Authentic Spaghetti alla Carbonara
A rich Italian pasta dish with crispy pancetta, creamy egg yolk sauce, and Pecorino Romano, cooked to al dente perfection. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs spaghetti, pancetta, large eggs for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 12 oz spaghetti
- 6 oz pancetta
- 4 large eggs
- 1/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 12 oz spaghetti and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente, then drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 6 oz diced pancetta and cook for 5-7 minutes until crispy and golden, stirring occasionally.
- Step 3: Reduce heat to medium. Add 4 raw egg yolks, 1/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano, and 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper. Stir rapidly for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens and emulsifies, adding 1-2 tbsp reserved pasta water as needed.
- Step 4: Toss the cooked spaghetti into the skillet, coating evenly with the sauce. Serve immediately with additional Pecorino on top.








