Description
Learn to make authentic Spaghetti Carbonara, a classic Roman pasta dish. This recipe uses simple ingredients like guanciale, eggs, Pecorino Romano, and black pepper to create a creamy, silky sauce without any cream, ready in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 400 g (14 oz) spaghetti
- 150 g (5 oz) guanciale (or pancetta, or thick-cut bacon)
- 3 large egg yolks + 1 whole egg
- 100 g (1 cup) Pecorino Romano, finely grated
- Salt, for pasta water
- Freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti and cook until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- In a skillet, cook guanciale over medium heat until golden and crispy, about 5–7 minutes. Keep the rendered fat in the pan.
- In a bowl, whisk egg yolks, whole egg, Pecorino Romano, and plenty of black pepper until creamy.
- Add drained spaghetti to the skillet with guanciale. Toss well so every strand absorbs the rendered fat.
- Remove skillet from heat. Gradually add the egg mixture while tossing quickly to prevent scrambling. Add splashes of pasta water until the sauce becomes silky and coats the pasta.
- Plate immediately, top with more Pecorino and black pepper, and enjoy while hot.
Notes
- Use guanciale for the most authentic flavor.
- Remove from heat before adding eggs to avoid scrambling.
- Save pasta water; it’s key to a glossy sauce.
- Pecorino Romano cheese provides the signature sharp, salty flavor.
- Work quickly and toss vigorously when combining pasta with the egg mixture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Per serving
- Calories: 570 kcal
- Sugar: N/A
- Sodium: 690 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 58 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 195 mg
Keywords: Spaghetti Carbonara, Authentic Spaghetti Carbonara recipe, Easy Spaghetti Carbonara, How to make Spaghetti Carbonara, Classic Carbonara pasta, Guanciale Carbonara recipe, Pecorino Romano Carbonara, Traditional Carbonara recipe