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Creamy Bacon Carbonara Pasta

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This Creamy Bacon Carbonara Pasta is a quick, comforting dinner for two, featuring silky egg-parmesan sauce, crispy bacon, and perfectly cooked pasta. Ready in just 20 minutes, it’s a foolproof, crowd-pleasing meal that’s rich, velvety, and irresistibly delicious.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 oz dried spaghetti or fettuccine (about 170 g)
  • 4 strips thick-cut bacon (about 3 oz / 85 g), chopped
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese (about 70 g)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced (optional)
  • Salt, to taste
  • Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
  • 1/2 cup reserved pasta water (120 ml)
  • 1 tsp olive oil (optional, for sautéing bacon if pan is dry)

Instructions

  1. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti and cook until al dente, about 8-9 minutes, stirring occasionally. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
  2. While pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped bacon (and olive oil if needed). Cook, stirring occasionally, until bacon is golden and crispy, about 5-6 minutes. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving about 1 tbsp bacon fat in the pan.
  3. With bacon fat still in the skillet, add minced garlic (if using). Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk together eggs and grated parmesan. Season with a pinch of salt and plenty of black pepper.
  5. Add drained pasta to the skillet over low heat. Toss with garlic and bacon. Remove pan from heat.
  6. Quickly pour the egg-parmesan mixture over pasta, tossing with tongs to coat. Add reserved pasta water, a little at a time, until sauce is creamy and clings to noodles.
  7. Divide between two bowls. Sprinkle with extra parmesan and black pepper. Top with crispy bacon bits. Serve immediately.

Notes

For best results, use room temperature eggs and freshly grated parmesan. Move quickly when combining the sauce to avoid scrambling the eggs. If the sauce is too thick, add more pasta water; if too thin, toss longer off the heat. For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free pasta. Pancetta can be substituted for bacon. Serve immediately for the creamiest texture.

Nutrition

Keywords: carbonara, bacon pasta, creamy pasta, easy dinner, Italian, quick pasta, date night, comfort food, weeknight meal

Find it online: https://atomicbite.com/creamy-bacon-carbonara-pasta-recipe-easy-20-minute-dinner-for-two/