Active time: 40 min Start to finish: 40 min
Ingredients
Makes 4 main-course servings
Step 1
Cutguancialeor pancetta into 1/3-inch dice, then cook in a deep 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until fat begins to render, 1 to 2 minutes. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is golden, about 10 minutes. Add wine and boil until reduced by half, 1 to 2 minutes.
Step 2
Cook spaghetti in a 6- to 8-quart pot ofboiling salted wateruntil al dente.
Step 3
While pasta is cooking, whisk together eggs, Parmigiano-Reggiano , Pecorino Romano (1/3 cup), 1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a small bowl.
Step 4
Drain spaghetti in a colander and add to onion mixture, then toss with tongs over moderate heat until coated. Remove from heat and add egg mixture, tossing to combine. Serve immediately.
The eggs in this recipe will not be fully cooked, which may be of concern if there is a problem with salmonella in your area.
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Reviews (130)
Back to TopVery easy, straightforward recipe. This was the first carbonara I had ever made and the directions were very helpful! Plus - it was delicious!
ekj2ec
Denver, CO
10/22/2020
O.K. I'm a knucklehead...this recipe DOES use Italian bacon...ugh...not enough coffee today...I couldn't figure out how to delete my comment. It was a good recipe...
drloverde
Sherman Oaks, CA
6/22/2017
This is quite good. I think it would be more flavorful with Italian bacon, but a great way to have Carbonara on a weeknight.
drloverde
Sherman Oaks, CA
6/22/2017
Wonderful easy but luxurious weeknight meal.
jlpolo
Yardley, PA
7/21/2016
Well liked by the whole family. Used regular bacon and tossed the egg mixture in over low heat to cook it.
ljsmom91
9/17/2014
Absolutely delicious! Better than some I had in Roma.
devolina
Vancouver, BC
9/16/2013
This is it. Your no fail carbonara recipe. Leave a while longer and cook the eggs through.
marimaldon
Santiago, Chile
4/28/2013
Amazing. Have always used half the pasta called for. Can use any pasta. I prefer some kind of short pasta like pipes or wheels. Silky and rich. So rich you might want to serve it as a side. Must use finely grated cheese (use a microplane) otherwise you get a gooey mess. The pepper seems like a lot but it's really good. Don't skimp on the Pecorino. Have always used bacon. Used a grassy sauvignon blanc from Australia, which goes beautifully. Also added red pepper flakes. Added lettuce and tomato after the eggs and cheese this time. I keep making it.
AdrienneWright
Arlington VA
2/4/2013
Had a craving for some comfort food and wanted to use up some leftover center cut bacon and an opened bottle of champagne from last night's New Year's Eve dinner. Substituted the smoked bacon for the guanciale and the champagne for the dry white wine. Result: the smoked bacon overwhelmed and the champagne was way too dry and gave it an acid bite, but it was surprisingly good anyway. I can only imagine how good this would taste if I used the unsmoked meat they recommended and some more user-friendly white wine.
ellen1159
Stamford, CT
1/1/2012
Dry. Tasteless. Nasty.
tumnus
Burlington, ON
5/30/2011
Fantastic. I used this to show off some locally made guanciale, and it was fabulous. If you haven't experienced it, then you haven't lived! Now, this won't be crisp like pancetta unless it's shaved thin, but in this instance, I asked for more "Sunday bacon" style slices, and so it retained a softer mouth feel. I loved it as a difference, and the smokey taste was really something. I also used a nice white Bordeaux from Grave, and that was the final touch. It's a simple recipe, so it will really come down to the quality of your ingredients! Buon appetito...
deliusfan
Sarasota, FL
5/22/2011
This is now my favorite Carbonara recipe. It is so easy & quick to make for a busy weeknight dinner.
Anonymous
victoria,bc
4/27/2011
Made this dish several times now, fantastic every time! Used 2 garlic cloves instead of onion, still tasted great. One of our favorite dinner dishes now.
Anonymous
Louisville, KY
4/27/2011
meh... Spaghetti alla carbonara most emphatically does not have onions. Totally wrong. .... And, WRT the comment below by Kendall3 from Lake Keowee: The "real thing" as you put it does not have cream. The stuff American restaurants throw together to please their obese clientele may have cream, but the actual real thing never does. .... Having said that, I will add that pancetta and guanciale are infinitely preferable to bacon, but carbonara pasta with bacon is better than no carbonara pasta at all if all you have on hand is bacon.
Epicurious_User
End of Western Civilization
3/16/2011
Wow I screwed this up 6 ways to sunday and it was still fabulous. Made it trying to use up some bacon before it expired, so wrong kind of bacon and it was extra thick took forever to cook and the onions were ... OK they were black by the time the bacon was done. Accidentally dumped in too much spaghetti so there wasn't really enough sauce. I did have some fab parm cheese so that helped. The guys really loved it ("I can't believe Mom made bacon spaghetti!"). Dean and alan - thanks for sharing your stories!
vteal
Philly, PA
12/29/2010