Homemade Classic Pasta Carbonara Recipe
This homemade pasta carbonara recipe is a family favorite and for good reason. It's a simple, fresh pasta featuring a rich sauce consisting of eggs and parmesan, topped with crispy bacon.
Servings: 4
Equipment
- 1 Large Pot
Ingredients
- 1 pound spaghetti pasta
- 10 ounces bacon cut into small pieces
- 2 whole eggs + 3 egg yolks see note*
- ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- ⅔ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese plus more for serving if desired
Instructions
- Heat a large pot of heavily salted water over high heat and bring to a boil. Cook pasta in boiling water to al dente according to package directions. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta water and drain the rest.
- While the pasta cooks, heat a deep skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the bacon and cook for about 7 - 10 minutes, stirring frequently until cooked through but not quite crispy. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat in the pan and drain the rest.
- Whisk together the eggs, egg yolks, black pepper, and parmesan cheese until combined.
- Add the cooked pasta to the bacon pan over low heat and add the egg mixture and ½ cup of the reserved pasta water.
- Stir frequently until a thick sauce forms, about 2 - 4 minutes. Add more starchy pasta water if desired for a thinner consistency.
- Serve with more parmesan and freshly cracked black pepper if desired and enjoy!
Notes
- Please double check amounts when using the multiplying feature in the recipe card.
- Room temperature eggs are easier to incorporate into the dish and do not curdle and scramble as easily as cold eggs.
- Low heat and stirring constantly is crucial when mixing in the eggs to avoid scrambling.
- Using a microplane to grate the parmesan cheese will allow it to incorporate and melt into the pasta more easily.
- Add fresh garden herbs to this dish to take it to the next level and make this dish your own.
Nutrition
Serving: 4servings | Calories: 811kcal | Carbohydrates: 87g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 155mg | Sodium: 747mg | Potassium: 422mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 288IU | Calcium: 237mg | Iron: 2mg