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Creamy Chicken Carbonara with Bacon

A close-up of a bowl of creamy chicken carbonara pasta, topped with crispy bacon bits and fresh parsley.
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A restaurant-quality chicken carbonara with a silky, egg-based sauce and crispy bacon, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 8 ounces bacon, chopped
  • 1 pound spaghetti
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving drippings in the skillet.
  2. Add chicken pieces to the skillet and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside with the bacon.
  3. Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
  4. While pasta is cooking, whisk together eggs, Parmesan cheese, and heavy cream in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
  5. Add minced garlic to the skillet with bacon drippings and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  6. Add the drained spaghetti and cooked chicken to the skillet. Toss to combine.
  7. Remove skillet from heat. Gradually pour the egg mixture over the pasta and chicken, tossing constantly to coat. The heat from the pasta will cook the eggs and create a creamy sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, add a little reserved pasta water, a tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached.
  8. Stir in the cooked bacon and fresh parsley.
  9. Serve immediately, topped with extra Parmesan cheese and black pepper.

Notes

  • To temper the eggs and prevent scrambling, ensure the skillet is removed from the heat before adding the egg mixture. Toss continuously.
  • For a richer sauce, use more egg yolks.
  • You can substitute pancetta for bacon for a more traditional flavor.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cutcooktaste.com/chicken-carbonara-creamy-bacon-weeknight/