Description
This classic Spaghetti Carbonara recipe offers a creamy, flavorful Italian pasta dish made with crispy bacon, a rich egg and Parmesan cheese sauce, and a blend of aromatic herbs and spices. Quick and easy to prepare, it’s perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 ounces dry spaghetti noodles (¾ box)
Carbonara Sauce
- 3 large eggs (room temperature)
- 1¼ cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Bacon and Finishing Touches
- 9 slices bacon (diced)
- 1 tablespoon salted butter (melted, optional)
- Fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Boil the pasta: Cook the spaghetti noodles in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, following the package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining the noodles.
- Prepare the sauce: In a bowl, whisk together the room temperature eggs, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, dried basil, dried rosemary, and ground black pepper until well combined. Set this mixture aside.
- Cook the bacon: Heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat and cook the diced bacon until crispy. Drain the rendered fat and transfer the crispy bacon to a large mixing bowl.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the hot cooked spaghetti immediately to the bowl with the crispy bacon. Quickly pour in the egg and Parmesan mixture and toss vigorously to coat the pasta evenly, allowing the eggs to gently cook with the residual heat, creating a creamy sauce without scrambling.
- Adjust sauce consistency: Gradually add the reserved pasta cooking water, up to 1 cup, as needed to achieve your desired sauce creaminess and consistency.
- Serve: If desired, drizzle melted salted butter over the pasta for extra richness. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and an additional sprinkle of ground black pepper before serving.
Notes
- Using room temperature eggs helps prevent the sauce from scrambling when mixed with the hot pasta.
- Reserve pasta water is key to adjusting the sauce consistency and adding silkiness.
- For a dairy-free variation, omit the Parmesan and butter, or substitute with vegan cheese alternatives.
- Fresh parsley adds a pop of color and mild freshness that balances the richness of the dish.
- Cook bacon until crispy for the best texture contrast in this classic carbonara.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Spaghetti, Carbonara, Italian Pasta, Bacon, Parmesan, Creamy Pasta, Quick Dinner, Classic Italian
