0 from 27 votes
Spaghetti Carbonara
How to make the best spaghetti carbonara from scratch with only five ingredients. This homemade carbonara is made with nutty parmigiano reggiano cheese, pancetta, spaghetti, creamy egg yolks, and black pepper.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 591 kcal
Course:
Dinner
Cuisine:
Italian
Ingredients
- 4 ounces pancetta (or Guanciale or Bacon)
- 1 cup Parmigiano Reggiano * (or pecorino romano, freshly grated)
- 3 large egg yolks
- 1 large egg
- 12 ounces Spaghetti
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup pasta water
Instructions
- Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil over high heat. Add a generous amount of salt to the pot. Stir the spaghetti into the boiling water. Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water. This is starchy water that adds flavor to the carbonara sauce.
- While pasta is cooking, cook the pancetta, guancile, or bacon until cooked through. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
- In a bowl, stir together egg yolks, egg, and parmigiano reggiano cheese until combined. Stir in pepper.
- Once pasta is cooked, drain, and then toss spaghetti with pancetta (or guancile). Once it is tossed, ladle in the cheese/egg mixture, a little at a time. If needed, stir in 1/2 cup of pasta water to coat until the mixture coats the pasta.
- Serve with freshly cracked black pepper and freshly grated cheese.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- I suggest freshly grating the parmigiano reggiano cheese. I don't suggest using packaged grated parmesan cheese for this recipe because it doesn't easily melt into the sauce.
- Use chopped, small pieces of pancetta, guanciale, or high-quality bacon.
- When pasta is almost finished cooking, remove 1 cup of the starchy pasta water. You will only use 1/2 cup of pasta water in the carbonara but if you want a thinner sauce, you can add more.
Nutrition Information
Calories
591kcal
(30%)
Carbohydrates
65g
(22%)
Protein
27g
(54%)
Fat
24g
(37%)
Saturated Fat
10g
(50%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
3g
Monounsaturated Fat
9g
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
220mg
(73%)
Sodium
764mg
(32%)
Potassium
300mg
(9%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
3g
(6%)
Vitamin A
457IU
(9%)
Calcium
340mg
(34%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 591
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 591kcal | 30% |
| Carbohydrates | 65g | 22% |
| Protein | 27g | 54% |
| Fat | 24g | 37% |
| Saturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3g | 18% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 9g | 45% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 220mg | 73% |
| Sodium | 764mg | 32% |
| Potassium | 300mg | 6% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 457IU | 9% |
| Calcium | 340mg | 34% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.