Best-Ever Chicken Carbonara Recipe
Description:
Best-Ever Chicken Carbonara is a creamy, indulgent pasta dish combining tender chicken, crispy bacon, and a rich Parmesan egg sauce. The classic Italian-inspired carbonara is elevated with the addition of juicy chicken, making it a heartier meal. Perfect for a comforting dinner, this dish comes together quickly and easily for a restaurant-quality meal at home.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner, Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces spaghetti or fettuccine
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup heavy cream (optional, for extra creaminess)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta.
- Cook the chicken: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Cook for 5-7 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
- Cook the bacon: In the same skillet, add the chopped bacon and cook until crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet and set it aside, leaving the bacon fat in the pan.
- Sauté garlic: Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Turn off the heat to avoid scrambling the eggs in the next step.
- Prepare the sauce: In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, Parmesan cheese, heavy cream (if using), black pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the garlic and bacon fat. Pour the egg mixture over the pasta, tossing quickly to coat the pasta without cooking the eggs. Add reserved pasta water a little at a time until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
- Add chicken and bacon: Return the cooked chicken and bacon to the skillet, tossing to combine with the pasta and sauce.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- For an authentic carbonara, skip the cream and rely solely on the egg and cheese mixture for the creamy texture.
- Use pancetta instead of bacon for a more traditional Italian flavor.
- Make sure the skillet is not too hot when adding the egg mixture to avoid scrambling the eggs.
Find it online: https://recipe.ukfinda.com/best-ever-chicken-carbonara-recipe/