Spaghetti Carbonara - Recipe Diaries (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Jenna · This post may contain affiliate links · 7 Comments

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Spaghetti Carbonara is a classic Italian dish that has gained immense popularity all over the world. It is a simple yet delicious pasta dish that can be made easily at home with just a few ingredients. The dish is characterized by its creamy, silky sauce made with eggs, cheese, and bacon, which is then tossed with spaghetti.

Spaghetti Carbonara - Recipe Diaries (1)

This post needed a recipe makeover with new pictures, updated points info, and a recipe video. It has been a while since I made it and guys you get a lot of pasta for 1 serving! 4 servings is about a cup and a ½ each. Pasta carbonara can be quite an intimidating dish to make because of the eggs.

I remember the first couple of attempts I made this dish the eggs ended up scrambling but if you follow the recipe below that will not happen to you! The trick is to turn the heat down to the lowest heat possible after the bacon gets done cooking. Bacon and eggs are a staple item at any breakfast meal and now you can have them for dinner too. 🙂

If you want more dinner recipe ideas try Crack Chicken Lasagna Rolls, Cheesy Chicken Green Bean Bake, or Creamy Alfredo with Bacon and Peas.

Jump to:
  • Why You Will Like This Recipe
  • Ingredients Needed
  • How to Make Spaghetti Carbonara
  • What to serve with Spaghetti Carbonara?
  • Recipe FAQS
  • Weight Watchers Spaghetti Carbonara

Why You Will Like This Recipe

One of the things that makes Spaghetti Carbonara so great is its versatility. It can be served as a main course or as a side dish, and it pairs well with a variety of wines.

It is also a great dish to make when you are short on time, as it can be whipped up in just a few minutes.

Ingredients Needed

Spaghetti Carbonara - Recipe Diaries (2)
  • Spaghetti - use whole wheat spaghetti for NI
  • Eggs - The best type of eggs you can buy at the store are organic or free-range eggs, while others may prefer eggs from specific breeds of chickens
  • Parmesan cheese is a hard, granular cheese that originated in Italy. It is typically made from cow's milk and has a sharp, nutty flavor. Parmesan cheese is often grated and used as a topping for pasta dishes, salads, and other foods.
  • Bacon is a type of salt-cured pork that is commonly eaten for breakfast in many parts of the world. It can be served in a variety of ways, including crispy or chewy, and is often used as a topping for sandwiches, burgers, and salads.Garlic, minced
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

How to Make Spaghetti Carbonara

Step 1: In a large pot of boiling water, cook pasta according to package instructions.

Step 2: Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add bacon and cook until brown and crispy, about 6-8 minutes; reserve excess fat.

Spaghetti Carbonara - Recipe Diaries (3)

Step 3: In a small bowl, whisk together eggs and Parmesan; set aside.

Spaghetti Carbonara - Recipe Diaries (4)

Step 4: Reduce the burner heat to low. Stir in garlic until fragrant with the leftover bacon fat, and cook for about 1 minute. Stir in pasta and egg mixture, and gently toss to combine; season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Spaghetti Carbonara - Recipe Diaries (5)

5. Serve immediately, garnished with parsley or more parmesan cheese if desired.

What to serve with Spaghetti Carbonara?

  1. Air Fryer Garlic bread: Freshly toasted garlic bread is a perfect complement to spaghetti carbonara. It's crunchy, buttery, and adds an extra element of flavor to the meal.
  2. Caesar salad: A refreshing Caesar salad with crisp romaine lettuce, tangy dressing, and crunchy croutons is a perfect side for spaghetti carbonara. The contrast of the fresh salad and the rich pasta creates a balanced meal. Just pick up a bag at the store!
  3. Roasted vegetables: Roasted vegetables such as asparagus, zucchini, or broccoli add a healthy component to the meal. The caramelized flavor of the vegetables pairs well with the savory carbonara sauce.
  4. Red wine: A glass of red wine is the perfect beverage to pair with spaghetti carbonara. It's a classic combination that enhances the flavors of both the dish and the wine.

Recipe FAQS

Is carbonara healthier than alfredo sauce?

If you're looking to cut calories and saturated fat, carbonara sauce may be the better option. The eggs in carbonara sauce provide protein, while the bacon or pancetta adds some flavor without adding too many calories. That being said, carbonara sauce is still high in fat, so it should be enjoyed in moderation.

How do I store leftovers?

Always store leftovers in clean, food-grade containers. The type of container doesn’t really matter. Use zip lock, glass, plastic, whatever! Make sure to store any leftovers in an airtight container.

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If you tried this Spaghetti Carbonara any other recipe on my website, please please See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you! Follow along on Tiktok @jennarecipediaries

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Spaghetti Carbonara - Recipe Diaries (10)

Weight Watchers Spaghetti Carbonara

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  • Author: Jenna
  • Total Time: 18 min
  • Yield: 6 1x
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Description

Pasta Carbonara - creamy pasta coated in an egg and cheese sauce and topped with bacon. An easy 5 ingredient dish that comes together in under 20 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 8 ounces spaghetti (use whole wheat spaghetti for NI)
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan
  • 4 slices bacon, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. In a large pot of boiling water, cook pasta according to package instructions.

2. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add bacon and cook until brown and crispy, about 6-8 minutes; reserve excess fat.

3. In a small bowl, whisk together eggs and Parmesan; set aside.

4. Reduce the burner heat to low. Stir in garlic until fragrant with the leftover bacon fat, and cook for about 1 minute. Stir in pasta and egg mixture, and gently toss to combine; season with salt and pepper, to taste.

5. Serve immediately, garnished with parsley or more parmesan cheese if desired.

Serving size: 1 cup

Notes

myWW points: Blue 10; Green 11; Purple 10

  • Prep Time: 8 min
  • Cook Time: 10 min
  • Category: Medium
  • Method: StoveTop
  • Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cup
  • Calories: 269
  • Sugar: .9
  • Fat: 7.66
  • Saturated Fat: 3.33
  • Carbohydrates: 34.37
  • Fiber: 2.1
  • Protein: 14.55

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jen says

    What is the serving size?

  2. Sally says

    Seems to be 8 points. We had it tonight for the first time ever. But why the pasta water? I must be missing something. Parsley leaves make it pretty.

  3. Alpha Prime Elite says

    Really great visual appeal on this site, I'd value it 10.

  4. Jenna says

    Ha ha! Glad he liked it. 🙂

  5. Kathy says

    My husband liked it. So if he liked it. You know it's good!!

  6. Jane says

    What is the amount per serving? A lot of pasta dishes are 1 1/2cups equals a serving.

  7. Thalia @ butter and brioche says

    I am definitely craving spaghetti carbonara right now - this looks delicious! definitely need to follow your lightened up recipe, thanks for sharing it!

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Spaghetti Carbonara - Recipe Diaries (2024)

FAQs

What is the trick about carbonara sauce? ›

Whisk Like You Mean It

You're using more egg yolks than whites here, which is what makes carbonara so rich and luxurious. But there's still two eggs-worth of whites in there. Whisking your eggs so that the whites are completely incorporated into the yolks will give your sauce a more uniform texture.

What is the golden rule of cooking a carbonara? ›

The golden rule to silky carbonara is to whisk your egg whites so that they're completely incorporated with the egg yolks. This will create a smooth, velvety sauce. As like any pasta dish, including carbonara, cook the pasta perfectly al dente so that it's soft but still firm, with some bite.

What are the biggest carbonara mistakes? ›

15 Mistakes That Are Ruining Your Carbonara
  • Adding your eggs while the pasta is still on the heat. Anton27/Shutterstock. ...
  • Not coating your pasta completely. ...
  • Using bacon instead of guanciale. ...
  • Not whisking your eggs enough. ...
  • Using parmesan instead of pecorino. ...
  • Not grinding your own pepper. ...
  • Using cold eggs. ...
  • Adding extra ingredients.
Mar 5, 2023

Why is my carbonara not creamy enough? ›

For an extra creamy sauce, it's best to use mostly egg yolks. The egg whites tend to make carbonara watery, but too many egg yolks can make the sauce too custardy. The solution? Five egg yolks and one whole egg.

What not to put in carbonara? ›

What not to put in Spaghetti Carbonara? Don't put garlic, cream, milk or butter. It is not needed. It is fine if you want to make a dish with those ingredients, but if you want to learn how to make this dish correctly, use only pecorino, eggs/egg yolks, black pepper, guanciale, and pasta water.

What thickens carbonara? ›

Equally important is that the fat that melts out of the guanciale is required to thicken the carbonara sauce to make it creamy. Basically, what happens is that when the fat from the guanciale and in the egg yolks is mixed with starchy pasta cooking water, it thickens.

How to stop eggs from scrambling in carbonara? ›

Using a large mixing bowl and setting it over the boiling pasta water to create a makeshift double boiler helps prevent you from accidentally scrambling the eggs.

How many eggs should I put in my carbonara? ›

I like to use a ratio of 1 whole egg to 3 egg yolks because it balances the richness. If you are looking to avoid using raw eggs, I would recommend making my Cacio e Pepe recipe – this is another one of the four classic Roman pastas but requires only three ingredients (cheese, pepper, and pasta).

Should carbonara have garlic? ›

Must-have ingredients

that there are only five ingredients: pasta, pork cheek, eggs, cheese and pepper. That's it. A real carbonara does not contain onion, garlic, or cream.

What is an interesting fact about carbonara? ›

Though the origins of carbonara are not clear, the very first traces of a carbonara recipe date back to the 1940s. Some hypothesize that its birth is linked to the charcoal burners in the Apennines, while others attribute it to American soldiers who arrived in Italy during World War II.

Is the egg still raw in carbonara? ›

Spaghetti alla carbonara is a traditional Italian dish, which the sauce made of raw egg yolks is heated using only the heat of cooked pasta.

What is a substitute for heavy cream in carbonara? ›

The 10 Best Substitutes for Heavy Cream
  1. Milk and butter.
  2. Soy milk and olive oil.
  3. Milk and cornstarch.
  4. Half-and-half.
  5. Tofu and soy.
  6. Yogurt and milk.
  7. Evaporated milk.
  8. Cottage cheese and milk.

Why do you put egg yolk in carbonara? ›

The eggs and egg yolks in this dish are used to coat the pasta and give it a slick, almost creamy, texture. Eggs are stirred in at the end of cook time and cook up while being twirled alongside the hot pasta.

How to make jar carbonara sauce better? ›

Fresh herbs make all the difference in any pasta sauce, so if you have some lying around, they will really perk up a jarred sauce. Obviously, basil is classic, but thyme, rosemary, sage, marjoram, and oregano are all great in pasta sauce. Fresh parsley also makes anything sing, as do chives.

Why do Americans put cream in carbonara? ›

Cream is not used in most Italian recipes, with some exceptions. However, it is often employed in other countries, as adding cream makes the dish more stable.Similarly, garlic is found in some recipes, but mostly outside Italy.

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