Description
Creamy carbonara brings classic Italian comfort straight to your kitchen with silky pasta and crispy pancetta. Perfectly balanced flavors and simple ingredients make this dish a quick weeknight dinner that satisfies hearty appetites with authentic Roman elegance.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 2 large chicken breasts, cubed
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
- 3 large egg yolks
Pasta and Dairy:
- 300 grams (10.5 ounces) spaghetti
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) heavy cream
Seasonings and Extras:
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Boil spaghetti in salted water according to package directions at high heat. Carefully extract 1 cup of pasta water before straining.
- Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high temperature. Sear chicken cubes until achieving golden-brown exterior and ensuring complete internal cooking. Transfer protein to a separate plate.
- Utilize the same skillet to render bacon until achieving crisp texture. Introduce minced garlic and quickly sauté for approximately 60 seconds.
- Prepare sauce by whisking egg yolks, grated Parmesan, and heavy cream in a mixing vessel. Incrementally incorporate reserved pasta water to develop a silky, uniform consistency.
- Transfer drained spaghetti into skillet containing bacon and garlic. Cascade prepared sauce over pasta, methodically coating each strand through gentle tossing movements.
- Integrate previously cooked chicken into pasta mixture. Delicately fold ingredients while maintaining low heat for 1-2 minutes, allowing sauce to slightly thicken and harmonize flavors.
- Enhance dish with salt and freshly ground black pepper according to personal preference. Complete presentation by sprinkling chopped parsley and additional Parmesan cheese as elegant garnish.
Notes
- Prevent scrambling eggs by tempering the sauce gradually and stirring constantly while adding hot pasta water.
- Choose high-quality Parmesan cheese for richer, more authentic flavor and smoother sauce consistency.
- use more egg whites and less heavy cream to reduce calories.
- Cook bacon until perfectly crispy but not burnt to maintain a balanced smoky flavor without bitterness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 565 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 210 mg