Set a large pot of water to boil, you'll use for steaming the kale and cooking the pasta, salt accordingly
Cook the bacon in a large pan. Start from cold and cook medium-low until fat is fully rendered and crisp- 8-10 minutes
Remove bacon from pan to paper towel, drain most of the grease, leaving enough to cook the onions
cook the onions in the bacon grease, adding the garlic shortly after
While cooking the bacon and onions, boil the pasta and steam the kale. They should finish together
Reserve 1/3 - 1/2 cup pasta water and strain the pasta
Add the pasta water to the pan and scrape up any fond, add the ricotta and parm and stir to emulsion on simmer
Add in the kale and the penne and toss to combine
Serve with fresh grate parm