Start by cooking the penne pasta in a pot of salted water according to the package instructions. Make sure the water is boiling well before adding the pasta.

While the pasta is cooking, cut the broccoli into smaller florets. Be sure to slice the stalk into pieces so it cooks evenly.

Once there are 5 minutes left in the penne’s cooking time, add the prepared broccoli to the pot. Let it cook together with the pasta.

Heat a splash of olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Fry the bacon cubes until crispy.

When the penne and broccoli are cooked, drain them in a colander and let them drain well.

Return the warm pasta and broccoli to the pot. Cut the mozzarella into cubes and add it to the mixture. Stir everything well so the mozzarella starts to melt.

Add the green pesto to the pasta and broccoli mixture, and toss everything carefully so the flavors are evenly distributed.

Sprinkle some pepper and, if desired, salt over the pasta to taste. Taste and adjust the seasoning to your preference.

Divide the delicious pasta among the plates. Enjoy!