How To Make Pasta Carbonara

If you love creamy Italian Pasta, this Spaghetti Carbonara recipe is the perfect choice! Made with eggs, cheese, and crispy pancetta, this dish brings rich flavor and silky texture in every bite. Whether it’s a romantic dinner or a quick comfort meal, homemade pasta carbonara never fails to impress.

This recipe uses simple ingredients but delivers restaurant-quality taste. It’s the kind of dish that looks fancy but is surprisingly easy to make ready in under 30 minutes!

Tools You Will Need

Step-by-Step Preparation

Step 1: Prep the Ingredients

Start by dicing your onion and cutting guanciale or pancetta into small bite-sized cubes. Grate the pecorino romano cheese and chop the parsley. Separate your egg yolks and whole eggs into a mixing bowl.

Step 2: Make the Creamy Egg Mixture

Whisk together 2 egg yolks, 2 whole eggs, and grated pecorino romano cheese. Mix until smooth and creamy. This will form the rich, velvety base of your carbonara sauce.

Step 3: Cook the Pasta

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti until al dente according to the package instructions. Reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water before draining.

Step 4: Render the Pancetta or Guanciale

In a large skillet, cook the diced guanciale or pancetta on medium-low heat. Let the fat slowly render out while turning occasionally until crispy and golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon but keep the fat in the pan.

Step 5: Sauté the Onion and Garlic

Add the diced onion to the same pan with the rendered fat and cook for 2–3 minutes until soft and fragrant. Add garlic (optional) and stir lightly.

Step 6: Combine Pasta and Sauce

Add your cooked pasta into the skillet with the pancetta and onion. Toss to coat the pasta evenly in the flavorful fat.
Turn off the heat and pour in the egg-cheese mixture while stirring constantly. The residual heat will thicken the sauce without scrambling the eggs. Add small amounts of reserved pasta water as needed for a smooth, glossy texture.

Step 7: Season and Garnish

Add salt, freshly ground black pepper, and chopped parsley. Toss again and sprinkle extra grated cheese for extra creaminess.

Step 8: Plate and Serve

Serve hot in bowls, topped with more pecorino romano cheese, black pepper, and a sprinkle of parsley. Enjoy your authentic spaghetti carbonara!

Final Thoughts

This easy pasta carbonara recipe proves that you don’t need fancy ingredients to make something incredible. With creamy eggs, salty pancetta, and nutty cheese, every forkful is rich, comforting, and full of Italian flavor.

Perfect for a Valentine’s dinner, family meal, or cozy night in, this dish pairs beautifully with garlic bread or a simple green salad. Try it once it’ll become your go-to pasta recipe in no time!