I Dream of Spinach

A delicious pasta dish with bacon, spinach, asparagus and a hint of lemony goodness. The sauce is Alfredo but it's almost unrecognizable. This is one of my 5-year-old's favorite suppers.

• Preparation Time: 25 mins
• Cooking Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 55 mins
• Calories: 548 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons lemon zest
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach - thawed, drained and squeezed dry
• 2 cups Alfredo sauce
• ½ pound bacon, chopped
• 1 (16 ounce) package uncooked rotini pasta
• ¼ cup reserved bacon drippings
• 2 cups fresh asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped (Optional)

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese to serve.

Step 2

Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, stirring often, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Reserve 1/4 cup of bacon drippings in the skillet.

Step 3

Place asparagus, spinach, and garlic into the skillet with the bacon drippings; cook and stir over medium heat until the asparagus is tender, 8 to 10 minutes.

Step 4

Sprinkle in lemon zest and toss to combine; thoroughly mix in bacon and Alfredo sauce. Reduce heat to medium-low and bring sauce to a simmer.

Step 5

Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Stir in rotini and return to a boil. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through but is still slightly firm, about 8 minutes. Drain well.

Step 6

Transfer the rotini to a serving bowl and top with Alfredo sauce mixture.