With just a few ingredients, this classic version of Spaghetti alla Carbonara is so quick and easy to make and totally delicious, too! A big family favorite!
One of the earliest pasta dishes I have ever attempted is Spaghetti alla Carbonara. This was when I was still in law school many years ago…don’t wish to reveal my age too much! 🙂
Back then I used some cream to make the sauce and though it’s not the most authentic Italian dish I have made, my family was quite happy with it. With bacon and cream, how can you say no? 🙂
However, I have discovered, nearly 10 years ago that to make a “pure” carbonara you don’t use cream but eggs (though of course, some debate may still remain! )…so back when it was just hubby and me and no tots yet, we have enjoyed many plates of what they call the purist’s carbonara.
Now, if I wish to make pasta sauce with cream instead then I make the Alfredo sauce. However, when we fancy Carbonara this is what I make and I have never made it any other way. It is truly sumptuous!
It took me so long to post this recipe because we often end up eating it before I get the chance to take some photos and the old photos I have of this dish were way too dark and ugly so I couldn’t really use them for blogging purposes. I made Spaghetti alla Carbonara again a few days ago and resolved to take some good photos this time.
I am glad they came out decent enough. There is no smothering of cream on it but trust me each and every Spaghetti strand is covered with delicious parmesan and egg sauce (and yes, there’s bacon all over it, too.).
Please enjoy this really yummy Spaghetti alla Carbonara – you simply can’t make it any other way! If you wish to make it really authentic, use Pancetta or Guanciale (Italian Bacon) but if you don’t have access to it you can sub with regular streaky bacon which I often use to make this. 🙂
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FOR FULL RECIPE & INSTRUCTIONS and to PRINT, SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW.
WHAT INGREDIENTS TO USE FOR SPAGHETTI ALLA CARBONARA ?
Ingredients
- Spaghetti
- Olive oil
- Pancetta or Guanciale (Italian Bacon) or regular streaky Bacon
- Garlic cloves, crushed
- Eggs (room temp but if cold, place eggs in hot water until they warm-up)
- Parmesan Cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
NOTE: You can double the amount of bacon (for more bacon pieces to eat, but only use a small portion of the bacon grease – just enough to moisten the pasta and use the left-over for making fried rice!)
HOW TO MAKE SPAGHETTI ALLA CARBONARA?
The key here is to get everything ready for mixing. Once the bacon and pasta are both cooked and ready – it’s really just a matter of mixing everything together so it doesn’t take too long to make it. The eggs would be cooked by the hot pasta and bacon drippings. The warmed-up bowl will help ensure that as well plus with that, you can enjoy the pasta warm throughout dinner time.
Boil enough water to cook the Spaghetti. Follow the manufacturer’s directions or cook until al dente.
While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a medium frying pan. Sauté the garlic and the bacon in oil. Cook until the bacon browns and renders its fat. Remove the garlic and keep the bacon and its drippings hot until needed.
In the meantime, get a large oven-proof bowl and warm it up in a 250F oven. Once all the ingredients are ready, get the hot bowl out of the oven using hand mittens. Break the eggs into the bowl and blend it with the parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Drain the hot pasta and quickly mix it with the egg/cheese mixture.
Get the bacon and its drippings and pour it over. I simply eyeball this. The amount of bacon drippings to use is up to you. Perhaps 3-4 tablespoons to begin with if you want a dryer pasta and simply add more to your liking. Mix well and adjust the seasonings, if needed. The eggs would be cooked by the heat from the pasta and bacon drippings (so it’s necessary to ensure that both are still hot when stirred in).
Serve immediately with extra parmesan cheese to pass around! Garnish with a little chopped fresh parsley. Comfort food deliciousness!
Spaghetti alla Carbonara
Ingredients
- 12 oz (3/4 lb) Spaghetti noodles,
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4-5 (about 4 oz) strips of Guanciale (Italian Bacon), pancetta or regular streaky Bacon, sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
- 3 large eggs at room temperature, if cold, place eggs in hot water until they warm-up to room temp)
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- salt and pepper, to taste
- fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Boil enough water to cook the Spaghetti. Follow the manufacturer’s directions or cook until al dente.
- In the meantime, get a large oven-proof bowl and warm it up inside a 250F oven.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a medium frying pan. Sauté the garlic and the bacon in oil.
- Cook until the bacon browns and renders its fat. Remove the garlic and keep the bacon and its drippings hot until needed.
- Once the pasta and bacon are ready, get the hot bowl out of the oven using hand mittens. Break the eggs into the bowl and blend it with the parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Drain the hot pasta and quickly mix it with the egg/cheese mixture. Get the bacon and its drippings and pour it over. I simply eyeball how much grease to add. The amount of bacon drippings to use is up to you. Perhaps 3-4 tablespoons to begin with if you want a dryer pasta and simply add more to your liking.
- Mix well and adjust the seasonings, if needed. The eggs would be cooked by the heat from the pasta and bacon drippings (so it’s necessary to ensure that both are still hot when stirred in). Serve immediately with extra parmesan cheese to pass around! Garnish with a little chopped fresh parsley. Comfort food deliciousness!
Notes
Last updated on August 23rd, 2021 at 11:08 am
Want a super fun blog? Check out "Cooking With Mr. C." on WordPress and on Facebook. It's a great blog just like yours. Connie R.
Thanks for the referral Connie!
hi abby,
i will try this recipe. this is similar to the way i've cooked carbonara, from the time i learned the recipe (from the recipe book, cooking with nora, by nora daza) until two attempts after – that makes it three times. yes, only three times! probably because the people i live with have gotten used to the pinoy carbonara, awash with cream (sometimes cream of mushroom), they found my carbonara a bit on the dry side, and lacking in creamy mushroom flavor. mine was dominated by toasted garlic flavor and (cheap) bacon. excited to try this!
thanks for the post.
rey seveses
Please enjoy Kuya Rey! I know what you mean, I used to make carbonara that way too complete with canned creamed mushroom…lol. Once I made this, there was no turning back and for me at least, this is so much better. Thanks for stopping by.
hi abby,
it was my youngest daughter’s – meg’s – birthday yesterday; and i asked her what she wanted me to prepare for our family dinner – her birthday celebration at home – and she requested for cheeseburger pizza (which i’ve posted on my fb wall,) and carbonara (i also took a picture but – jahe – it didn’t come out as good as your picture above, haha!) carbonara! my mind was immediately drawn to this blog because i remembered – how can i forget! – i posted a comment here.
i knew i would get flak from my dear family for using your recipe, because i know (and you know) they expect pinoy carbonara. well, yes, they did! haha!
but i am past the point of no return – i defended the “authentic” cabonara to them like an intolerant purist! i told them, “if you want the one with creamy sauce, then i will make pasta alfredo instead, next time!” haha!
“i am not a pasta person,” i am wont to say – but this one, i like!
hey, thanks (again) !!!!
I am so glad you enjoyed it Kuya Rey! I know how you feel – I do like Alfredo sauce sometimes but if it's carbonara I stick with the eggy one. I love it and the bacon truly makes it super-yum! Perhaps if they try it a few times more – they may begin to appreciate it more…..hahaha. Thank again for trying it. 🙂
I double your egg and cheese mixture and use hot capicola for some heat! My absolute favorite! Recipe is straight from Italy.
Glad you enjoyed it Danielle! Love that it can be adjusted to one's taste, too. It is a huge favorite of ours.
Terrific! I used Pancetta for mine and couldn’t be happier with the result. Cheers all around!
This looks amazing and so flavorful! My family is going to be all over this spaghetti alla carbonara recipe! Can’t wait to give this a try!
Such a delicious carbonara pasta dish! My kids loved it!
I have always been afraid to try this recipe but your directions were spot on perfect and this came out so delicious we will be making it again soon
I love how simple and tasty this spaghetti alla carbonara recipe is!! It was the perfect easy weeknight dinner for our family!