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30-Minute Spaghetti Carbonara

This Spaghetti Carbonara takes just 30 minutes to pull off, but it tastes like you spent much more time on it.  This quick dish is creamy, rich, smoky, and flavorful…something the entire family will devour in a blink!  Leftovers are delicious, if you’re lucky enough to have any.

Quick Spaghetti Carbonara

If there’s anything my family adores, it’s got to be bacon.  Second only to bacon is their love for cheesy pasta.  It’s no surprise that this Spaghetti Carbonara was an immediate hit the minute it landed on the dinner table.

I’ve long been a fan of spaghetti carbonara.  Who can resist?  It’s essentially a wonderfully creamy sauce smothered all over al dente pasta, laced with smoky bits of bacon and loaded with garlic.

I’ve eaten plenty of Spaghetti Carbonara at restaurants, but never realized it could be this easy and way more fabulous at home…

30-Min Spaghetti Carbonara

Despite summer having the reputation of being filled with lazy days, it seems our summer has been anything but.  This summer has been exceptionally active and full for us.

Maybe it’s the overlapping sports that all our boys are doing.  Or the out of town trips, both short and long.  It could be the full marathon I committed to during a moment of insanity.  Most likely, all of the above.

Regardless, it means I’m digging for as many easy and quick meal plans as possible.  Without sacrificing flavor because I’m still a foodie at heart.

Spaghetti Carbonara 2

We’ve enjoyed a few phenomenal 30-minute type meals around here lately.  From 30-minute Steamed Buns to 30-minute Spaghetti with Garlic and Olive Oil, we’ve been noshing on tasty meals in a flash.

I even took the liberty of giving you a few more totally yummy quick meal ideas below, should you be interested 🙂

This Spaghetti Carbonara is loaded with garlic (no skimping on the garlic, please) and plenty of parmesan and romano cheeses.  The pasta is cooked perfectly to al dente, which gives it a wonderful chew without being soggy.

Easy 'n quick spaghetti carbonara

And bacon.  No words needed for smoky bits of bacon in every bite.  It causes the entire dish to be infused with smoky goodness, which is absolutely deeee-vine.

Oh, and should you be lucky enough to have leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day, be forewarned that the leftovers are even more incredible.

Here’s to several more weeks of fun in the sun, and plenty of 30-minute homemade meals.

Enjoy!

30-Minute Spaghetti Carbonara

5 from 1 vote
This Spaghetti Carbonara tastes like you spent way more than just 30 minutes on it. Creamy, rich sauce coats perfectly cooked al dente pasta. Generously studded with bacon and garlic. Leftovers are amazing.
Servings: 4

Ingredients  

  • ¼ cpu extra virgin olive oil
  • 8 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into small pieces
  • ½ cup dry white wine
  • 3 large eggs
  • ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • ½ cup grated romano cheese
  • 4 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 lb dry spaghetti
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • ¼ cup chopped parsley for garnish

Instructions

  • Set a large oven-safe bowl in the oven and set oven to 200F, to keep bowl warm.
  • Bring a well-salted large pot of water to boil.
  • While water is heating up, heat up the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add bacon and cook, stirring, until browned and crisp. Add wine and simmer until slightly reduced, about 7 minutes. Toss in 1/4 tsp kosher salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper and stir. Remove from heat, cover, and set aside.
  • In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, cheeses, and garlic and set aside.
  • As soon as water in large pot boils, add pasta and cook just until al dente, according to package instructions; don't over cook. Reserve 1/2 cup of the hot pasta water and drain the rest (do not rinse pasta, just drain it.)
  • Remove hot bowl from the oven. Add the drained pasta and egg mixture into it, stirring well. Add bacon mixture and toss well to coat. Add parsley and toss. Adjust consistency with reserved hot pasta water if needed. Add kosher salt and pepper to taste, if needed.
  • Serve alongside additional fresh parmesan.
Course: Dinner, Pasta

Did you make this?

Leave a comment below and tag @chewoutloud on Instagram

 Source:  Chew Out Loud, adapted from Cooks Illustrated

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This 30-minute Spaghetti with Olive Oil and Garlic is no-fuss, no-frills, and simply delish.

Spaghetti with Garlic and olive oil

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Recipe Rating




14 comments

    • Andrea Busacca

    This was soo good! I added more bacon and a little more wine, but otherwise I followed the recipe. Delicious!

      • chewoutloud

      Yay, SO happy to hear you liked it, Andrea! 🙂 Thanks for letting us know!

    • Johanna

    Otherwise pretty darn good, except at least for us there was about 200% too much garlic… maybe it was stronger individual than others have had, but in hindsight one or two clove(s) would have been plenty.

      • chewoutloud

      Thanks, Johanna! So glad you came over today 🙂

    • Dena Delaviz

    do the eggs cook when the hot pasta/reserve water has been added to it? I dont see eggs in the photos of the final product. confused

      • chewoutloud

      The eggs are tempered, rather than cooked completely. Kind of like in custards. Meaning they are semi cooked by the very hot pasta and water, but they will not be fully cooked. You may choose to omit the eggs, but they contribute to the creamy texture of the sauce. Hope that helps, Dena 🙂

      • Thadeus
      • 5 stars

      I am really impressed with this recipe. I don’t usually comment on these good blogs but this was a great success!

        • chewoutloud

        Awesome, Thadeus! 🙂 🙂

    • amanda

    I’m with you. I feel like I haven’t had a chance to breathe since summer started! I need to remember this recipe next time we have one of those days so my boys don’t have to eat another sandwich or bowl of cereal!

      • chewoutloud

      I know it… We do enough sandwiches during the school year. 🙂

    • Carol at Wild Goose Tea

    30 minute pasta dishes end up on my pin list. I work during the day, so quick is important. As well as most delicious. I love this long time favorite pasta dish to start with.

      • chewoutloud

      Yes, me too — quick AND delish are what we go for these days 🙂

    • Liz

    All nice recipes. Thanks so much.

      • chewoutloud

      Thanks, Liz! 🙂

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