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    TaraTeaspoon » Recipes » Easy Dinners

    Pasta With Bacon, Tomato and Yellow Squash

    Published: Jun 24, 2019 · Updated: Mar 17, 2023 by Tara Teaspoon · This page contains affiliate and sponsored links. See my full disclosure

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    gemelli pasta with bacon yellow squash and tomatoes pin
    gemelli pasta with bacon yellow squash and tomatoes pin

    The summer months are perfect for pasta salad, and one with yellow squash and tomatoes is garden-fresh. Plus who doesn't love bacon? This combo is fast, easy, and ultra-tasty.


    pasta with tomatoes bacon and yellow squash on blue plate
    Jump to:
    • Summer Pasta Dinner
    • What is Gemelli Pasta?
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Summer Pasta Dinner

    It's summertime, and you want to put some color (and veggies!) in your meals. The bright yellow squash and rich red tomatoes create a dish that matches the sunny days!

    This delicious meal is an easy one you can throw together. I love the fresh ingredients readily available in summer, and pasta is a perfect simple base to hold it all together.

    Try my other pasta salad recipes that make great dinners:

    • Pistachio Pesto Pasta with Zucchini
    • Easy Squash and Pancetta Pasta
    • Herbed Vegetable Pasta with Artichokes

    What is Gemelli Pasta?

    Gemelli (pronounced jeh-MEL-lee) is the word for ‘twins’ in Italian. This type of pasta looks like two twin strands of pasta twisted together.

    Take a closer look and you'll see it is actually one S-shaped strand in a corkscrew spiral. This particular shape of pasta makes it perfect for soaking up flavorful oils, sauces and flavors.

    Gemelli Pasta Substitutes

    Not all pasta is created equal! Many pasta shapes can be swapped for each other, but not all. For instance you wouldn't use Orzo (a rice-shape) in place of Penne (a tube).

    If you don't have gemelli pasta on hand, or if it proves difficult to find in a store, there are plenty of different types of pasta you can use! There are lots of pasta substitutions that can be made.

    Here are some fun shapes that I would recommend swapping for gemelli:

    • Campanelle
    • Conchiglie
    • Orechiette
    • Penne
    • or make your own pasta!
    Pasta with yellow squash and tomatoes in white bowl

    Pasta with yellow squash, and more!

    I like to start a lot of pasta dishes with a little cooked bacon, pancetta or sausage. Just a little goes a long way, so you still have a heavily veggie-based dish, but loads of flavor. 

    This pasta with yellow squash gets some tang from tomatoes and richness from a little bacon.

    Try more summer pasta recipes:

    • Italian Eggplant and Tomato Pasta with Ricotta
    • Warm Salmon and Arugula Pasta
    • Green Pesto Pasta with Lemon Ricotta

    What a great way to use veggies from the market or your garden. Nothing is better than fresh veggies!

    📖 Recipe

    Pasta with tomatoes, bacon and yellow squash in white bowl

    Gemelli With Bacon, Tomato And Yellow Squash

    Tara Teaspoon
    Gemelli combined with fresh vegetables and bacon makes a perfect and easy summer pasta with yellow squash.
    4.84 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Work Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Servings 4 servings

    Ingredients
      

    • 6 slices bacon
    • 2 yellow squash (yellow zucchini) (diced)
    • 1 pint grape tomatoes
    • 1 lb gemelli pasta
    • kosher salt
    • ground black pepper
    • Parmesan

    Instructions
     

    • Cook pasta in very salty water, drain and set aside. Cook bacon over medium heat in a nonstick skillet; set aside.
    • In same skillet, cook 2 diced yellow squash until just tender, about 5 min. Add 1 pint grape tomatoes and heat through, letting tomatoes get a little charred.
    • Toss everything with cooked gemelli pasta, season to taste with extra salt, pepper and Parmesan.

    Notes

    Use any shape pasta you'd like.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 595kcalCarbohydrates: 93gProtein: 21gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 233mgPotassium: 855mgFiber: 6gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 1181IUVitamin C: 33mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 2mg
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    Tara Teaspoon

    I’ve been in food publishing for over 25 years, creating recipes & food-styling for magazines, books, television, food brands, & advertising. With two cookbooks under my belt and thousands of my recipes at your fingertips, I hope you'll be inspired to spend more time in the kitchen!

    More about Tara

    Written by Tessa Samuelsen & Tara Teaspoon. Recipe Tara Teaspoon, Photographs Hallie Burton. LHJ 05/10

    Comments

      4.84 from 6 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    1. Tessa says

      June 26, 2019 at 11:25 am

      I love using fresh vegetables in my pasta! I can't wait to go out and buy some Gemelli pasta to try this this weekend after my trek to the farmer's market!

      Reply
    2. Anne Marie Miller says

      July 03, 2019 at 12:04 pm

      This looks fantastic and so perfect for summer! I can't wait to make this for my friends.

      Reply
    3. Jan F says

      July 12, 2019 at 6:03 pm

      I'm pretty good in the kitchen but would go for this combination. Have to try it tho!

      Reply
    4. Ishah C Whipple says

      July 12, 2019 at 7:19 pm

      Great recipe! My family fights against veggies, but anything with bacon may make them reconsider! I personally love squash and will definitely be giving this a try.

      Reply
      • Tara says

        July 14, 2019 at 8:41 am

        Ha! Yes bacon makes everything better! I hope they enjoy it!

        Reply
    5. Lina says

      July 12, 2019 at 10:16 pm

      This recipe sounds delicious! I’ll save for later since pasta is my favourite food

      Reply
    6. Emily Terrell says

      July 12, 2019 at 10:21 pm

      This recipe looks amazing! I love simplicity in the summer. And lighter meals. Looking forward to trying it!

      Reply
      • Tara says

        July 14, 2019 at 8:40 am

        Oh good! Thanks

        Reply
    7. Ceci Rey says

      July 13, 2019 at 8:48 am

      This is a great recipe for the summer. Love your explanations. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Tara says

        July 14, 2019 at 8:37 am

        Oh good! For sure!

        Reply
    8. joy says

      July 13, 2019 at 11:08 am

      looks good !! can't believe i never knew what gemelli pasta was. but i love the idea of adding bacon!

      Joy at The Joyous Living

      Reply
    9. Pooja says

      July 13, 2019 at 2:46 pm

      I've never made Gemelli before, and never thought of adding squash to my pasta either, so this was useful.

      Reply
      • Tara says

        July 14, 2019 at 8:37 am

        Oh good! Enjoy!

        Reply
    10. Mia says

      January 05, 2021 at 10:18 pm

      What a fantastic summer meal! I love gemelli pasta.

      Reply

    Hi, I'm Tara Teaspoon!

    I’ve been sharing my original ideas for years. What began as a passion, turned into a publishing career as Food Editor at Martha Stewart Living and Ladies’ Home Journal magazines.

    Now I write cookbooks, and share delicious recipes and expert cooking tips with you here! Thanks for stopping by Tara Teaspoon!

    More about me →

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