Lemon Basil Cacio e Pepe with Bacon.

Lemon Basil Cacio e Pepe with Bacon – a simple, creamy lemon pasta tossed with crispy bacon, rich brown butter, peppery arugula, and fresh basil. A few unexpected ingredients—freshly cracked black pepper, a spoonful of mayo, and high-quality cheese—come together to create the silkiest sauce. Give it a good toss, and you’ve got a bright, flavorful pasta that’s anything but ordinary.

I know I say this often, but I’m so excited to share this pasta. I worked hard to get the lemony sauce just right. It’s always the simplest recipes that prove to be the most challenging to perfect—but that’s also what makes them so rewarding.

This recipe is inspired by three of my favorites: carbonara (bacon, eggs, parmesan), cacio e pepe (butter, black pepper, parmesan), and pasta al limone (lemon zest, lemon juice, parmesan). In the end, it’s a beautiful blend of all three.

The secret? A touch of mayo. I know it’s unconventional—and definitely not traditional—but it helps the sauce come together effortlessly and stay silky smooth. It adds creaminess and keeps things from getting clumpy. A little unexpected, but totally worth it.

Simple, flavorful, and easy to make—this pasta is sure to become a favorite!

Here are the details

Ingredients

• thick-cut bacon
• long or short pasta – though I prefer a longer cut
• salted butter
• lemon zest
• garlic
• fresh cracked black pepper
• lemon juice
• mayo – use real mayo, I love the avocado oil mayo from Primal Kitchens
• parmesan cheese
• pecorino cheese
• baby arugula
• fresh basil

Tools

For this pasta, you will need a large skillet, a large pot (for cooking the pasta), and the everyday cooking basics.

Steps

Step 1: cook the bacon and get it crispy

Start with the bacon. Cook it in a big skillet until it is crispy. Then set the bacon aside and discard the grease in the skillet.

Step 2: boil off the pasta

While the bacon is cooking, I like to boil the pasta. I use Pappardelle Pasta, but you can really use any cut of pasta you like.

Cook the pasta, then remove a couple cups of the pasta cooking water. Reserve the water for creating the sauce. There is no milk or cream in this recipe.

Step 3: make the sauce

Add some butter to the skillet you cooked the bacon in. Then add the garlic, lemon zest, and pepper. Get the pepper toasted.

Add the remaining butter and lemon juice and mix in the mayo. Whisk this all together until you have a smooth sauce. Add the pasta and 1 cup of the reserved pasta cooking water. Stir again until smooth and the sauce coats the pasta.

Step 4: finish the dish

Add the pasta, both cheeses, and the arugula, plus plenty of fresh basil. Toss it all together until the pasta is well sauced and the arugula is wilted.

Now plate the pasta and top with bacon, plus additional cheese, and fresh basil.

It’s delightful!

Serve this with a simple arugula salad. The perfect pasta dinner, and we love how quickly this comes together too!

Looking for other simple pasta dinners? Here are a few of my go-to’s. 

One Pot Lemon Butter Ricotta and Zucchini Pasta

Pesto Cheese Zucchini Ravioli with Burst Tomatoes

Spicy Zucchini Ricotta Lasagna with Oregano Breadcrumbs

Cherry Tomato Pasta Alla Vodka

Roasted Tomato Basil and Feta Orzo

Lastly, if you make this Lemon Basil Cacio Pepe with Bacon, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!