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spaghetti carbonara recipe

Spaghetti Carbonara

This spaghetti carbonara recipe is creamy, comforting, and quick to make. A handful of simple ingredients create a classic Italian pasta dish that feels gourmet.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 520
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 12 oz 340 g spaghetti
  • 4 oz 115 g pancetta (or bacon), diced
  • 3 large egg yolks
  • 1 whole egg
  • 1 cup 100 g Pecorino Romano or Parmesan, finely grated
  • 1 tbsp olive oil optional
  • Salt to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Method
 

  1. Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water.
  2. Cook pancetta in a skillet until crispy. Remove from heat.
    Cooking pancetta in skillet for classic spaghetti carbonara recipe
  3. In a bowl, whisk yolks, egg, and cheese with black pepper.
  4. Add hot pasta to skillet, tossing with pancetta.
    Tossing spaghetti pasta with pancetta to make creamy carbonara
  5. Off the heat, stir in egg mixture quickly.
  6. Add pasta water a little at a time until creamy.
  7. Taste and adjust seasoning.
  8. Serve immediately with extra cheese and pepper.

Notes

Store leftovers up to 2 days in the fridge.
Reheat gently with a splash of water.
Substitute bacon if pancetta isn’t available.
Avoid cream for authentic flavor.