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Don’t let the fancy name fool you, this carbonara with bacon recipe is fast, simple, and a total weeknight dinner winner!
Carbonara with Bacon
The best spaghetti carbonara I’ve ever had was in Rome, during a baby moon many years ago, while pregnant with my first. For years, I avoided making it at home because it sounded fancy and complicated, but it turns out it’s incredibly simple.
Now, I make it with bacon instead of pancetta (because it’s what I usually have), and it still delivers that creamy, velvety carbonara sauce my whole family loves.
Ingredients
The flavorful base for this spaghetti carbonara includes bacon, chopped onions, garlic, and ground black pepper. The sauce is made with Parmesan cheese, eggs, and some reserved pasta water to create a rich, silky coating for the spaghetti.
How to Make Bacon Carbonara Spaghetti
You’ll find a quick video showing you how to make this recipe below. Here are some tips for the main steps:
- Cook the pasta following the package directions and reserve the pasta water before draining. I always reserve a little extra.
- Cook the bacon in the skillet until it’s almost crispy. Then, add the onions and garlic to the pan and sauté them in the same bacon grease. It adds so much flavor!
- Make the egg mixture in a bowl by combining the eggs and Parmesan cheese. You’ll want to have this on hand.
- Add the cooked spaghetti to the skillet and toss to distribute the cooked bacon and onions with the pasta.
- Make the carbonara sauce by adding the egg mixture to the spaghetti and mixing it while pouring the pasta water to thin out the mixture and turn it into a sauce.
Are the Eggs Fully Cooked?
Yes! The egg and parmesan mixture is cooked with the heat of the pasta in the pan, and by adding the reserved pasta water, it turns into the carbonara sauce.
Try next: Skillet Lasagna
How to Make It Creamy
The key to making this bacon carbonara extra creamy is starting with very hot reserved pasta water so the egg mixture and Parmesan loosen into a silky, smooth sauce. Add the water slowly, a little at a time, and more as needed, until you reach a creamy consistency you like.
Spaghetti Carbonara with Bacon
Watch how it’s made:
Ingredients
- ½ pound dried spaghetti
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup parmesan cheese
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
Cook the pasta
- In a large pot, over medium-high heat, bring water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, cook the pasta until al dente. When the pasta is ready, reserve 1 cup of pasta water, drain the pasta, and set it aside. I like to reserve a little extra in case I need it.
Make the sauce
- In a large skillet, saute bacon over medium-high heat. Once it's beginning to brown and crisp, add the onions and garlic. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are soft and golden, for about 5 minutes.
- In a separate dish, whisk the eggs, parmesan, and pepper. Set it aside.
Combine
- Reduce the heat to the lowest setting and add the pasta to the skillet. Then, use tongs to combine the pasta with the bacon mixture. Pour the egg and parmesan mixture over the pasta.
- Make sure the reserved pasta water is still very hot; if not, reheat it in the microwave for 30 seconds. Working quickly, use tongs to combine the pasta and egg mixture in the skillet as you pour in half of the pasta water. For a more saucy pasta, slowly add more pasta water. Melting the cheesy egg mixture with the water is what creates the carbonara sauce.
- Serve with more parmesan cheese.
knycx journeying says
Great tips to temper the eggs before mixing; Definitely trying your recipe next time for a smoother sauce.
Barbie R says
Very interesting take on this dish. My boyfriend loves bacon and would really enjoy this. I may have to make it for him one day. I do not eat bacon, so it would be a special treat for him.
Melanie E says
Carbonara has to be one of my favourite dishes. It’s so tasty and simple to make. I do a few versions depending on whose eating. Need to try your recipe next x
jerry godinho says
I loved how your version of spaghetti carbonara takes a classic Italian favorite and makes it totally approachable for a weeknight dinner. The way you balance creamy sauce with simple ingredients like bacon, eggs, and Parmesan makes it feel both comforting and doable. Your clear steps and practical tips, like using reserved pasta water to get that silky texture, make this recipe feel welcoming even to someone who doesn’t cook often. Thanks for sharing such a delicious, easy‑to‑follow dish that inspires confidence in the kitchen and reminds us how satisfying homemade pasta can be.
Kat says
Making a bowl of carbonara at home is way better than ordering pasta at some overpriced fancy restaurant.