This Cheesy Italian Pasta is packed with savory meats, tender vegetables, and melty cheese. It’s an easy, satisfying pasta dinner that works well on busy weeknights or as a make-ahead family meal.
*Thank you to Best Food Facts for coordinating a trip to Chicago, IL to learn more about the food we eat. This trip was sponsored by Best Food Facts, and I partnered with them as part of their Taste program.
Do you ever pause to think about where your food comes from and how it reaches the grocery store? I grew up in the country and have some familiarity with farm life—our family had horses and we baled hay each summer—though that was the extent of my hands-on farm experience for many years.
Visiting farms and talking with people who live there gave me a deeper appreciation for the hard work behind the food on our tables. Recently I spent time with farmers and bloggers involved in the Taste program, and the conversations I had opened my eyes to the long hours and constant care required to raise animals and crops.
One of the highlights was meeting Lauren, a city girl turned farm wife who now lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia with her family. We talked about daily life on the farm, and she generously shared what a typical Saturday looks like for her family.
Q: What is the first thing you do after breakfast on the farm?
A: “The first check of the morning is for the chickens. We head to the chicken houses—large, climate-controlled buildings monitored by computers—and make multiple passes through each house to check comfort, health, feed systems, and water. Farmers interact with the birds at least three times a day to ensure everything is running well. Depending on conditions and how many people are helping, this process can take a good chunk of the morning.”
Q: After the chickens, what chores follow?
A: “Next we check on the beef cattle. With seasonal changes, we monitor pastures and the herd’s nutrition closely. Recently many of the cows have weaned calves and are also pregnant again, so ensuring they have enough food is essential. If pasture grass is short, we supplement with hay or a mix of hay, silage, and other feeds. The rest of the morning is spent checking the cattle for comfort and health. Most cattle are content, but some enjoy human attention.”
Q: What else keeps you busy during the day?
A: “Afternoons can include equipment repairs, visiting a local livestock sale, fixing fences, or running errands—there’s always a to-do list around the farm. The chickens receive another check around noon and again later in the day.”
Q: What does dinnertime look like at your house?
A: “Family meals are important to us. Late afternoons you’ll often find me in the kitchen preparing a hearty meal for the family. I love making homemade bread and filling dishes that bring everyone to the table. After dinner, Farmer usually does a final round on the farm while I help the boys with homework or we relax together.”
Hearing about these daily routines gave me a renewed respect for the dedication of the people who raise the food we enjoy. It’s a reminder that farmers and farm families care for animals and land every day of the year.
While talking with Lauren, we also talked about family meals. She shared a simple Italian pasta recipe from her mother that her family loves. I tried it at home, added a few small twists, and our family gave this cheesy pasta two thumbs up.
Recipe
Cheesy Italian Pasta
A hearty, cheesy pasta made with bacon, sausage, tomatoes, and peas. This comforting dish is great for weeknights and can be prepared ahead to save time.
Ingredients
- 1 – 12 ounce box bow tie pasta
- 10 slices bacon
- 1 cup diced onion
- 2 – 14 ounce cans stewed tomatoes
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 Tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 ½ cups tomato juice
- ⅔ cup evaporated milk
- ½ cup chopped fresh basil
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 cup cooked crumbled sausage
- 2 cups frozen peas
- 1 cup Italian blend shredded cheese
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Cook the bacon until crisp. Drain on paper towels and crumble when cool.
- Add 6 tablespoons of reserved bacon grease to a large saucepan. Cook the diced onions in the bacon grease for 2–3 minutes, until softened.
- Pour in the stewed tomatoes, minced garlic, oregano, tomato juice, evaporated milk, chopped basil, and crushed red pepper. Simmer the sauce for about 10 minutes to blend flavors.
- Stir the crumbled bacon, cooked sausage, cooked pasta, and frozen peas into the tomato mixture. Top with shredded Italian cheese, cover until the cheese melts, and serve immediately.
Notes
*Make-ahead option: Place the finished pasta in a 9×13 foil pan, top with cheese, cover with foil, and refrigerate. Remove from the fridge 30 minutes before baking, then bake at 375°F for about 30 minutes or until heated through and the cheese is melted.
Nutrition Information
Yield: 8 | Serving Size: 1
Calories: 389 | Total Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Unsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 52mg | Sodium: 956mg | Carbohydrates: 33g | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 11g | Protein: 19g
*I was provided with an all-expense-paid trip to Chicago, IL through Best Food Facts. They also compensated me for the time creating this recipe and post. All opinions are my own. Thank you for allowing me to share brands and companies I believe in.