Creamy Chicken Carbonara
This comforting pasta dish combines tender chicken and crispy bacon in a silky sauce made without any heavy cream.
recipesbynani.comMy family loves this recipe because it feels fancy enough for a weekend dinner but comes together quickly on a busy weeknight. The secret is using the starchy pasta water and eggs to create that rich, velvety sauce that coats every single noodle perfectly.
Make sure your pan is off the heat when you add the egg mixture. This simple step keeps the eggs smooth and creamy instead of scrambling them. It is a little trick that makes all the difference in achieving that professional texture at home.
🧺 Ingredients
- 8 ounces spaghetti
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound chicken breast, cut into small bite sized pieces
- 4 strips bacon, chopped
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish
👩🍳Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti according to the package directions.
- 2
Reserve about half a cup of the pasta water before you drain the noodles.
- 3
In a large skillet, cook the chopped bacon over medium heat until it is nice and crispy.
- 4
Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set it aside, but leave the fat in the pan.
- 5
Add the chicken pieces to the skillet and cook until they are golden brown and fully cooked through.
- 6
Stir in the garlic and cook for about one minute until it smells fragrant.
- 7
In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and the Parmesan cheese.
- 8
Add the drained pasta and the crispy bacon into the skillet with the chicken.
- 9
Remove the skillet from the heat entirely.
- 10
Pour the egg and cheese mixture over the pasta and toss quickly, adding a splash of the reserved pasta water as needed to create a smooth, creamy sauce.
- 11
Season with plenty of black pepper and serve immediately with a sprinkle of fresh parsley.
💡 Tips
Serve this dish immediately while it is hot for the best texture. If you have leftovers, keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days. Gently reheat it on the stove with a tiny splash of water to bring the sauce back to life.
Made this recipe? Let us know how it went.
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