Spaghetti Carbonara
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Ready in 15 minutes with just 5 ingredients. This ultra-easy pasta is packed with crispy bacon and rich Parmesan flavor. Perfect for a quick, satisfying meal!
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This is one of those dishes that comes together in 15 minutes or less with just 5 simple ingredients – spaghetti, bacon, garlic, Parmesan and eggs. A lightening fast weeknight meal yet still fancy enough for date night or weekend company. And if you’re skeptical about the raw eggs, have no fear! It actually gets cooked through completely from the residual heat. Just be sure to work quickly so you don’t end up with scrambled eggs (not that scrambled eggs would be the worst thing in the world here).
Why Spaghetti Carbonara Is a Must-Try Recipe
- Weeknight superhero made in less than 30 min
- Super short ingredient list, most of which you probably have on hand
- Restaurant-worthy rich, silky, velvety pasta dinner the whole family can enjoy
What Is Spaghetti Carbonara?
Spaghetti Carbonara is an Italian dish typically made with pasta (most commonly spaghetti), eggs, guanciale (cured pork), hard cheese, salt and pepper.
Spaghetti Carbonara vs Alfredo: Key Differences
Spaghetti Carbonara relies on eggs for its silky texture, giving it a lighter, savory finish. In contrast, Alfredo is richer and creamier, made with butter and heavy cream as its base. Both are delicious, but their flavors and textures are distinct.
Ingredients
Spaghetti
Spaghetti pasta is typically used in carbonara as its long strands can easily soak up the silky, creamy goodness but linguine, fettuccine or bucatini can be used as well.
Eggs
Room temperature eggs are key here! It serves as a thickening agent without scrambling, binding with the fat from the bacon (or pancetta) and creating that favorited smooth, silky sauce.
Parmesan
Use hard cheese such as pecorino romano or Parmesan. Pre-packaged cheese contains anti-caking agents that can hinder their ability to melt smoothly. Freshly and finely grated cheese is best here, adding a handful at a time for a smooth consistency.
Bacon
Bacon is more readily available but pancetta or guanciale can also be used for a more authentic carbonara.
Garlic
Although garlic is not traditionally used in carbonara, it will add a lovely boost of flavor.
Parsley
Add your finishing touches with a sprinkle of fresh parsley (or basil).
Tips for Perfect Spaghetti Carbonara
- Use room temperature eggs. Using room temperature eggs will ensure a smooth, well-emulsified silky consistency (cold eggs can seize when added to hot pasta). To quickly bring eggs to room temperature, place the eggs in a bowl of warm water for about 10 minutes. According to the USDA, eggs should not be left at room temperature for over 2 hours.
- Make it richer. For an even richer, creamier consistency, use egg yolks only.
- Lower the heat. Working quickly over low heat, stir in the egg mixture, allowing the residual heat from the pasta to cook the eggs gently to yield that velvety, silky sauce. Remove the pan from heat if needed.
- Reserve pasta water. Thanks to the starch in the pasta water, this will help the sauce stick to the pasta as well as thicken the sauce for extra creaminess.
- Halve the recipe. If cooking for 2, say for date night or a romantic night in, this recipe halves very well. Utilize the same cooking time with a smaller cast iron skillet.
Tools For making spaghetti Carbonara
Frequently Asked Questions about Spaghetti Carbonara:
Spaghetti is a classic choice for carbonara but linguine, fettuccine or bucatini are all great alternatives.
One of the most common reason for scrambled eggs in carbonara is cooking at a high temperature. Lower the heat and add the egg mixture into the center of the skillet over the pasta, avoiding the edges, tossing immediately and quickly to avoid overcooking and scrambling.
Spaghetti carbonara is best served immediately but leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days, adding a splash of water when reheating (to loosen if needed).
Pecorino Romano is the classic choice, but Parmesan can be used as a milder alternative.
Yes! Traditional carbonara doesn’t use cream. Eggs, cheese, and pasta water create the creamy texture.
Remove the pan from heat before adding the egg mixture, and stir quickly to create a smooth sauce.
Yes, you can use other long pastas like fettuccine or bucatini, or even gluten-free options.
Pancetta is more traditional, offering a richer, saltier flavor, but bacon works well in a pinch.
Spaghetti Carbonara
Ingredients
- 8 ounces spaghetti
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan
- 4 slices bacon, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
Equipment
Instructions
- In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions; reserve 1/2 cup water and drain well.
- In a small bowl, whisk together eggs and Parmesan; set aside.
- Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Add bacon and cook until brown and crispy, about 6-8 minutes; reserve excess fat.
- Stir in garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute. Reduce heat to low.
- Working quickly, stir in pasta and egg mixture, and gently toss to combine; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add reserved pasta water, one tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached.
- Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired.
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I too am allergic to chicken eggs but duck eggs are fine, it’s a different protein.
Trying this recipe tonight.
fabulous, straightforward and show stopping. even more delicious if you take more time to caramelize thinly-sliced onions with the bacon, add sliced peppers mushrooms. I’ve made this twice, and it makes even more delicious leftovers.
Then it’s no longer carbonara but something else with bacon in it.
Not to be a total stickler (some would say no to garlic in carbonara) but your comment made me laugh. Some dishes have a name for a reason. Carbonara means carbonara, not pasta with veggies.
Easiest and tastiest carbonara I’ve ever made!
i made this for my family another day, they all loved it! 10/10 must try
Made this for dinner this evening…mostly by the recipe….dinner for two. (Make sure you only use half of your 16 oz package of spaghetti). It was really good although I should have saved more than 1/2 cup of the pasta water. I had 1 T of garlic butter which I added to the bacon renderings. The coarse ground pepper is an absolute must and I did use a combination of percorino and parmesan cheese. It was perfect! I added fresh parsley to the top. Served it with Texas Garlic Toast. Do have everything ready to go as it comes together quickly. I also warmed my pasta bowls in the oven to retain the heat. We had a glass of Pinot Noir with it and finished it with lemon cookies. We really enjoyed it. Thank you for the recipe!
This was amazing, had leftovers and it was even better the next day. Definitely my new go to.
My 3rd attempt to leave my comment…..It keeps disappearing beforeI’ve finished.
The recipe is very simple for even a beginners in the kitchen. I use fresh BASIL in mine…I grow it & LOVE IT. Leftovers is not a problem, add a little water & warm on low, stir a couple times…plate up…..add a bit more cheese on top…..Delicious RERUN !!
gave = have
Do eggs really gave to be used in this? I can’t stand them and use them only in baking.
No. I make it all the time for kids in the family and use only the pasta water to make it creamy. They love it. It’s not “authentic”without the egg, but it works.
Standard recipe for fettuccini alfredo, nothing special. I won’t use the whole egg though, only the yolk.
Alfredo? Lol this is carbonara sir.
This is not Alfredo whatsoever
Super yummy. You will not need to add any extra salt if you use salty bacon. I did use finely shredded Parm from the bag and it still turned out good
Yummy,
My husband loves this recipe and gets super excited when I make it.
Why did you reserve the excess fat? Don’t see any instructions to use it.
For sautéing the minced garlic.
You throw the drained spaghetti into the pan with the bacon, garlic, AND OIL Stir and mix well. Then add the eggs and cheese, and follow the rest of the recipe.
Great easy meal! I tried another carbona recipe and it failed miserably. This one was spot on. My husband loved it. Silky and satisfying. A glass of Pinot and u r set for a lovely dinner.
No garlic! Seriously, garlic is never used in carbonate in Italy. I know, because I lived there 3 years. They don’t use cream either as some recipes do. This one is pretty authentic if you leave out the garlic and use pancetta rather than bacon. Bacon works though if you can’t find pancetta.
Good stuff. Also great substituting the bacon with prosciutto sautéed until crisp.
This was so good! Light yet flavorful and filling. Thanks for the recipe!
Mine turned out kinda dry. Not sure how that happened. 🙁
An easy way to avoid scrambled eggs is to stir a few tablespoons of the pasta water into them right before adding the eggs to the pasta – and add at least two more egg yolks for a true creamy carbonara!
Hey there, thanks for sharing this incredible recipe for spaghetti carbonara! As a pasta lover, I always appreciate a dish that comes together quickly and easily, especially when it only requires a few ingredients like this one. And of course, who doesn’t love the addition of bacon to any dish?
I love that you’ve included some tips for cooking this dish, such as working quickly with the egg mixture to avoid scrambled eggs and adding the pasta water gradually to reach the desired consistency. These little details can make all the difference in creating a perfect plate of spaghetti carbonara.
I can’t wait to try this recipe out for myself and impress my friends and family with a delicious and easy meal. Thank you again for sharing this recipe and I look forward to trying out more of your dishes in the future!
Indulge in the creamy and savory goodness of Spaghetti Carbonara with this classic recipe! The silky smooth pasta is perfectly coated in a luxurious sauce made with bacon, eggs, cheese, and garlic, creating a delicious and comforting dish. This recipe is easy to make and perfect for a cozy night in or a dinner party with friends.