Imagine twirling your fork into a creamy, luxurious pasta dish that looks like it came straight from a Roman trattoria, but can be prepared with just FOUR ingredients and minimal cooking skills. This Spaghetti Carbonara isn't just a recipe—it's a culinary magic trick that transforms simple pantry staples into a restaurant-quality meal that will make your taste buds dance and your dinner guests think you're a secret Italian chef!
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 25 mins
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 2 servings
Ingredients
- spaghetti
- eggs
- parmesan cheese
- pancetta
Instructions
- Begin by gathering all your ingredients: spaghetti, eggs, grated Parmesan cheese, and pancetta. Ensure that the pancetta is diced into small cubes for even cooking.
- Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, add a generous pinch of salt to the water. This will season the spaghetti as it cooks.
- While the water is heating, crack the eggs into a mixing bowl. Add the grated Parmesan cheese to the bowl and whisk them together until well combined. This mixture will create a creamy sauce when combined with the hot pasta.
- Once the water is boiling, add the spaghetti to the pot. Cook according to the package instructions until al dente, usually around 8-10 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent the spaghetti from sticking together.
- While the spaghetti is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced pancetta to the skillet and cook until it is crispy and golden brown, which should take about 5-7 minutes. Stir occasionally to ensure even cooking.
- When the pancetta is cooked, remove the skillet from the heat. This is important because you want to avoid scrambling the eggs when you combine them with the pasta.
- Once the spaghetti is cooked, reserve about 1 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the spaghetti in a colander. Immediately add the hot spaghetti to the skillet with the pancetta, tossing to combine.
- Next, quickly pour the egg and cheese mixture over the hot spaghetti. Toss everything together vigorously, adding a little reserved pasta water as needed to create a creamy sauce. The heat from the spaghetti will cook the eggs gently, forming a silky coating over the pasta.
- Continue to toss until the spaghetti is well coated and the sauce is creamy. If the sauce is too thick, add more reserved pasta water, a little at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.
- Serve the spaghetti carbonara immediately, garnished with extra grated Parmesan cheese and freshly cracked black pepper, if desired. Enjoy your delicious, four-ingredient spaghetti carbonara!
Tips
- Use room temperature eggs for smoother sauce integration
- Always reserve pasta water - it's the secret to achieving the perfect creamy consistency
- Remove the pan from heat before adding eggs to prevent scrambling
- Use high-quality Parmesan cheese for maximum flavor
- Toss the pasta quickly and vigorously to create a silky, emulsified sauce
- Serve immediately while the carbonara is hot and at its creamy best
- Don't add cream - authentic carbonara gets its richness from eggs and cheese
- Use pancetta or guanciale for the most traditional flavor profile
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 408kcal
Carbohydrates: 33g
Protein: 24g
Fat: 21g
Saturated Fat: g
Cholesterol: 241mg
