Ingredients
Scale
Protein
- 2 chicken breasts, chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 4 oz bacon or pancetta, sliced
Pasta and Sauce
- 8 oz fettuccine or spaghetti
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Seasonings and Others
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
- Salt, to taste (for pasta water and seasoning)
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients: Chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces and slice the bacon or pancetta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook the Bacon and Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook bacon until crispy, then transfer to paper towels. In the same skillet, cook chicken pieces until golden and cooked through.
- Sauté Garlic: Add minced garlic to the skillet with the chicken and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant, taking care not to burn it.
- Mix the Eggs and Cheese: While pasta cooks, whisk together eggs and grated parmesan in a bowl until smooth.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Drain pasta, reserving some pasta water. Off the heat, quickly toss hot pasta with the egg and cheese mixture to form a silky sauce without scrambling the eggs.
- Add Chicken and Bacon: Fold crispy bacon and cooked chicken into the pasta. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen it.
- Season and Serve: Finish with freshly cracked black pepper and extra parmesan cheese. Serve immediately for best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Use room temperature eggs to ensure a smooth sauce without curdling.
- Always mix the egg and cheese sauce with pasta off the heat to prevent scrambling.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency as needed.
- Use freshly grated parmesan for superior flavor.
- Cut chicken uniformly for even cooking alongside the bacon.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Contains Gluten and Dairy
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 220 mg
Keywords: Creamy Chicken Carbonara, Chicken Pasta, Carbonara Recipe, Easy Dinner, Comfort Food, Italian Pasta