Pasta Carbonara will be your new favorite weeknight meal! Spaghetti coated in a thick and creamy egg sauce with crispy bacon and parmesan cheese. All you need is 30 minutes and 6 ingredients to make this!
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox! You will also receive other new recipes in your inbox weekly!
Pasta Carbonara
Pasta Carbonara is such a simple yet delicious meal. It’s comfort food at it’s finest! Whole eggs get tossed in hot pasta to create a thick rich and creamy sauce. It then gets sprinkled with freshly grated parmesan cheese and crisp smokey bacon. This is the perfect pasta carbonara recipe you will ever make!
One of the reasons why I love this dish is the fact that it comes together in less than 20 minutes. It’s the perfect meal for a busy weeknight. While the pasta is boiling I cook the bacon and shred the cheese. When the pasta’s done I reserve some of the water and toss in the raw eggs, parmesan cheese and bacon. Best of all you only need 6 ingredients to make this recipe most of which you probably already have on hand!
What is Pasta Carbonara?
Authentic Pasta Carbonara is an Italian based dish that’s made with crispy bacon, parmesan cheese and egg. The warm pasta and cooking water combined with the eggs create a creamy rich sauce that is amazing yet so simple.
ingredients
- Spaghetti: You can also use thin spaghetti or fettuccine.
- Garlic: I like to add lots of fresh garlic to this dish. It adds so much flavor!
- Eggs: Are the base of the sauce. They make the sauce creamy and rich. Make sure to bring your eggs to room temperature before adding them to the hot pasta.
- Bacon: You can also substitute pancetta or guanciale.
- Parmesan Cheese: Helps to thicken up the sauce and adds a nice saltiness to the dish. I also love using pecorino romano in this recipe.
- Parsley: Adds a nice pop of color and freshness to the dish. You can substitute fresh basil if you have that on hand!
- Variations: I like adding peas, mushrooms, onions or spinach to this recipe as well! If you have any veggies you want to use up add them in!
how to make pasta carbonara
- Boil pasta: Until al dente according to package instructions.
- Cook bacon and garlic: Meanwhile in a large skillet add cubed bacon and cook over medium high heat until golden brown. Add in garlic and cook for an additional minute. Turn off the heat and set aside.
- Toss everything together: In a small bowl whisk eggs and cheese together, set aside. When pasta is ready drain and reserve 1 cup of the pasta water. Add the pasta to the skillet with the bacon and garlic mixture. Add in the egg / cheese mixture and 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Slowly toss the pasta until the pasta is coated. Add more pasta water if needed.
- Serve: Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately with fresh chopped parsley and additional cheese if desired. This pasta carbonara recipe is best served immediately.
- Store: Leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheat: Pasta on the stovetop with a bit of butter or olive oil! It will still taste good reheated however pasta carbonara is never as good as it is when it’s fresh.
tips
- The trick to making carbonara pasta is to start with room temperature eggs. This helps to keep your sauce smooth and clump free. Also to avoid scrambling the eggs it’s very important to take the pan off the burner when adding the eggs.
- Use freshly grated parmesan cheese not the sprinkle cheese. I like to buy the cheese in blocks and shred it myself. It makes such a difference.
- To add an extra protein boost add diced chicken, shrimp or scallops to this easy pasta carbonara.
- Make sure to properly salt your water when boiling your pasta. This helps to flavor the whole dish!
What to serve with Pasta Carbonara
- Homemade Focaccia
- Easy Dinner Rolls
- Grilled Chicken Breast
- Chicken Parmesan
- Honey Garlic Salmon
- Italian Chopped Salad
- Garlic Bread
- Roasted Garlic Brussels Sprouts
Here are more Easy Pasta Recipes to try!
- Easy Instant Pot Spaghetti
- Garlic and Oil Pasta
- BLT Pasta Salad
- Crock Pot Chicken Alfredo
- Pasta with Vodka Sauce
- Asparagus Pasta
- Spinach Stuffed Shells
20 Minute Pasta Carbonara
Ingredients
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 4 ounces bacon, cubed
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 large eggs plus 1 egg yolk
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- pepper and salt, to taste
- chopped fresh parsley, for serving
Instructions
- Boil the pasta in salted water per package instructions until al dente. (Mine took 9 minutes). When pasta is ready drain and reserve 1 cup of the pasta water.
- Meanwhile in a large skillet add cubed bacon and cook over medium high heat until golden brown. Add in garlic and cook for an additional minute. Turn off the heat and set aside.
- In a small bowl whisk eggs and cheese together, set aside.
- Add the pasta to the skillet with the bacon and garlic mixture. Add in the egg / cheese mixture and 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Slowly toss the pasta until the pasta is coated. Add more pasta water if needed.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately with fresh chopped parsley and additional cheese if desired.
Nutrition Information
Did you make this?
I’d love to hear your feedback! Leave a review and make sure to share your pictures on social media! Don’t forget to follow @thechefsavvy.
Jane Wenger
My new favorite! Just tried this dish for the first time and it will be added to a regular for my hubby and myself! Thank you so much! It is delicious!
Kelley Simmons
So glad you guys enjoy this recipe! Thank you so much for sharing!
Linda Liversidge
Fabulous, will def add to my top recipes.
Thank you so much for sharing xxxx
Jackie
Hi. I was up late studying and realized my kids and I did not have dinner. So around midnight I decided to make this dish. The kids woke up once they smelled the bacon. They came downstairs and enjoyed every last bite. This was a new treat that will permanently be added to our meals. Plus it was different for us to eat at such a late hour, it jadded to the fun and yumminess of this dish.
Kelley Simmons
So glad you and your family enjoyed this pasta Jackie! Thank you so much for sharing!
Patricia lane
Hello
I recently tried your recipe for supper and it turned out wonderfully. I didn’t have freshly grated parmesan, I just used what I had and I thought it was delicious.
Thanks for sharing
Kelley Simmons
So glad you enjoyed this recipe Patricia! Thank you so much for sharing!
Christopher
Your recipe is spot on, with one exception. You forgot a very important step. You forgot to reserve at least 1 c. of the pasta water to be added, as needed, back into the pasta. This helps to tighten up the dish. It also helps to cook the eggs and add needed moisture.
Traditionally, this recipe is made with guanciale. As a retired master from New York City/Long Island, NY, now living in SC, pork jowls are available almost everywhere down here. Pancetta is a good substitute, but has no where’s near the fat content of guanciale, or jowls. Salt cured and unsmoked bacon is also a good substitute. If that can’t be found, I suggest blanching smoked bacon for about 2 minutes and then drying it thoroughly before cooking. Blanching removes most of the smoky flavor for a more traditional taste.
BTW, your eggs are spot-on. I’ve been making this with two whole Lg. eggs and one Lg. yoke for over 50 years. Good work.
Nina
I use minced yellow onion instead of garlic, splash of milk or cream when adding the Parmigiano, sprinkle of parsley and dash of lemon pepper before serving…yummy! I am trying your mushroom version for dinner! Thank you!
Kelley Simmons
So glad you enjoyed this pasta recipe Nina! Thanks so much for sharing!
Victor
Leave Italian food alone! This is a defecation of carbonate. No garlic, no parsley and no bacon goes in carbonate. Only Guanciale, eggs and Pecorino.
Miranda
I make this recipe a LOT- it is one of my favorite go-to’s. I like that it’s different enough to feel a little fancy, but so easy and quick to make. One thing I do differently with it is use 1lb of bacon instead of 4 oz, and add Parmesan on top when serving it. Thank you for a great recipe!
Kelley Simmons
So glad you like this recipe Miranda thank you! And I love the addition of more bacon yum!
Tish
Absolutely delicious. I’ve made this pasta several times and it’s always a big hit. My family loves it! Thank you for sharing this easy and full of flavor dish.
Kelley Simmons
So happy to hear you and your family enjoy this pasta Tish thank you!!
Shaunie Gassner
We ate this for dinner tonight! I need to make this more often!
Kelley Simmons
Yah so glad you enjoyed this!!