Description
A classic Italian pasta dish made with just five simple ingredients—spaghetti, pancetta, eggs, Parmesan cheese, and black pepper—for a quick, comforting dinner ready in under 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz spaghetti
- 6 oz pancetta, diced
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup (100g) freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
- 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
- Salt, for pasta water
Instructions
- Grate Parmesan cheese and crack eggs into a bowl. Whisk eggs and cheese together until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
- Dice pancetta into small cubes or strips. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.
- Add spaghetti to boiling water and cook until just shy of al dente (about 1-2 minutes less than package instructions). Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Drain pasta and set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add pancetta and cook until crispy and golden, about 4-5 minutes. Remove skillet from heat.
- Add drained pasta to skillet with pancetta off the heat. Toss gently to coat pasta in rendered fat.
- Pour egg and cheese mixture over pasta, tossing quickly with tongs or fork. Add reserved pasta water a splash at a time to loosen sauce to desired silky consistency.
- Grind plenty of fresh black pepper over the top. Taste and add salt if needed. Serve immediately with extra grated Parmesan on the side.
Notes
Use room temperature eggs to prevent clumping. Do not add cream; authentic carbonara uses eggs and cheese for creaminess. Add reserved pasta water gradually to control sauce texture. Keep skillet off heat when adding egg mixture to avoid scrambling. Use freshly grated Parmesan for best texture and flavor.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approxima
- Calories: 520
- Sodium: 680
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Protein: 25
Keywords: carbonara, Italian pasta, pancetta, easy dinner, quick pasta recipe, authentic carbonara, simple ingredients