Best Creamy Skillet Noodles With Peas Recipes

LEMON AND PEA ALFREDO

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until just under al dente, 10 to 11 minutes. Meanwhile, once you?ve added the pasta to the boiling water, heat a large straight-sided skillet over medium heat. Add the butter to the hot pan. When the butter is melted, add the garlic and cook, stirring often, until soft and fragrant, about 1 minute. Add 1/2 cup of water from the pasta pot and reduce the heat to low.
• When the pasta is ready, transfer it to the pan with the sauce using tongs; reserve the pot of cooking water. Raise the heat to medium and sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of the parmigiano-reggiano onto the plain pasta. Stir with 2 wooden spoons to combine. Add the mascarpone, lemon zest and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Toss well to coat, adding additional hot pasta water as needed to thin the sauce and to finish cooking the pasta. Add the peas, lemon juice and the remaining 1 cup of parmigiano-reggiano. Toss well to combine, adding pasta water as needed to thin the sauce to your desired consistency; you will probably use close to 1 1/2 cups pasta water total. Sprinkle with the ground pink peppercorns and additional parmigiano-reggiano, if desired.

SKILLET PASTA WITH HAM AND PEAS

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the leeks, thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring, until the leeks are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the ham and cook until warmed through, about 2 minutes. Add the flour and cook, stirring, until moistened, 1 minute. Add the half-and-half and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in 1 cup fontina until melted.
• Meanwhile, preheat the broiler and bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs for al dente, adding the peas in the last 2 minutes of cooking. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, then drain the pasta and peas.
• Add the pasta and peas to the skillet and toss to coat, adding the reserved cooking water as needed to loosen; season with salt and pepper. Top with the remaining 1 cup fontina and the parmesan. Broil until lightly browned, 4 to 5 minutes.

CREAMY PASTA WITH PEAS

Steps:

• For the kids (serves 2): In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente, according to package instructions; add peas 1 minute before end of cooking. Drain; return pasta and peas to pot.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet, combine cream and chicken broth; simmer until thickened slightly, 7 minutes. Stir in Parmesan until melted.
• Add sauce to pasta and peas; toss to combine. Season with salt. Divide half the pasta among serving bowls; reserve remaining in pot for the adults.
• For the adults (serves 2): Toast pine nuts in a skillet over medium heat, shaking frequently, until golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Add to reserved pasta along with arugula; season with pepper. Toss to combine, and serve immediately.

CREAMY PASTA WITH SMOKED BACON AND PEAS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted to a boil. Meanwhile, cut sliced bacon crosswise into thin slivers, or slice pancetta into julienne. Add pasta to boiling water and cook to taste.
• While pasta is cooking, place a large skillet over medium heat, and add 2 tablespoons olive oil and the butter. Add bacon or pancetta and a sprinkling of pepper, and fry until golden and crisp. Immediately add frozen peas and stir for a minute or two. Add crème fraîche or heavy cream and chopped mint.
• Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water, and drain the pasta. Add pasta to the skillet and stir. Add lemon juice, and adjust salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a simmer, then remove from heat. The mixture should be thick; if desired, a splash of the pasta water may be added to the sauce to thin it slightly. Add Parmesan and stir to mix. If desired, serve with a green salad.