Express Spaghetti Carbonara (Printable)

Silky eggs and crispy bacon combine with Parmesan and spaghetti for a creamy, quick meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 7 oz dried spaghetti

→ Sauce

02 - 2 large eggs
03 - 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
04 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ Bacon

05 - 3.5 oz diced bacon or pancetta

→ To Serve

06 - Extra Parmesan for garnish
07 - Freshly cracked black pepper

# How To Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti until al dente following package directions. Reserve 1/3 cup pasta water, then drain.
02 - In a bowl, whisk together eggs, grated Parmesan, and black pepper until fully combined.
03 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced bacon and fry until golden and crisp, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat.
04 - Add drained pasta to the skillet off the heat. Quickly pour in the egg-Parmesan mixture. Toss vigorously, gradually adding reserved pasta water until sauce is creamy and coats spaghetti evenly.
05 - Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan and freshly cracked black pepper.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 20 minutes but tastes like something from a trattoria
  • The creamy sauce forms without any cream, just eggs and cheese doing their thing
02 -
  • The skillet must be off the heat when you add eggs or they scramble
  • Pasta water is the secret that transforms the sauce from clumpy to creamy
03 -
  • Use tongs to toss the pasta continuously for the creamiest results
  • If your sauce feels too loose, keep tossing and it will thicken as it stands
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