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our creamy carbonara recipe in a bowl
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5 from 5 votes

Spaghetti Carbonara

This Spaghetti Carbonara is a simple, traditional Italian recipe. With bacon, garlic, and fresh grated cheese, it is full of flavor!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Pasta, Spaghetti
Servings: 6
Calories: 730kcal
Author: Erica Walker

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Cook pasta to al dente according to package instructions in a large pot of salted water. DO NOT DRAIN. While pasta is cooking, cook bacon in a large skillet. When bacon is cooked and slightly crispy, remove from skillet and drain all but about 3-4 tablespoons of the remaining bacon grease from the skillet. Crumble bacon.
    A plate of crumbled bacon
  • Return skillet to stovetop and reduce heat to low. Stir in garlic and heat until garlic becomes golden brown and fragrant.
    garlic cooking in bacon grease in a pan
  • Beat together eggs, milk, and pepper. Stir in about 1/2 of the grated cheese to the egg mixture. Add a ladle or two of the hot pasta water and stir well.
    carbonara sauce in a glass measuring cup
  • Using tongs, take pasta directly from pasta water to the skillet. Add crumbled bacon, egg mixture, and remaining Parmesan to pasta. Toss together until everything is mixed together.
    Creamy Carbonara in a pan
  • Serve immediately. If the pasta becomes too dry, spoon in some of the reserved pasta water or heavy cream a little at a time. Garnish with black pepper and extra grated cheese.
    our creamy carbonara recipe in a bowl

Notes

  • Be VERY careful when adding the egg mixture. If the pan is too hot the egg will curdle and you will have what one of our readers called "breakfast pasta". 
  • This dish is best right out of the warm pan. Leftovers will not be as creamy so try to eat it right away! 
  • Add grilled chicken or shrimp for extra protein.

Nutrition

Calories: 730kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 127mg | Sodium: 907mg | Potassium: 370mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 365IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 315mg | Iron: 2mg