Chicken Carbonara Recipe
User Reviews
4.6
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
20 mins
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Total Time
30 mins
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Servings
4 people
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Calories
981 kcal
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Course
Main Course
Chicken Carbonara Recipe
Description
The Chicken Carbonara Recipe brings together traditional carbonara elements with chicken tenderloins for added protein. Thick-cut bacon is cooked until crisp, providing a smoky flavor and bacon fat to coat the pasta. Meanwhile, chicken tenders are seasoned, seared in the rendered bacon fat, and sliced.
Spaghetti is cooked in salted water until just shy of al dente, as it will finish cooking when combined with the hot bacon-garlic mixture. Garlic is briefly sautéed to release aroma without browning. The hot pasta is tossed with garlic and bacon fat before being removed from heat. A sauce made of egg yolks, freshly grated Parmesan, heavy cream, salt, and pepper is quickly mixed in while tossing continually, creating a creamy coating on the noodles without scrambling the eggs.
This dish can be served immediately as a filling main course. It pairs well with garlicky bread or lightly sautéed vegetables to complement the rich sauce. The combination of tender chicken, crisp bacon, and smooth sauce creates a balanced texture and savory flavor profile.
Storing leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator keeps the dish good for up to three days. Reserving some pasta cooking water before draining helps adjust the sauce consistency when reheating. Avoid overcooking the pasta initially to maintain a pleasant bite after sauce integration.
Ingredients
- 6 lices Bacon chopped, thick-cut
- 6 large egg yolk
- 1 cup Parmesan Cheese freshly grated
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper ground
- 6 chicken tenderloin boneless, skinless
- 1 pound spaghetti 1 box, dry
- 3 cloves garlic minced
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Season liberally with salt.
- Heat a large skillet over medium. Add the bacon and cook until crisp. Use a slotted spoon to remove it. Drain on a paper towel.
- While the bacon cooks, add egg yolks, parmesan cheese, cream, salt, and pepper to a medium bowl. Whisk to combine.
- Season chicken tenders with salt and pepper on both sides. Add to the rendered bacon fat and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 2-3 minutes per side. Set aside and slice.
- While the chicken cooks, drop the pasta into the water. Cook until just under al dente (it will continue to cook when you toss the pasta with the sauce.)
- Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside. Lower the heat to medium and add garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Use tongs to transfer the pasta to the pan with the garlic and bacon fat. Toss to combine. Reserve ½ cup of the starchy cooking liquid.
- Remove the pan from the heat and while tossing the pasta, pour in the egg, cream, and cheese mixture. Toss together and place back over a low flame. Continue to toss the pasta until the cheese melts and the sauce is thick, about 2-3 minutes. Do not turn the heat up too high or you could curdle the eggs, a very low heat works great. Add the bacon back in and toss again. If needed, add pasta water ¼ cup at a time to reach desired consistency of sauce.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper. Arrange chicken on top. Serve!
Notes
- Cook the pasta al dente since it will continue cooking in the sauce to avoid mushiness.
- Reserve some of the pasta cooking water to thin the sauce if needed when mixing.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container refrigerated for up to 3 days.
- Serve with garlic bread or sautéed vegetables for a complete meal.
- Be sure to remove the pan from heat before adding the egg-based sauce to prevent scrambling.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 981 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 981kcal | 49% |
| Carbohydrates | 89g | 30% |
| Protein | 52g | 104% |
| Fat | 45g | 69% |
| Saturated Fat | 18g | 90% |
| Cholesterol | 419mg | 140% |
| Sodium | 1145mg | 48% |
| Potassium | 718mg | 15% |
| Fiber | 4g | 16% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 867IU | 17% |
| Vitamin C | 2mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 356mg | 36% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.6
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