pasta is done add the peas to the water to cook. When done, drain and return the pasta and peas to the pot. Drizzle a small amount of olive oil and grind a bit of sea salt on top.
- For the Onion and Vegan Bacon Mixture:
- Heat a large skillet on medium-high and pour two teaspoons of olive oil in the pan. When the oil is hot add the onions and cook until they begin to caramelize. It should take about 6-8 minutes, and don’t forget to stir them occasionally. Now add the seitan bacon pieces and the panko bread crumbs and mix them in with the onions. Cook for two minutes and add the garlic and the Italian seasoning and stir well. You can also add sea salt and ground black pepper if you like. That’s totally optional, although I prefer my food well-seasoned so I added them. Cook the garlic for two minutes and remove from the heat.
- Add the onion and seitan bacon mixture to the pasta and peas and toss. Plate your pasta and sprinkle with some vegan parmesan cheese to finish.
- NOTE: This recipe will serve four to six if you use the entire package of pasta. Use half of the package to serve two.
- Enjoy!
Molly ~ EasycookingwithMollym says
This looks so delicious and I came running to read about the Vegan Bacon - I've seriously never heard of it but now I'll definitely look for it in our grocery store. Love the combination you have going on here with peas.
Linda Meyer says
Hi Molly! Thank you for visiting. Upton's seitan bacon doesn't look like the real thing, but when it's chopped up and combined with other ingredients it works well. 🙂
haukehawk says
This pasta looks soo good!! I wish vegan bacon tasted like the "real deal". Does it? I'd love to try it 🙂
Linda Meyer says
Thanks, Howie! No, it isn't a dead ringer (no pun intended) for real bacon. However, when it's chopped up and incorporated in pasta, the flavor is pretty close.
Gin says
Gorgeous pics! You make this romantic dish look _extra_ romantic. 🙂 "Bacon", peas and pasta, what a yummy combo!
Linda Meyer says
Thank you so much, Gin! So sweet of you to say. 🙂
Ami@NaiveCookCooks says
Pasta & Peas!! I always love this combo Linda and vegan bacon??!! I totally need this!
Linda Meyer says
Thank you, Ami! Once in a while I need to add a little "meat" in my recipes to keep the hubby happy. Even though he only eats fish. Go figure. 😉
Evi says
This sounds amazing, Linda! I have actually never ever tried real or vegan bacon, but you just made me now wanna try it, this dish looks so delicious!
Pinned 🙂
Linda Meyer says
Thanks, Evi! You're my hero. You've never had real bacon, that is amazing. I think you're the only person I know who hasn't tried it. I wish I could say the same.
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks says
I've never seen vegan bacon before. This pasta looks delicious and I love the peas in there. Italian and Ethiopian seem to always be our go-to for dining out and special occasions!
Linda Meyer says
It's not going to fool real bacon eaters, but it works when it's chopped up and incorporated into a dish. The flavor is really good. Thanks, Rachelle! 🙂
Vanessa @ VeganFamilyRecipes.com says
You totally had me at Vegan Bacon 😉 Looks delicious! We've been eating a lot of peas lately. My boys are obsessed so this recipe is perfect for us 🙂
Linda Meyer says
Thank you Vanessa, I'm so happy you like it. Let me know what you're guys think.
melmcdonald2 says
Anything with pasta and peas together and I'm in. They are such a great combo!
Linda Meyer says
They were meant to be together. That's what makes them the perfect V-Day meal. 🙂
WholeFoodBellies says
Yum, I love simple dishes like this packed full of flavour for weeknights! Looks so good, and has given me the biggest craving for pasta 🙂
Linda Meyer says
Thank you! I'm so happy you like the recipe. 🙂
Brittany at I Love Vegan says
My husband loves peas and pasta so I think he would be VERY happy to at this dish. Lovely! Your "scallops" look amazing too!
Linda Meyer says
Thank you, Brittany! 🙂
Linda Meyer says
Haha! I'm not a big fan of processes food, but I'll make an exception for Upton's. Thanks, Lucie, let me know what you think. 🙂
Lucie says
That's funny, I would never have thought of associating Italian food with romance. I was thinking more in the French direction...but I guess typically my train of thought ends at CHOCOLATE 😀 I love the peas and the bacon in this spaghetti though, it sounds like a delicious combination. And super fast too!
Linda Meyer says
French food is definitely romantic, but I developed an aversion to it when I was pregnant with Alex. We took a trip to Paris and the Loire Valley when I was in my first trimester. I was a vegetarian and I had omelettes for dinner every night for the first week. I couldn't take them any more so I broke and started eating fish. The only fish available was salmon. So I had salmon for dinner every night for a week. When we got to Italy I was never happier to see pasta with fresh tomatoes. Funny enough, growing up, Alex despised eggs and salmon, she wouldn't touch them, even the smell made her gag.
Chocolate is the most romantic! 🙂
Lucie says
Ugh, that sounds awful. Italian it is then 🙂 and chocolate of course
Linda Meyer says
Haha! French food is beautiful and romantic, just not when you're a pregnant vegetarian. 🙂
harrietemilys says
This looks amazing Linda! Spaghetti is one of my favourite dishes to make - I just love pasta! The vegan bacon sounds so tasty too, I've always wanted to try a vegan version. I'll definitely have to try Uptons!
Linda Meyer says
Thank you, Harriet! I love pasta too. If you try it come back and let me know what you think.
Natalie Freed says
For whatever reason, my kids don't like spaghetti sauce on their noodles! But they do like veg bacon and peas...I know...weird...I will have to try this one out on them!
Linda Meyer says
My son didn't even like pasta when he was a kid. That's weird! 🙂 I bet your kids would love this.
Christine (Run Plant Based) says
Looks wonderful, such a colorful and bright pasta dish! True on pasta being romantic, but so is spicy Thai for us. 🙂
Linda Meyer says
Yes, Thai is romantic too. One of my favorites.
The Vegan 8 says
I've never tried vegan bacon at all, but this looks so delicious! I absolutely love simple quick meals and live that way. Pasta we eat a couple of times a week with my alfredo and peas are always included, so naturally I want to devour that whole plate, haha!
Linda Meyer says
Thanks, Brandi! I don't like processed foods, but I make an exception for Upton's. Mmmmm..... Love alfredo and peas. 🙂
Natalie says
And to think I converted before I knew all this amazingness was possible! This is a flavor feast for sure, mmmmm <3 I've never actually tried vegan bacon of any kind and right now I feel like I'm missing out a little. And peas! Yes love them too. You have the quick easy but looks fancy dinner thing down!
Linda Meyer says
There are a lot of bad fake meats on the market, but Upton's does a great job. I like to incorporate it into a recipe rather than eating it like one would eat bacon, it makes it more believable. Thanks, Natalie!
Jenn S. says
Sounds amazing! I used to love carbonara, but I'm loving this version even better! And, yes, Italian always seems to be "romantic" food, doesn't it?! I'm not complaining!
Linda Meyer says
This is better because it's not filled with high cholesterol and fatty meat, cheese, cream, and eggs. How did we eat that stuff?! Yes, Italian is always my choice when it comes to romance. Thanks, Jenn!
Letty Flatt says
You got me going on this one--as in--how do they do the bacon? Love this simple recipe!
Linda Meyer says
Haha! I'm fooling a lot of people with my recipes lately. Thanks, Letty. 🙂
Strength and Sunshine says
Pasta with peas is like such a good thing 😛 YUM!! I'm thinking I need to make a pasta dish tonight!
Linda Meyer says
The best! The Upton's bacon is just the icing on the cake. 🙂