Easy Spaghetti Carbonara Recipe

This Easy Spaghetti Carbonara Recipe will always satisfy your pasta craving. In the time it takes to bake a frozen pizza, you can enjoy a homemade meal that rivals your favorite Italian restaurant.

From Si: “Remember my friend Tessa? I love Tessa. And I love almost anything she cooks. She whipped up this spaghetti carbonara for me several years ago and it’s still one of my favorites. You probably have everything you need to make it right in your fridge.”

Just 6 ingredients

Keep these six ingredients on hand for a quick meal that is truly next level.

Spaghetti is the foundation of this dish. See “How to Choose the Best Pasta” (below) for shopping tips that will help.

Unsalted butter creates a rich, creamy flavor. Because the cheese and bacon are naturally salty, you may not need additional salt.

Whipping cream adds richness and creates the smooth sauce that makes this dish so satisfying.

Fresh Parmesan cheese (not the powdered cheese in the green can!) adds incredible flavor and texture. Grating fresh cheese is worth the effort.

Chopped bacon gives a savory, salty crunch that perfectly complements this creamy, comforting dish.

Our tips for Carbonara success

These few simple tips make this dish even better:

1. Save time by cooking the bacon while the pasta water comes to a boil. You can also use pre-cooked bacon for an even quicker meal.
2. Fresh Parmesan cheese takes only a few minutes to grate and tastes far better than the powdered cheese in the green can!
3. This dish stays smooth and creamy longer when served in warmed bowls or plates. While preparing the carbonara, preheat the oven to 250 degrees, then turn the oven off. Place oven-safe serving bowls or plates in the warm oven until ready to serve.

How to Choose the Best Pasta

Not all pasta is created equal! Choosing high-quality pasta takes your meal to the next level. Here’s what we learned:

Look for pasta that is a light ivory color with a matte, opaque, almost chalky appearance. Avoid shiny, dark yellow pasta, which is lower in quality.

Bronze-cut pasta has a slightly rough, sandpaper-like texture that helps sauces cling to the pasta.

Choose pasta with 14–16 grams of protein per 100 grams. Higher protein pasta holds its shape better and helps create a creamier sauce. These pastas take 10–12 minutes to cook, but the texture and flavor are worth the extra time.

With these simple tips, you’ll be able to choose pasta like a pro. Spending a little more on quality pasta makes a noticeable difference in the final dish!

How Can I Use Egg Whites?

This carbonara recipe uses 4 egg yokes – but don’t throw away the whites! We’ve got three incredible cake recipes that use egg whites. Cake is a perfect way to end your pasta meal!

Try ABK’s 7 Ingredient Spanish Almond Cake, Pina Colada Cake, or The Best Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting. When you try them, please comment below. We love to hear from you!