Description
Creamy, classic chicken carbonara delivers Italian comfort straight to dinner tables with irresistible charm. Rich parmesan, smoky pancetta, and silky eggs blend perfectly, inviting home cooks to savor Rome’s most beloved pasta tradition.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein Ingredients:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 2 large eggs
Carbohydrate and Pasta Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) spaghetti or fettuccine
Seasoning and Flavor Ingredients:
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil pasta in a large pot of salted water until al dente, maintaining a tender yet firm texture. Carefully extract and preserve half a cup of starchy cooking liquid before draining the remaining pasta.
- Render bacon pieces in a spacious skillet over medium temperature, allowing them to transform into crispy, golden fragments. Transfer the bacon to a separate plate, intentionally preserving the rendered fat within the cooking vessel.
- Introduce olive oil to the skillet and sear chicken cubes seasoned with kosher salt and cracked black pepper. Cook until each piece develops a rich, caramelized exterior and reaches complete internal doneness.
- Reduce skillet temperature and gently toast minced garlic, releasing its aromatic essence without allowing it to brown or burn.
- Create a silky sauce base by whisking eggs, velvety heavy cream, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese in a separate mixing bowl. Gradually incorporate the reserved pasta water while continuously stirring to prevent egg scrambling.
- Reintroduce pasta to the skillet, coating each strand with the residual bacon fat and chicken drippings. Immediately pour the tempered egg mixture, swiftly stirring to ensure a smooth, creamy coating.
- Fold in the crispy bacon and perfectly cooked chicken, allowing the ingredients to harmonize and warm through gently.
- Finish the dish with a vibrant sprinkle of chopped parsley and an additional dusting of Parmesan cheese, creating a visually appealing and flavor-packed presentation.
Notes
- Tempering eggs carefully prevents curdling, so slowly add hot pasta water while whisking constantly to create smooth, silky sauce.
- Using room temperature eggs helps achieve better sauce consistency and reduces risk of scrambling when mixing with hot ingredients.
- Crispy bacon provides essential texture contrast, so cook until golden brown and drain excess grease for maximum crunchiness.
- Gluten-free option works perfectly by substituting regular pasta with zucchini noodles or gluten-free pasta without compromising flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 220 mg