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    Home » Vegetarian Pasta

    Published: Apr, 2025. Updated: Apr, 2025 by Iryna Bychkiv | This post may contain affiliate links. Read more here

    Easy Spaghetti Carbonara

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    Jump to Recipe
    Spaghetti carbonara on a white plate.
    Pinterest image with text overlay of spaghetti carbonara.

    This Easy Spaghetti Carbonara is comfort food at its best. Made with crispy bacon and a delicious combination of Italian cheeses, this flavorful pasta will quickly become your favorite hearty meal.

    It's a love at first sight! Eggs, cheese and bacon are a no-fail combo. If you've never tried Spaghetti Carbonara, you gotta do it now. It has a silky smooth texture, incredible flavor and rich taste.
    Jump to:
    • Why This Recipe Stands Out
    • Key Ingredients
    • Substitutions and Variations
    • How to Make Easy Spaghetti Carbonara
    • What to Serve with Easy Spaghetti Carbonara
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Recipe
    • More Recipes You'll Enjoy

    Why This Recipe Stands Out

    We all love a good carbonara, but what if we told you that we have the easiest spaghetti carbonara recipe you'll ever come across? This recipe is:

    • Silky: The trick of using the hot pasta right out of the pot ensures that the egg and cheese mixture becomes incredibly smooth and velvety. For an even creamier dish, check out this Creamy Salmon Asparagus Pasta.
    • Flavor: The combination of Pecorino Romano and Parmigiano-Reggiano provides a depth of flavor that is simply irresistible.
    • Easy: This recipe is super simple and can be made in just 20 minutes, making it the perfect weeknight dinner.
    • Quick: While the pasta is cooking, the bacon and the egg and cheese mixture can be prepared, saving you even more time. Speaking of quick, be sure to try our One Pan Vegetable Pasta too.
    • Flexible: You can add a little extra pepper or cheese depending on your personal preference.

    Key Ingredients

    • Spaghetti – This is the star of our dish. Use dry spaghetti for the best results.
    • Eggs – We’ll be using two of these to make a creamy, delicious sauce.
    • Pecorino Romano and Parmigiano-Reggiano – These two cheeses, when combined, add a unique and tangy flavor to our carbonara.
    • Garlic – Just a couple of cloves, minced, to add a robust, aromatic flavor to our dish.
    • Parsley – We’ll finely chop some of this to add a fresh, herby note to our carbonara.

    Substitutions and Variations

    Here are some of our favorite substitutions and variations:

    • Pasta: While spaghetti is the traditional choice for this dish, feel free to substitute with any pasta of your choice.
    • Meat: Pancetta is commonly used in carbonara, but bacon is a great substitute. If you want to make it vegetarian, you can use mushrooms or tofu bacon.
    • Cheese: If you can't find Pecorino Romano or Parmigiano-Reggiano, feel free to use regular Romano or Parmesan cheese. But do try to find the real deal cheeses, as they really make a difference in flavor.

    How to Make Easy Spaghetti Carbonara

    Step 1: Boil spaghetti until al dente. In a separate pan, sauté bacon until crispy.

    Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, salt, pepper, garlic, and both cheeses. Set this bowl over a pot of boiling water to warm, then add the cooked spaghetti and whisk.

    Step 3: Add the bacon and serve immediately, garnished with parsley.

    For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.

    It's a love at first sight! Eggs, cheese and bacon are a no-fail combo. If you've never tried Spaghetti Carbonara, you gotta do it now. It has a silky smooth texture, incredible flavor and rich taste.

    What to Serve with Easy Spaghetti Carbonara

    Salad

    • Pasta Carbonara is a complete meal on its own but you can also serve it with a microgreens salad, if you like. A simple green salad or a Caesar salad both go well with this creamy pasta dish.

    Protein

    • If you're looking to add some extra protein to your meal, you can serve spaghetti carbonara with a side of grilled chicken or shrimp. The flavors of the pasta work really well with both of these options.

    Bread

    • For a cozy Italian dinner, serve spaghetti carbonara with a side of garlic focaccia. You can use the bread to soak up any extra sauce and it's always a hit with kids and adults alike.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I use other types of pasta for this recipe?

    Yes, you can. While traditional spaghetti is the classic choice for carbonara, you can use other long pasta shapes like fettuccine, linguini, or bucatini. You can even try it with short pasta like rigatoni or penne if you prefer.

    Why do you set the bowl of egg and cheese mixture over a pot of boiling water?

    This is a technique called "tempering". It gently heats the eggs without scrambling them, ensuring that they combine smoothly with the pasta and form a creamy sauce.

    Can I use pre-grated cheese for this recipe?

    It's best to use freshly grated Pecorino Romano and Parmigiano-Reggiano for this recipe. Pre-grated cheese often contains anti-caking agents that can prevent it from melting as smoothly. The flavor of freshly grated cheese is also superior.

    How long does spaghetti carbonara keep?

    Spaghetti carbonara is best enjoyed fresh, but if you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat it gently on the stovetop, adding a little extra cream or pasta water to help loosen the sauce.

    Recipe

    Spaghetti carbonara with bacon on white plate.

    Easy Spaghetti Carbonara

    This Easy Spaghetti Carbonara is comfort food at its best. Made with crispy bacon and a delicious combination of Italian cheeses, this flavorful pasta will quickly become your favorite hearty meal.
    4.50 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Entree, Main Course
    Cuisine: Italian
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Servings: 2
    Calories: 848kcal
    Author: Iryna Bychkiv
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    Ingredients

    • 5 oz spaghetti
    • 7 strips of bacon
    • 2 garlic cloves minced
    • 2 eggs
    • ½ cup Pecorino Romano grated
    • ½ cup Parmigiano-Reggiano grated
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper
    • 2 tablespoons parsley finely chopped

    Instructions

    • In a large pot of salted boiling water, add spaghetti and cook until al dente.
    • Meanwhile, in a medium non-stick skillet and on a medium heat, add bacon and saute until it's nice and crisp and the fat is rendered, about 4-5 minutes. Transfer the bacon onto a paper towel.
    • In a large bowl, whisk the eggs. Add salt, pepper, garlic, Pecorino-Romano and Parmigiano-Reggiano.
    • Set the bowl of egg and cheese mixture over a pot of boiling water or place it on a slightly heated stove. Let it warm up for a few minutes before adding pasta, whisking from time to time to prevent eggs from cooking.
    • Using tongs, quickly add spaghetti into the egg and cheese mixture and mix well until sauce thickens. If it seems too dry, add more pasta cooking water 2-3 tablespoons at a time. The sauce should become silky and smooth. The trick is to use hot pasta right out of the pot.
    • Remove the bowl from the heat and stir in bacon.
    • Serve immediately and garnish with chopped parsley.
    • Enjoy!

    Notes

    Meat: Pancetta is commonly used in carbonara, but bacon is a great substitute. If you want to make it vegetarian, you can use mushrooms or tofu bacon.
    Cheese: If you can't find Pecorino Romano or Parmigiano-Reggiano, feel free to use regular Romano or Parmesan cheese. But do try to find the real deal cheeses, as they really make a difference in flavor.
    Storage: Spaghetti carbonara is best enjoyed fresh, but if you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat it gently on the stovetop, adding a little extra cream or pasta water to help loosen the sauce.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 848kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 49g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 19g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 258mg | Sodium: 1861mg | Potassium: 453mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 904IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 618mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @Lavender.And.Macarons or tag #lavenderandmacarons!

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    Iryna Bychkiv
    Website

    Iryna Bychkiv is the founder and writer of the culinary website Lavender & Macarons, where she shares clean, European-inspired recipes that are delicious, easy to prepare, and made with wholesome ingredients. Iryna loves creating meals that are simple yet healthy and unique, including vegan and vegetarian recipes.
    Iryna is also a freelance writer for MSN and Associated Press Wire.

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    Comments

    1. BRIAN FORD says

      April 01, 2023 at 2:45 pm

      3 stars
      Carbonara, at the very least needs pancetta, not standard bacon. Never, ever use garlic. The flavors of carbonara are soft and subtle, garlic just over powers all the wonderful flavors and creaminess that a good carbonara offers.

      Reply
    2. Kulia says

      December 31, 2016 at 7:53 am

      So beautiful! And I think it's very tasty.

      Reply
      • Iryna says

        December 31, 2016 at 10:02 am

        🙂

        Reply
    4.50 from 4 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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