This Easy Carbonara is the real deal, no cream, no shortcuts, just silky, cheesy, porky perfection in 20 minutes. Guanciale crisps up into salty little flavor bombs, fresh eggs and Pecorino Romano create a glossy sauce that clings to every strand, and a splash of pasta water brings it all together. Master the technique, and you’ll never need another Carbonara recipe again!
Prep time: PT10M
Cook time: PT10M
Total time: PT20M
Rating
5 stars (11 reviews)
Keywords
carbonara, carbonara recipe
Ingredients
14 ounces spaghetti
5 ounces guanciale (or pancetta, diced)
3 large eggs
1 cup Pecorino Romano cheese (freshly grated)
ground black pepepr (freshly ground, to taste)
salt (for pasta water)
Categories
Dinner
Lunch
Cuisine
Italian
Steps
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Toss in your spaghetti and cook it until it's al dente. That's usually about 1 minute less than what the package says.
While the pasta's cooking, grab a large skillet and heat it over medium heat. Toss in the diced pancetta or guanciale. Cook it until it's beautifully crispy – that's usually about 5-7 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, Pecorino Romano, and a generous sprinkle of black pepper. This mix is the heart of your Carbonara.
Once your pasta is perfectly al dente, save about 1 cup of the pasta water and then drain the rest. Now, here's the critical part – while the pasta is still really hot, add it to the skillet with the pancetta/guanciale. Toss it quickly to coat it in the fat.
Then, remove the skillet from the heat and pour in your egg and cheese mixture. Toss everything together swiftly. The heat from the pasta cooks the egg, creating a creamy sauce. If it's too thick, add a bit of the reserved pasta water.
Carbonara waits for no one. Serve it hot with a bit more grated cheese and a sprinkle of black pepper.
Nutitrion
Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 666 kcal
Carbohydrates: 76 g
Protein: 30 g
Fat: 26 g
Saturated Fat: 10 g
Trans Fat: 0.1 g
Cholesterol: 189 mg
Sodium: 594 mg
Sugar: 3 g
Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
Reviews
Yeva on 2025-03-04 (5 stars): so easy and delicious! thank you
Georgy on 2024-08-26 (5 stars): Now that's how Carbonara is made.. without cream! Italiani veri (😅) don't use cream when making Carbonara.
Tina on 2024-08-12 (5 stars): I found this easy to make and so good!
Susie wood on 2024-04-15 (5 stars): I am making it for a second time. It is delicious and nutritious. I used green beans instead of peas.
Barbara Allis on 2024-04-03 (5 stars): So authentic, no cream. And easy.