Zucchini Noodles with Basil Pesto and Bacon

  5.0 – 2 reviews  • Squash

This simple dish is ideal for tailgating at home! Use Certified Angus Beef® for the greatest results, since it is renowned for its high quality and ample marbling, which offer the meat incredible juiciness, unmatched tenderness, and exceptional flavor. Angus Beef® and Food City collaborated on this recipe.

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Additional Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 30 mins
Servings: 2
Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients

  1. 8 slices turkey bacon
  2. ½ cup basil pesto (such as Classico® Traditional)
  3. 3 large zucchini, ends trimmed
  4. 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  5. 2 cloves garlic, minced
  6. 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
  7. 1 cup fresh arugula
  8. 1 pinch sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven’s broiler. Lay bacon slices on a large baking tray.
  2. Broil in the preheated oven until crispy, 9 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a large plate lined with absorbent kitchen paper and allow to cool and harden.
  3. Crumble the cooled bacon into smaller pieces and combine with pesto sauce.
  4. Use a spiralizer or julienne peeler to cut zucchini into noodles, snipping midway to prevent them from getting too long.
  5. Heat olive oil in a saute pan over medium heat. Add zucchini and garlic and cook until tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Add pesto-bacon mixture and heat for 2 minutes longer. Toss well so the noodles are evenly coated. Taste and season with salt if needed.
  6. Top with freshly grated Parmiggiano-Reggiano cheese so it can melt while the dish is still warm. Season with freshly ground black pepper. Top with arugula, but do not mix it in. Serve immediately.
  7. If you use pork bacon, drain off fat into a small container. Use 1 tablespoon fat to cook the noodles instead of olive oil.
  8. You can buy premade zucchini noodles at your grocery store.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 568 kcal
Carbohydrate 22 g
Cholesterol 57 mg
Dietary Fiber 7 g
Protein 25 g
Saturated Fat 12 g
Sodium 1207 mg
Sugars 9 g
Fat 45 g
Unsaturated Fat 0 g

Reviews

Sierra Washington
Delicious! I used pork bacon because I dislike turkey bacon and the dish was so full of flavor. I recommend cooking the noodles over med-high heat (instead of medium) for only 2 minutes (instead of 3-4) before adding in the other ingredients to prevent them from just steaming and getting mushy. This makes very large portions, so you can probably get 3 servings out of this recipe, considering you are using large zucchini. I also recommend more cheese as 2 tbsp isn’t very much. The arugula is a nice touch. I’ll definitely make this again!
Chelsea Higgins
We made half the recipe and it was plenty for the two of us. We had it as a side to a grilled pork tenderloin. Yum-o! The bacon made the dish.

 

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