Looking for a quick and easy meal that feels fancy? Pasta carbonara is low on effort but big on flavor! Serve it as a weeknight dinner or dress it up for a date night at home.
Prep Time 20 minutesminutes
Servings 6
Ingredients
1pounddried spaghetti or bucatini
8ouncesguanciale, pancetta, smoked jowl bacon, or regular bacon cut into pieces
In a large pot, bring 4 quarts of heavily salted water to a boil.
While the water is heating, add the guanciale, pancetta, or bacon and the olive oil to a pan over medium heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until most of the fat has rendered and the meat is brown and crisp. Remove the meat from the pan to a paper-towel-lined plate; reserve the rendered fat.
When the water is boiling, add the pasta and cook until just al dente, about 8-10 minutes depending on the pasta (check the box for recommended cooking time).
While the pasta cooks, whisk together the eggs, egg yolks, and cheeses in a bowl.
Drain the cooked pasta, reserving 1 cup of the pasta water. Return the pasta to the pot. Add the cooked guanciale/pancetta/bacon and rendered fat to the pasta; toss to coat.
Slowly whisk about ¼ cup of the hot pasta water into the egg and cheese mixture, tempering the eggs. Add this mixture to the pasta and toss until the sauce is glossy and creamy, adding more of the pasta water as needed.
Season with the salt and pepper. Serve immediately with additional grated cheese, black pepper, and/or a sprinkling of chopped parsley.
Notes
Guanciale or pancetta are considered traditional to this dish, but smoked jowl bacon or regular bacon works just as well and are sometimes easier to find.You can add thawed frozen peas, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, or other similar additions for a less traditional, but still delicious, twist.