With only a little butter and milk instead of cream, this Bacon Alfredo with Gouda is less guilt inducing than it may seem! (Includes gluten-free version!)
I found the original recipe for this dish at Cassie Craves. It sounded scrumptious, but my conscience required that I lighten it up if I wanted to make it myself. The result is still rich and delicious, and you wouldn’t know it was a healthier version!
When I say this recipe is healthier, the “-er” is really important. It’s still made with cheese and bacon, but not that much bacon. Replacing the heavy cream with milk helps reduce guilt as well. Since my digestive system has turned on me, I needed to use gluten-free flour for the sauce. (You can use regular all-purpose flour like a normal person if you prefer.) This was my first time making a cream sauce with GF flour, and let me tell you something: IT WORKED BETTER! I’m not just saying that to console myself. The flour didn’t seem to make lumps as easily as wheat flour, so the sauce was a lot more foolproof.
I don’t recommend you go out and spend $6 on a tiny bag of gluten-free flour to make this recipe if you don’t need to, but rest assured that if you and wheat don’t get along, you can still make a mean bacon alfredo sauce. Now go get some bacon and get cooking!
Adapted from Farfalle with Bacon, Onions, and Gouda at Cassie Craves.
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Lighter Bacon Alfredo with Gouda and Parmesan
With only a little butter and milk instead of cream, this Bacon Alfredo with Gouda is less guilt inducing than it may seem! (Includes gluten-free version!)
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
- 14–16 ounces package of pasta (I use gluten-free pasta.)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 3 slices center-cut bacon
- 1/2 sweet onion diced
- 1 tablespoon flour all-purpose gluten-free flour works great!
- 2 cups milk plus up to 1/4 cup more
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan
- 3/4 cup grated smoked gouda
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions, and drain.
- While pasta cooks, melt butter in 12″ skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and bacon, and sauté until onion and bacon start to brown.
- Sprinkle flour over bacon and onion, and stir together. Reduce heat to medium. Slowly add milk about ¼ c. at at time, stirring constantly until mixture is smooth before adding more milk. Continue until all milk is added. Simmer until thickened and bubbly, 4-5 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low. Add parmesan and gouda, and gently stir until cheeses are melted. Remove pan from heat, and add salt and pepper to taste. Add drained pasta, and stir to coat. If pasta seems too dry, add up to ¼ c. milk or reserved pasta cooking water to loosen up sauce. Enjoy!
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Main
- Cuisine: Italian
Click to learn how to make a smooth cream sauce here with my video tutorial!
More creamy pasta recipes you’ll love:
Carol says
I can’t print the recipes I want. Is there a reason ?
Andi says
Hi, Carol. I have had the print function break on recipes occasionally, but it looks OK for me on this alfredo pasta. Is it not working for you when you click “Print” or is there another recipe you were having trouble with? Let me know, and I’ll be happy to look into it and get back to you. Thanks!
Courtney S says
this looks sooooooo good – and I think I would like to try it gluten-free. Are you able to find these products in regular grocery stores? Or do I need to go somewhere different?
Andi says
Hi, Courtney! Thank you! It might depend on where you live, but I can find at least one kind of gluten-free flour even at small grocery stores around here. The bigger stores have a few choices, and Whole Foods has a ton of options if you have one of those nearby. (You can get rice flour in the bulk section of Whole Foods. It’s not very expensive, and you can buy just as much as you need.) Bob’s Red Mill is one brand to look for at regular stores, and their packages are usually near the flour and baking mixes. They have a GF all-purpose flour that would be good for a recipe like this. I hope this helps!
Erin {Delightful E Made} says
Andi, this pasta looks amazing!! And on the lighter side, also?!? Fantastic! Have pinned and will be sharing on FB (with proper link back to your site, of course) later today. ~Erin @ DelightfulEMade.com
Andi says
Thank you so much for sharing my recipe, Erin. I’m glad you like it!
Carrie Pacini says
This Bacon Gouda Pasta looks Amazing!
Andi says
Thanks so much, Carrie!
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
This looks so cheesy and delicious! Totally going to make this for dinner soon!
Andi says
Thanks, Pamela! It’s nice to hear from you :) I want to make one of your recipes soon too and put it in my menu. I’ll try to do that in the next week or two!
Angie S says
Um, this pretty much looks like heaven on a plate! Pinned and will be making very soon!
Andi says
Thanks, Angie! You should have seen the old iPhone photo that was here until last night. It looked like something on a plate, but it sure wasn’t heaven ;) I hope you love the recipe, and thank you for the pin!