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    Home » Recipes » Easy Dinner » Spaghetti Carbonara recipe

    PUBLISHED: September 26, 2021 • By Toni Dash 13 Comments

    Spaghetti Carbonara recipe

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    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    spaghetti carbonara title

    If you’re craving a satisfying pasta dinner, look no further. Spaghetti Carbonara is an easy and quick way to make an impressive-looking classic Italian dish.

    spaghetti carbonara title
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    spaghetti carbonara title

    If you’ve had traditional carbonara you probably are already in love with this creamy pasta. There’s no heavy cream just a wonderful smooth sauce with soul-warming flavors.

    It’s a delicious recipe for busy weeknights and for entertaining. It makes a meal feel special.

    Our step by step instructions will make it easy your first time and every time after!

    Jump to:
    • What is Spaghetti Carbonara?
    • Recipe Ingredients + Notes
    • How to make Spaghetti Carbonara – Step-by-Step
    • Pro Tips
    • How to store leftovers
    • More recipes you’ll love!
    • Recipe
    spaghetti carbonara with tongs

    What is Spaghetti Carbonara?

    Also called spaghetti alla carbonara, this Italian pasta dish originates in Rome Italy. Pasta carbonara is made with simple ingredients available at any grocery store: whole eggs, Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese (hard cheese), cured pork and black pepper.

    It has a creamy sauce made rich from the egg yolks and Parmesan but has no cream.

    Some of the pasta cooking water is used to thin the sauce and the starch in the water helps give the silky sauce a smooth and nice consistency.

    It uses raw eggs but the residual heat from the freshly cooked pasta cooks them while making the carbonara sauce.

    spaghetti carbonara in bowl close up

    Recipe Ingredients + Notes

    Spaghetti pasta. Traditional wheat pasta or gluten-free spaghetti pasta both work great. You’ll need one pound spaghetti (16 ounces).

    Eggs. You’ll use three large eggs at room temperature. These are stirred into the hot pasta at the end. The heat will cook them and make the sauce creamy.

    Parmesan cheese. Use freshly grated parmesan cheese or finely shredded. Do not use the dry parmesan in the shaker container. Pecorino-Romano cheese can also be used or mix the two.

    Pancetta or bacon. Traditional Spaghetti Carbonara uses pancetta. Both pancetta and regular bacon are cured pork belly products, bacon is also smoked.

    Pancetta comes in thin slices (or cubed, but use slices). Either can be used for this recipe. We’ve shown the process with bacon in the photos below.

    Garlic. Two cloves garlic, diced.

    Salt and pepper. These are used to season the dish. We recommend kosher salt which is a less salty tasting salt. Freshly ground black pepper always has the best flavor.

    Italian Parsley. Minced for an optional garnish.

    spaghetti carbonara in bowl with fork

    How to make Spaghetti Carbonara – Step-by-Step

    STEP 1. Make the pasta

    Cook pasta in a large pot of water according to the package instructions. Cook until it is ‘al dente’ meaning it’s cooked but still firm to the bite.

    It will continue to cook as part of making the carbonara sauce.

    STEP 2. Prepare the egg mixture

    In a small bowl whisk together the eggs and 1 cup parmesan cheese (photos 1-2).

    spaghetti carbonara recipe steps 1-4

    STEP 3. Cook the bacon

    While the spaghetti cooks, cook the bacon or pancetta. In a large skillet or large sauté pan over medium heat cook the bacon or pancetta until it’s browned (almost crispy for regular bacon but not fully crisp)(photo3).

    Drain the fat reserving 1-2 tablespoons of fat in the pan.

    Remove the bacon (or pancetta), drain on a paper towel and chop (photo 4).

    spaghetti carbonara recipe steps 5-8

    STEP 4. Finishing the spaghetti

    When the spaghetti is done cooking DO NOT RINSE. Scoop out one cup of the pasta cooking water (using a liquid measure cup works great because it will be slowly poured into the sauce).

    Drain the spaghetti after removing the reserved cup of pasta water has been removed.

    spaghetti carbonara recipe steps 9-12

    STEP 4. Making the carbonara

    Add the garlic to the skillet with the bacon grease. Cook until fragrant; 30-60 seconds usually (photo 5).

    Remove the skillet from the heat. Add the cooked spaghetti noodles and chopped bacon to the skillet (photos 6-8).

    Pour in the egg-cheese mixture (photo 9). QUICKLY stir or toss the mixture to coat the pasta (photo 10).

    Add splashes of the pasta cooking water as needed to until the sauce reaches the desired consistency (photo 11).

    Serve garnished with the remaining 1/4 cup of grated cheese and chopped parsley (photo 12).

    spaghetti carbonara in bowl close up-2

    Pro Tips

    Have everything near the stove top. At the step when the pasta and other components are added to the skillet it’s a fast couple minutes. Have everything near the stovetop for quick access.

    Move quickly when making the sauce. This recipe is not difficult but it’s important to move quickly when making the sauce so the eggs do not scramble with the heat of the cooked pasta.

    The pasta must be hot when adding to the skillet. Time the steps before adding the pasta to be done before the pasta completes cooking so it can go right from the cooking pot to the sauce skillet.

    Use tongs. Instead of draining the pasta in a colander using tongs to transfer it to the skillet works great. Allow excess water to drain back into the pasta pot before adding the spaghetti to the skillet. Tongs work great when combining the sauce ingredients with the hot pasta too.

    spaghetti carbonara with tongs close up

    How to store leftovers

    Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    More recipes you’ll love!

    • Pancetta and Pea Salad Recipe
    • Spicy One Pot Pasta recipe
    • Baked Spaghetti Squash Caprese
    • Lemony Purple Asparagus Pancetta Pasta
    • Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

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    Recipe

    spaghetti carbonara

    Spaghetti Carbonara

    This recipe is an easy, simple way to make a homemade classic spaghetti carbonara. It has only 6 ingredients and is ready from start to finish in less than 30 minutes.
    5 from 13 votes
    Print Save Recipe Recipe Saved! Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Italian
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 411kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
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    Ingredients

    • 1 pound (16 ounces) spaghetti pasta regular or gluten-free
    • 3 large eggs room temperature
    • 1 1/4 cups finely shredded parmesan cheese divided
    • 8 slices bacon or pancetta
    • 2 cloves garlic diced
    • Salt & pepper to taste
    • chopped Italian Parsley optional for garnish

    Instructions

    • In a large pot, cook pasta according to the package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water when the pasta is done.
      Strain with a colander or remove from the pot with tongs, allowing excess water to drip back into the cooking pot. It will be moved to the sauce pan.
      NOTE: do not drain the pasta until the sauce is ready to be made.
    • In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and 1 cup parmesan cheese.
    • While the pasta cooks: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon (or pancetta) until it's cooked through but is not crisp. Reserve 1-2 tablespoons of the rendered bacon fat in the pan.
      Drain the remaining fat.
    • Remove the bacon from the pan and drain on paper towels. Chop into ½” pieces.
    • Add the garlic to the skillet with the bacon fat. Cook over medium heat until fragrant, about 30-60 seconds (do not overcook).
    • Remove the skillet from the heat. Add the hot pasta and bacon.
    • Pour in the egg and parmesan mixture and stir quickly toss until the pasta is coated adding splashes of the pasta cooking water as needed to reach a desired smooth consistency.
      NOTE: using tongs is great for this.
    • Season with salt and pepper to taste.
    • Serve hot garnished with the remaining ¼ cup of shredded parmesan cheese and chopped parsley (optional).

    Notes

    Tips & Notes
    ● Use tongs: when stirring the pasta in the skillet, use tongs to help gently move the spaghetti. A wooden spoon or spatula will also work, but tongs help keep the ingredients from sticking together.
    ● Using raw eggs: the sauce for spaghetti carbonara is made from raw eggs and parmesan cheese. The eggs will cook through from the residual heat of the cooked pasta. It’s key to add the pasta hot; do not let it sit after cooking. Keep stirring the spaghetti when mixed with the eggs so that the eggs don’t overcook and cause clumping.
    ● Bacon or pancetta: traditionally, pasta carbonara uses pancetta. But bacon is a common substitute and used in this recipe because it’s more readily available. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 411kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 108mg | Sodium: 376mg | Potassium: 226mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 298IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 278mg | Iron: 2mg
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jen Vinuya says

      September 28, 2021 at 5:51 am

      5 stars
      My sister really loved this! Carbonara is her favorite and she really enjoyed this version!

      Reply
    2. Linda says

      September 27, 2021 at 11:45 pm

      5 stars
      Pasta is my weakness and this easy peasy spaghetti carbonara is a perfect recipe for a quick weenight dinner!

      Reply
    3. Jerika says

      September 27, 2021 at 10:03 am

      5 stars
      I love carbonara! Loved this yummy version. Thanks!:)

      Reply
    4. Chenée says

      September 27, 2021 at 9:22 am

      5 stars
      This carbonara was so delicious! I love your tips to make it perfect!

      Reply
    5. Emily Flint says

      September 27, 2021 at 9:18 am

      5 stars
      I love that this only took 30 minutes! I tried this dish with bacon and next time I’m going to try the pancetta! YUM!

      Reply
    6. Emily says

      September 27, 2021 at 9:13 am

      5 stars
      Omg this carbonara was so good! We made it with pancetta and the whole family loved it and already asked to have it again soon.

      Reply
    7. Michelle says

      September 27, 2021 at 8:43 am

      5 stars
      My kids loved this spaghetti carbonara! So delicious, and thanks for your tips on how to get it just the right texture!

      Reply
    8. Tavo says

      September 27, 2021 at 8:36 am

      5 stars
      Your steps by steps guide helped me to cook the perfect carbonara! I am so happy I got into this recipe! I have always been a carbonara fan but had never made it myself.

      Reply
    9. Liz says

      September 27, 2021 at 7:52 am

      5 stars
      One of my favorite meals ever! So good!

      Reply
    10. Sue says

      September 27, 2021 at 7:17 am

      5 stars
      Exactly what I was craving, and your directions are so clear.

      Reply
    Newer Comments »
    5 from 13 votes

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    Welcome! I’m Toni Dash. I’m a Certified Nutrition Coach and the professional writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of Boulder Locavore®. I’m so glad you are here!

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