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Creamy Bacon and Pea Carbonara

A quick and creamy bacon-and-pea carbonara that’s comforting and indulgent, ready in about 20 minutes.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 550

Ingredients
  

Pasta
  • 200 g spaghetti About half a standard box; substitute gluten-free spaghetti if needed.
Main Ingredients
  • 100 g bacon, diced Can substitute with pancetta or prosciutto.
  • 1 cup frozen peas Fresh peas okay; add a minute earlier.
  • 2 large eggs Use pasteurized eggs for extra safety.
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese Can substitute with Pecorino Romano.
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • to taste Salt
  • to taste freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil Or use the bacon fat for extra flavor.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti until al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining.
  2. While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced bacon and cook until crispy and golden, about 6–8 minutes.
  3. Stir in minced garlic and frozen peas. Cook for another 2–3 minutes until the peas are heated through and the garlic is fragrant.
  4. In a bowl, whisk the two eggs with the grated Parmesan until smooth. For safety and creaminess, you can whisk in a tablespoon of hot pasta water to temper the eggs.
Cooking
  1. Drain the spaghetti and immediately add it to the skillet with the bacon and peas. Remove the skillet from the heat.
  2. Quickly pour the egg-and-cheese mixture over the pasta, stirring constantly to form a creamy sauce. Add reserved pasta water a splash at a time if you need to loosen the sauce.
  3. Season with salt and plenty of black pepper. Serve right away.

Notes

For a creamier texture, add a splash (1–2 tbsp) of pasta water after tossing. Store leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate within 2 hours. Use pasteurized eggs for food safety.