Pancetta and peas are the perfect flavor combo! By themselves, they make a bright and flavorful side dish. Combine them with shell pasta and you’ll have a complete meal that’s easy to make and can be on your table in about 30 minutes!
This post is sponsored through a paid partnership with Citterio USA. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
To make this dish even simpler we used the super versatile Citterio Cubetti pancetta. It comes already diced, making it a cinch to create this dish! Seriously this is a fast recipe that we love for busy weeknights. Get the pasta boiling early on, saute the pancetta, then onions and garlic, add in the peas and pasta, cook for a few more minutes and it’s all done.
Don’t let the simplicity fool you, this dish certainly tastes more complex than it is. Just finish it with some good quality extra virgin olive oil and grated cheese as we do in almost all of our pasta recipes, and you’ll be all set. Our favorite part? The sweet peas and pancetta always nestle themselves inside the shells – further proof that they are the perfect pasta shape for this dish.
Ingredients Needed For Shells With Pancetta And Peas
Each numbered pic corresponds to the numbered written instructions below.
For this recipe, you will need pancetta (click here to find Citterio Cubetti pancetta), 1 pound of frozen peas, 1 medium onion, 5 cloves of garlic, olive oil, parsley, and pasta water. Serving with extra virgin olive oil and grated cheese is optional but highly recommended.
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How To Make Shells With Pancetta And Peas
- Begin by dicing one medium onion, and slicing 5 cloves of garlic. Also, mince a 1/4 cup of parsley. Cook pasta to 2 minutes less than package instructions and reserve at least 3 cups of the pasta water.
- In a large deep pan saute the pancetta in 2 tablespoons of olive oil on medium-low heat.
- After the pancetta starts to release its fat and crisp up (about 8 minutes) add in the onion and saute for 5-8 minutes until soft and translucent. Next, add the garlic and cook for 2-3 more minutes.
- Add the frozen peas and a cup of pasta water to the pan. Turn heat to medium and let the peas cook for about 5 minutes.
- Add in the ‘al dente’ pasta shells and give it all a stir.
- Let the pasta cook for a few minutes in the pan to absorb some of the pasta water. As the shells absorb the pasta water, add a ladle or 2 more as needed. Add a 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Stir it together and taste test. If the pasta is too firm, continue to cook for a few more minutes. Adjust salt and pepper if needed, and if satisifed turn off the heat and add the fresh parsley.
Serve with grated cheese and a nice drizzle of extra virgin olive oil on each serving. Note – If the pasta dries out at all before serving guests, just add a couple more ladles of the pasta water. The dish shouldn’t be soupy, but at the same time, you don’t want it too dry.
Top Tips
- Feel free to use double the amount of pancetta for a stronger more robust flavor.
- Use a large, deep pan to hold all of the pasta, peas, and pancetta.
- Make sure to reserve a few cups of the pasta water. If the pasta dries out before serving just add a ladle full of pasta water to bring back the perfect consistency.
- Shells are recommended to catch the pancetta and peas, but any small pasta can be used.
- Serve with grated cheese and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
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Pasta Shells With Pancetta And Peas
Ingredients
- 1 pound medium shell pasta
- 1 pound frozen peas
- 4 ounces Citterio pancetta
- 1 medium onion
- 5 cloves garlic
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 cup parsley
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
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Instructions
- Cook pasta to 'al dente' (this means a firm bite, about 2 minutes less than package instructions) in salted water (2 tablespoons kosher salt per gallon of water). Reserve at least 3 cups of pasta water.
- Dice onion and slice 5 garlic cloves. Mince a 1/4 cup of fresh parsley.
- In a large, deep pan saute the pancetta in 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-low heat.
- After the pancetta has rendered and released its fat (about 8 minutes) add in the onions and saute until translucent and soft (about 5-8 minutes). After the onions are soft add the garlic in and cook for 3 minutes more.
- Add the frozen peas to the pan along with a cup of pasta water. Turn heat to medium and let the peas cook for 5 minutes.
- Add in the 'al dente' pasta, stir and cook for a few more minutes. The pasta will absorb some of the pasta water. If necessary add a ladle or 2 more of pasta water.
- Add 1 teaspoon of kosher salt and a 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper. Stir it together and taste test. Adjust salt and pepper if required, and if the pasta is still too firm continue to cook for a few more minutes and add extra pasta water if needed.
- After the pasta is fully cooked turn off the heat and add the fresh parsley. Serve with grated cheese and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Enjoy!
Notes
- Feel free to use double the amount of pancetta for a stronger more robust flavor.
- Use a large, deep pan to hold all of the pasta, peas, and pancetta.
- Make sure to reserve a few cups of the pasta water. If the pasta dries out before serving just add a ladle full to bring back the perfect consistency.
- Shells are recommended to catch the pancetta and peas, but any small pasta can be used.
- Serve with grated cheese and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This post was sponsored through a paid partnership with Citterio USA.
So yummy
So glad you enjoyed!
It was a big hit with friends. I added shrimp, and they loved it. This is a great recipe that you can modify, as the foundation is there. Thanks!
So glad you enjoyed Brenda!
The is one of my favorite recipes!! It in a regular rotation in our house! I use the Cavatappi pasta for this one. My question is instruction #4 after rendering the pancetta you state to add onion, then garlic. However your video shows you removing the pancetta then sautéing the onions/garlic but at no point does it show you adding back the pancetta. At what point do you do that? I remove it as you do then add it back after I add peas but just before adding the pasta. I love & make many of your pastas & ALL Your deli Salads!! Keep on cooking! You have a great family & your Son is quite the Critic!!!!💙
Best Regards
Cathy
Hi Cathy, we’re so happy you’re enjoying the recipes and that this one is a favorite of yours! The video for this recipe is one of the first videos Jim ever did and you’re right, he didn’t add it back in the video. You can either keep it in the pan the entire time like he does here in the written recipe, or remove and add it back at the end. He actually refilmed a new version of this video but just hasn’t published it yet. We generally say go with the written recipe which is more easily editable than the video. Hope that makes sense!
Many thanks for your quick reply!
Sorry I referred to (James) as Jim!
That’s no problem – he goes by Jim. Our son goes by James.
This is exactly as pancetta with peas and pasta should be! Just listen to Jim. Follow the instructions, and man that is THE go-to pancetta with peas pasta dish! Came out perfectly!
My wife has a gluten allergy and I used a GF cavatappi, just haven’t found a GF shell pasta yet, but I think it would indeed raise it to an even higher level!
We’re so happy you enjoyed, Michael!
Delicious
Can you serve this recipe cold or room temp?
You could, but it is better warm imo.
This was a great and fast weekend day meal,I also love your podcast, thank you
Hi Diane, we’re so happy you liked this recipe (and the podcast too!). Thanks for the comment!
Can I use bacon?
Hi Joy, yes, you can use bacon.
So delicious! (And quick and easy) My grandkids loved it! Another score for one of your recipes . When I don’t know what to cook I go to your site and I can always find something. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Nancy, thanks for the comment. I’m so happy you and your grandkids enjoyed this one!
I am making this tomorrow for like the 5th time. I love it and the way you take the time to let the flavors of the peas, pancetta, onion, and garlic to absorb their flavors. My favorite pasta to use is orecchiette. I buy the imported stuff a few bags at a time just for this recipe. Who knew something this simple could be so satisfying?
Thank you, and so happy you liked this recipe!
So very good, the sweet peas remind me of my childhood ❤️
Hi Esther, thank you for the comment and so happy you enjoyed the recipe!
This looks great. I love peas! I would like to add some grated cheese? Thank you.
Thanks, Bev. Grated cheese is always a good thing!
made this and it was very easy and delicious. Thank-You for the recipe.
Thanks! So glad you enjoyed it!