Bacon and Chicken Carbonara is a fantastic dish that’s not only easy to make but also incredibly delicious, ready in just 20 minutes. Tender pasta is tossed with crispy bacon and enveloped in a rich, creamy sauce made from eggs, garlic, and Parmesan cheese. It’s a meal that impresses every time!
Table of Contents
This traditional carbonara dish makes a great lunch, dinner, or an impressive, romantic date-night meal for two.
Carbonara is an Italian pasta dish, originally from Rome, made with egg, hard cheese, guanciale or pancetta, and pepper.
Pro tips
If you have leftover carbonara, just pop it in an airtight container and stick it in the fridge. It’ll stay good for about 4 days. When you’re ready to eat it, it’s better to heat it up on the stove instead of using the microwave. Just toss the leftover spaghetti carbonara in a skillet on medium-high heat for around 5 minutes until it’s nice and hot.
Substitutions and additions
You can use Parmesan cheese or Pecorino Romano.
Spaghetti is the usual pasta, but fettuccine or linguine are also used.
Either bacon, guanciale, or pancetta can be used.
Try adding a 1/2 cup of frozen peas. Add to the pan at the same time as the chicken.
How to make Carbonara Chicken and Bacon
Cook the spaghetti or linguine pasta according to the package directions for al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup of the cooking water, then drain the rest of the pasta.
While the pasta is cooking, whisk together the eggs and 1/3 cup of the Parmesan cheese and set aside.
Cut the bacon into ½ or 1-inch pieces. In a large skillet on medium heat, cook the bacon pieces until brown and crispy, about 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Leave the grease in the pan and drain the bacon on a paper towel-lined plate.
Dice the chicken breasts into bite-sized cubes.
Add the garlic and chicken to the bacon fat in the skillet and cook for about 7-10 minutes.
Turn the heat off. Add the cooked pasta, egg mixture, and bacon. Stir to combine the creamy sauce, and keep the pasta moving. If needed, pour in the reserved pasta water slowly, using only enough to reach the desired sauce consistency.
Season the carbonara with salt and black pepper to taste.
Serve immediately, garnished with the remaining 1/3 cup of Parmesan cheese and the parsley if desired.
You may also enjoy
- Chicken Pasta with Zucchini
- Spinach Artichoke Chicken Pasta
- Chicken Pot Pie Pasta
- Chicken Rotel Spaghetti
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Zona Cooks and Zona’s Lazy Recipes
Chicken Carbonara Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 ounces pasta (fettuccine, spaghetti, linguine, etc.)
- 2 large eggs
- ⅔ cup shredded Parmesan cheese (divided)
- 3 slices bacon
- 2 teaspoons jarred minced garlic
- 8 ounces boneless chicken
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- Parsley (for garnish – optional)
Instructions
- Cook the spaghetti or linguine pasta according to the package directions. Reserve 1/4 cup of cooking water and drain the rest of the pasta.
- While the pasta is cooking, whisk together the eggs and 1/3 cup of the parmesan cheese and set aside.
- Cut the bacon into ½ or 1-inch pieces. In a large skillet, cook the bacon pieces until browned and crispy, about 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Leave the grease in the pan and drain the bacon on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Dice the chicken into bite-sized cubes.
- Add the garlic and chicken to the bacon grease in the skillet and cook through, about 7-10 minutes.
- Turn the heat off. Add the cooked pasta, egg parmesan cheese mixture, and bacon. Stir to combine, keeping the pasta moving. If needed, pour in the reserved pasta water slowly. Use only enough to reach the desired sauce consistency.
- Season the carbonara with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately, garnished with the remaining 1/3 cup of Parmesan cheese and the parsley if desired.
Video
Notes
- You can use Parmesan cheese or Pecorino Romano.
- Spaghetti is the usual pasta, but fettuccine or linguine are also used.
- Either bacon, guanciale, or pancetta can be used.
- Try adding a 1/2 cup of frozen peas. Add to the pan at the same time as the chicken.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Nutrition
Hi there, and a warm welcome! I’m Zona House, and my heart truly lies in the world of recipes.
I believe in simple, satisfying meals, so let’s make cooking enjoyable and delicious together! Eat, drink, and savor every moment!
Marianne
Wednesday 11th of September 2024
Is it good warmed over? I am making meals for my father so they’ll be packaged separately and refrigerated.
Zona House
Thursday 12th of September 2024
Hi Marianne, you can reheat carbonara.
Oven method - To keep it from drying out, you can add pasta sauce or a few drops of water. Put the pasta in an oven-safe dish, cover with foil, and bake at 350 degrees F. for 15 – 20 minutes. For extra cheese, remove the foil and add more cheese on top.
Microwave method - Add a tablespoon of water to thin the sauce, microwave until warm (about 1 1/2 minutes depending on your microwave), and toss. Add more water if needed.
Anne S.
Monday 22nd of May 2023
I have used this recipe several times and it is always a hit at my house. I love that there are eggs and cheese instead of cream. Because if you do use cream, you will still have to add the cheese. And it’s an easy recipe for the quality! Yum yum yums all around.
Darlene
Sunday 17th of July 2022
Why can’t you use the grated cheese in the jar.
Zona
Sunday 17th of July 2022
Hi Darlene, grated or powdered Parmesan cheese (the kind in the green cylinder container) will not melt into the sauce like freshly grated (real) parmesan cheese.
Barbara Karr
Thursday 13th of September 2018
Add chicken and garlic to skillet. A skillet drained of bacon grease, OR add to grease??
Zona
Thursday 13th of September 2018
Hi Barbara. I leave the grease in the pan for this step. Thanks for the question and I'll update the directions to say this :)