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Pasta with Peas is an easy pasta recipe you will turn to again and again when you need something fast, yet flavorful! Featuring salty pancetta, fresh peas, and tender pasta, this recipe comes together in under 30 minutes and the flavor never disappoints!
Looking for family-favorite recipes? Don't miss my recipes for Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta, Stovetop Mac and Cheese, and Easy Skillet Lasagna.
Family-Favorite Pasta with Peas Recipe
If you have been following A Mind "Full" Mom's recipes for any length of time, you know that we love easy, flavorful pasta recipes around here. Pasta is affordable, versatile, hearty, and always a crowd-pleaser. And when you can deliver a flavorful family-favorite pasta dish, like this recipe for pasta with peas, in under 30 minutes, you know you have found a winner!
From the crispy pancetta to the fresh peas to the rich parmesan to the aromatic garlic, to the bright lemon, to the crispy white wine, every single ingredient works together to create a simple pasta dish that is nuanced and layered with amazing flavor.
Notes on Ingredients
- Pasta: While any type of pasta will work, I recommend orecchiette or medium shells for this recipe, as they work to grab hold of the pasta and peas, and ensure each bite is full of flavor.
- Peas: Use fresh shelled peas or frozen peas, not canned peas.
- Pancetta: You can find diced or cubed pancetta in the deli section of most grocery stores. Feel free to replace the pancetta with thick cut bacon if desired.
- White Wine: Use a dry white wine, such as a Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, or Sauvignon Blanc. The wine adds a crisp, fresh, acidic flavor that counteracts the savory, salty bacon.
- Shallots: Shallots will add a mild onion flavor to the pasta and make the dish feel and taste fancy. Feel free to omit them if you don't have them on hand.
- Lemon: Add both the lemon zest and lemon juice to the pasta, to enhance and brighten the flavors.
- Red Pepper Flakes: Will add a fruity, slightly spicy kick to the pasta dish. Feel free to omit, decrease, or increase based on your preference.
- Butter + Olive Oil: Extra virgin olive oil is best for sautéing the pancetta and shallots, while finishing the pasta with butter will add a creamy, rich finish to the sauce.
- Parmesan Cheese: Use freshly grated parmesan cheese for the best results.
How to Make Pasta with Peas
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the ingredient quantities and detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
1. Cook Pasta in Heavily Salted Water. Cook the pasta for 2 minutes less than the package directs in heavily salted water boiling water. Don't skip adding salt to the boiling water, as it is needed to flavor the noodles themselves.
2. Drain Pasta Over Peas. Place the peas in a colander and drain the pasta over the peas, reserving 1 cup of the cooking water. The cooking liquid will help make the sauce for the pasta and peas and the hot water will cook the peas.
3. Sauté Pancetta with Shallots. While the pasta is cooking, sauté the cubed pancetta and shallots in a bit of olive oil until the shallots are softened and the pancetta is crispy and rendered out its fat.
4. Deglaze with Wine. Once the pancetta is crispy, carefully add in the white wine and scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan while the wine reduces. Those browned bits add flavor to the simple pasta dish.
5. Add Pasta and Peas. Add the pasta, peas, butter, and a bit of pasta water to the skillet. Toss to coat and simmer until the peas and pasta are fully cooked, adding additional cooking liquid as needed.
6. Finish with Flavor. To add a bright and rich finish to the pasta and peas, stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, and parmesan.
Recipe Modifications
- Add Leftover Ham: If you have leftover baked ham or Instant Pot ham, dice it up and fold it into the cooked pasta when adding parmesan cheese. It will add a nice smoky, salty flavor to the pasta without the need to add pancetta or bacon and is a creative leftover ham recipe.
- Omit the Wine: Feel free to use low-sodium vegetable broth or chicken broth in place of the wine.
- Dairy-Free Option: Omit the parmesan from the pasta. In place of the butter, add in dairy-free butter or an additional drizzle of olive oil. If you use dairy-free butter, keep in mind that most dairy-free butters have added salt, so you may need to cut down the salt in the recipe.
Serving Suggestions
Pasta with Peas is a simple meal perfect for any night of the week. And thanks to the addition of peas, this pasta dinner is truly an all-in-one meal. That said, I do love pairing it with homemade garlic toast and a salad, like strawberry spinach salad or a Copycat Olive Garden Salad.
Storage Instructions
- Refrigerate: Allow the pasta to cool slightly, transfer it to an airtight container, and store it for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
- Reheat: Because pasta absorbs liquid as it sits, you will want to add additional liquid, be it broth or water, to the pasta and peas before reheating it to prevent it from being dried out. Simply add 1-2 tablespoons of broth or water per serving of pasta before reheating in the microwave for 1-2 minute intervals or in a skillet over medium-low heat. Taste add season with additional salt and olive oil before serving as needed.
More Easy Pasta Recipes
- Shrimp Scampi with Angel Hair Pasta
- One-Pot Cajun Pasta with Chicken
- Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo
- Instant Pot Rigatoni with Sausage
- Pasta Puttanesca
- Taco Pasta
- Creamy Cavatappi Pasta
- Pesto Pasta
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Pasta with Peas
Video
Ingredients
- 16 ounces orecchiette pasta
- 1 pound frozen peas
- ½ tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 4 ounces pancetta, cubed
- 2 small shallots, minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ½ cup dry white wine
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- ½-1 cup pasta water
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 medium lemon
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, or more to your liking
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil. Once boiling, season the water heavily with salt and drop 16 ounces orecchiette pasta into the water. Set to cook for 2 minutes less than the package states. Place 1 pound frozen peas into the colander and drain the pasta over the peas, reserving 1 cup of the cooking water.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat ½ tablespoon extra virgin olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add in 4 ounces pancetta (chopped) and 2 small shallots (minced) and sauté until the pancetta has rendered off its fat and the shallots have softened, about 3-4 minutes. Once the shallots have softened and pancetta is crispy, add in 2 cloves garlic (minced) and ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes and sauté for 30 seconds to toast.
- Carefully add ½ cup dry white wine (or vegetable broth) to the skillet and sauté for 1-2 minutes to reduce the wine, while scraping off the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon or spatula.
- Add the cooked pasta, peas, ¼ cup of the pasta water, and 2 tablespoons unsalted butter to the skillet. Toss to coat and simmer for 2-3 minutes until the peas and pasta are fully cooked, adding ¼ cup of the pasta water at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
- Turn off the heat and add the zest and juice from 1 medium lemon and ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese and stir to coat.
- Serve immediately with additional parmesan cheese.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This is just what I was craving, the flavor was spot on and it really made a perfect easy dinner!
Thank you so much for sharing!
Pasta and peas are a childhood fave I had forgotten about. Your recipe brought back all the delicious memories.
Thrilled to hear you enjoyed the pasta and the memories.
Pasta with Peas was a huge hit last night! I made this for my family members and we all enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing another winning recipe with us!
I am thrilled to hear you are enjoying my recipes time and time again! 🙂
What a delicious way to eat peas!! This pasta is creamy & so tasty!! I added chicken to make even more hearty & we loved it!
What a great idea to add chicken! Thanks for sharing!
Just made this, and it's fantastic! Really a comforting and flavorful meal. Definitely adding this to my favorites!
I love hearing this Hazel! Thank you for sharing!