Homemade Spaghetti Pasta Carbonara
Published October 13, 2023. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Make this delicious classic Roman Spaghetti Pasta carbonara in under 20 minutes using just 5 ingredients for the most amazing pasta recipe ever. You will love how tasty and simple-to-prepare this dish is.
Being in an Italian family, we often eat pasta. If you’re looking to get started with some basic Italian recipes, then you must try my Spaghetti and the Best Meatballs ever recipe or make my homemade pasta from scratch.
Carbonara
Carbonara is 1 of the 4 classic Roman dishes consisting of crisp-cooked guanciale, egg yolks, pecorino Romano cheese, hot pasta water, salt, and pepper made into a sauce and tossed with spaghetti. It can also be coated in any pasta that you’d like.`
Steering from any of these ingredients will result in a variation of carbonara, but it will not be the traditional version as it was intended to be made.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Pork – Guanciale is the classic pork to use. However, you can use Pancetta. If neither is available, then go to prosciutto or bacon.
- Cheese – Pecorino Romano is the traditional cheese used in Rome. Parmigiana Reggiano is a great substitute.
- Eggs – Chilled or room temperature large egg yolks are needed for this carbonara. You can use the leftover egg whites in my Angel Food Cake.
- Pasta – You can use fresh homemade pasta or dry pasta. In addition, spaghetti is the most classic pasta type used for this.
- Olive Oil – This isn’t necessary but can be used to start the pork.
How To Make Pasta Carbonara
- Add some olive oil to a large frying pan over medium heat.
- Cook the medium to large diced guanciale until crispy brown. Keep warm.
- Whisk together egg yolks, pecorino romano cheese, and cracked pepper until combined.
- Temper the eggs by whisking in ½ of the hot rendered guanciale fat in the pan.
- Add the pasta to a large pot of boiling salted water and cook for 2 minutes or until al dente.
- Meanwhile, take ¼ cup of the hot pasta water and slowly add it to the egg mixture bowl while constantly whisking to bring it to safe temperatures.
- Drain the pasta and add it to the egg mixture bowl.
- Add the guanciale to the bowl as well.
- Toss the pasta completely, coating it in the sauce.
- Finish with more pecorino romano and pepper
Make-Ahead and Storage
Make-Ahead: This is meant to be eaten as soon as it is finished being made.
How to Store: Cover in plastic and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Carbonara will not freeze well, and I advise against it.
How to Reheat: Add the desired amount of pasta to a medium-sized saucepot, add 2 to 3 tablespoons of water, and heat over low to medium heat while continually gently stirring with a spoon until hot. Adjust seasonings and serve.
chef notes + tips
- Guanciale is cured pig jowls (cheeks) that often have spices and herbs incorporated.
- Above all, when making this recipe, only use the egg yolk!
- Under no circumstance should a classic carbonara sauce have cream. Adding cream would completely delegitimize the classic and authentic nature of pasta carbonara.
- The absolute key to a tasty carbonara sauce is making sure to use guanciale and pecorino because of their naturally high salt content. These two ingredients will go a long way to flavoring this pasta carbonara.
- Try adding cooked chicken or shrimp to this dish for an extra punch of protein.
More Pasta Recipes
- Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
- Lasagna Bolognese
- Pomodoro Sauce with Spaghetti
- Homemade Linguine Pasta with White Clam Sauce Recipe
- Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
Video
Homemade Spaghetti Pasta Carbonara
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 8 ounces medium diced guanciale
- 5 egg yolks
- ½ cup packed pecorino romano + more for garnish
- 12 ounces uncooked homemade spaghetti or 1 pound dried
- sea salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add olive oil to a large frying pan over medium heat.
- Next, add in the guanciale and cook for 5 to 6 minutes or until crisp and browned. Keep warm.
- In a large bowl whisk together the egg yolks, Romano cheese, and cracked pepper until combined.
- Temper the eggs by whisking in ½ of the hot rendered guanciale fat from the pan until combined.
- Next, add in the homemade pasta to a large pot of boiling salted water and cook for 2 minutes.
- While the pasta is cooking take ¼ cup of the hot boiling pasta water and whisk it into the egg mixture further bringing it into safe temperatures.
- Drain the pasta and add it to the bowl with the egg and cheese mixture along with the crisp-cooked guanciale and toss until completely coated.
- Serve in a large pasta bowl and garnish with more Romano cheese and cracked pepper.
Fantastic recipe! Super easy to throw together and so delicious. Best I’ve ever made! You make cooking so much fun. Thank you Chef!
Great instructions for the eggs my new favorite
my pleasure!
Just like Italy!
Awesome!! You are my “go to” for most everything I try. The easiest to find directions without having to scroll endlessly through ads!
Made this recipe for a party and it was an absolute HIT!!!! Only thing we did different we used spaghetti squash instead of pasta. Absolutely perfection!!!
Been following you from day one….love the tips and hints, recipe’s and your a perfect teacher. Keep it going.
Spectacular! Thank you, Chef Billy Parisi!
Fantastic!!
Got me past my fear of this technique.
Thank you!
My pleasure!
Thank you😁😋🤩yes tasty
Can’t wait to try this one it looks so delicious thank you Billy much appreciated.❤️🎈
Great Recipe Chef. This one of my favorite ways to make Pasta. It’s a delicious and easy Pasta to make and we have this dish at our home 2 or 3 rimes a month. My 2 sons love this Pasta dish. There is a great Deli not far from me and the have all of the good stuff there. I get all my Sausages, cheese, deli meat Herbs that they grow right there. They make everything by hand, it’s hard to pass by this place and not stop. This was a great idea Chef for this Pasta dish, it’s so creamy and so delicious.
I have consistently enjoyed following Billy Parisi’s recipes and cooking suggestions. As a matter of personal preference I used a light ribbony egg noodle with this but otherwise followed along as written. My husband asked that I not make too much as he wasn’t all that hungry. At first bite he said it was “all right” (kiss of death) but by the time he had finished his plate he was looking for more. Served with a simple tossed green salad with a light vinaigrette. Delicious and not the usual fare.
love it!
Made Carbonara so many numerous times could never equal our favorite Italian restaurants Family always disappointed until I made your recipe thank you finally pleasing my Family with their favorite carbonara
I made this for the first time, using Chef Billy’s recipe. Very easy to follow. I had a hard time finding Guanciale, but I did find it. It turned out fantastic!! I love Locatelli Brand Pecorino Romano. It is the only brand I use. It always makes a big difference in all recipes I use.
thank you so kindly!!
Awesome authentic Italian recipe! One of my go to quick pasta dishes…thanks Chef Parisi!
appreciate you trying it
I made this with ordinary ingredients, because they were in my house –and in my budget. I like Billy’s methods, so I was sure I would get great results. As satisfying as this dish was, I can only imagine how amazing this would be with more authentic ingredients! The eggs really will cook. Don’t be afraid to try this with dish. (I used a combination of diced baked ham, a slice of chopped, fried bacon, and a bit of bacon grease. Plus, I divided the recipe in half because I only cook for myself. I will have enough for at least two more meals.) Use Billy ‘s measurements and try this dish!
Great job on making it work!
This is so darn good. First time I ever made it. Everyone loved it. Thank you so much for the video and the recipe.
so good!!
One of the best things I ever ate. Pretty easy. So rich…heaven.
appreciate you trying it
Love love love this recipe!! Thanks chef!!
My pleasure!
True Carbonara. No cream!
Yes!
Wonderful recipe for carbonara! I added grilled shrimp and made my family very happy.
Billy thank you for saying that. I love simple ingredients and instructions. Recently I saw a recipe that called for 31 ingredients and it was a simple soup.
But your recipe, yes I can make it and as always thank you 😊.
This is the first carbonara recipe that really worked for me. I was not able to find guanciale. From your description, it’s pretty salty so I used salt pork. Salty and fatty. I cooked it slow to crispy like you did. I can’t compare but holy cow was it good. It rendered beautifully to give plenty of fat for the sauce. The homemade spaghetti (another first for me) worked great in this. Will definitely make again.
Oh yaaaaasssss! We made this tonight and it was amazing! Thank you for an easy to follow video and recipe. We’re putting this into rotation!
awesome!!
I can not wait to try. Looks so good.
This quickly became a family favorite! So delicious!
awesome!
I love pasta carbonara! It’s so delicious and filling. I know what I am making tonight for dinner!
One of my faves!
I am so ready for comfort food and cooler weather! This looks incredible!
Yes on comfort, but I still want summer!
My family’s favorite comfort food. SO GOOD.
I can see why, it’s delicious!