True to Form Pasta Carbonara

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-07 · Updated 2026-04-07

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A dish where authenticity is non-negotiable: no cream, just perfect egg yolk emulsion and Pecorino Romano, honoring the 'authentic' debate. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs spaghetti, guanciale, Pecorino Romano for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 580 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.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 580 cal/serving

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Ingredients

12 oz spaghetti
4 oz, diced guanciale
1 cup, finely grated Pecorino Romano
3 egg yolks
1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
1/2 cup water

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Instructions

Step 1: Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a rolling boil. Add spaghetti and cook for 9 minutes until al dente, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
Step 2: While pasta cooks, cook guanciale in a large skillet over medium heat for 8 minutes until crisp and golden, then remove from heat and set aside.
Step 3: Whisk egg yolks, 1/2 cup Pecorino, and black pepper in a bowl until smooth. Gradually add 1/4 cup reserved pasta water while whisking to create a thin sauce.
Step 4: Add drained spaghetti to skillet with guanciale, toss for 1 minute to coat. Remove from heat, immediately pour egg mixture over pasta while tossing vigorously, adding splashes of remaining pasta water until sauce coats strands evenly and creamy (about 2 minutes).