Description
This Best-Ever Chicken Carbonara is a creamy, cheesy pasta dish with crispy bacon, tender chicken, and a rich egg-Parmesan sauce. Ideal for a cozy weeknight dinner or special occasion, it's indulgent, satisfying, and easy to make.
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp black pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
For the Carbonara Sauce:
2 large eggs + 2 egg yolks
½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
½ tsp black pepper
For the Pasta:
8 oz spaghetti or fettuccine
4 slices bacon or pancetta, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
½ cup reserved pasta water
Fresh parsley & extra Parmesan for garnish
Instructions
-
Cook the Chicken:
- Heat olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
- Season the chicken with garlic powder and black pepper.
- Cook for 5-6 minutes until golden brown and fully cooked. Remove from heat and set aside.
-
Cook the Pasta:
- Boil pasta in salted water until al dente.
- Reserve ½ cup pasta water before draining.
-
Make the Sauce:
- In a bowl, whisk together eggs, egg yolks, Parmesan, and black pepper. Set aside.
-
Crisp the Bacon & Garlic:
- In the same pan, cook bacon until crispy. Remove and drain on paper towels.
- Sauté garlic in the bacon drippings for 30 seconds.
-
Combine Everything:
- Reduce heat to low, then add the hot pasta to the pan.
- Quickly toss in the egg-Parmesan mixture, stirring constantly.
- Add reserved pasta water a little at a time until creamy.
- Stir in the chicken and crispy bacon.
-
Serve & Enjoy!
- Garnish with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan.
- Serve immediately and enjoy the creamy, smoky, and cheesy goodness!
Notes
This dish can be adjusted with variations like pancetta instead of bacon for an authentic Italian taste or mushrooms for a vegetarian version. For extra richness, you can add a splash of cream to the sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 servings
