Easy Carbonara Recipe
This Easy Carbonara recipe is a classic Italian pasta dish made with crispy pancetta, creamy egg and cream sauce, and plenty of Parmesan cheese. It’s quick to prepare and delivers a rich, comforting flavor perfect for any weeknight meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Pancetta and Seasoning
- 1 1/2 lbs pancetta, cut into 1/2” cubes
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tbsp black pepper, plus extra for garnish
Sauce
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 4 egg yolks
- 2 whole eggs
Pasta and Cheese
- 3 tbsp salt (for boiling water)
- 1 lb thick spaghetti or bucatini pasta
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Prepare Pancetta: Cut the pancetta into thick 1/2″ cubes to ensure crispy, flavorful bites when cooked.
- Cook Pancetta: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add pancetta and black pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pancetta is browned and almost crispy on all sides. Remove from heat and let it sit while preparing the rest of the dish.
- Mix Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, whole eggs, and heavy cream until fully combined and smooth.
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water (using 3 tbsp salt) to a boil. Add the spaghetti or bucatini and cook until al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes, depending on the pasta packaging instructions.
- Drain Pasta: Quickly drain the cooked pasta using a colander, then return it to the large hot pot to retain heat for the sauce mixing.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Immediately pour the egg and cream mixture over the hot pasta and stir vigorously to coat the pasta and gently cook the eggs without scrambling.
- Add Cheese: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese thoroughly until the sauce is creamy and coats every strand of pasta.
- Combine Pancetta: Add the cooked pancetta and any reserved bacon grease from the skillet to the pasta. Stir well to combine all the flavors.
- Garnish and Serve: Top the dish with freshly ground black pepper and shaved Parmesan cheese to taste before serving.
Notes
- Be sure to stir the pasta quickly after adding the egg mixture to prevent the eggs from scrambling.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for best flavor and texture.
- For a richer sauce, reserve some of the pasta cooking water and add a splash as needed to loosen the sauce.
- Substitute pancetta with guanciale for a more traditional carbonara flavor.
- Serve immediately as carbonara is best enjoyed fresh and creamy.
Keywords: carbonara, easy carbonara, Italian pasta, pancetta pasta, creamy pasta, spaghetti carbonara
Find it online: https://amayaharis.com/easy-carbonara-recipe/
