Dreamy Silky Chicken Carbonara Recipe: A Luscious Pasta Delight

Creamy pasta dishes spark joy for many home cooks searching for comfort chicken carbonara that delivers rich, authentic flavor.

Italian cuisine offers incredible depth with simple ingredients and technique.

This classic Roman recipe brings together crisp pancetta, perfectly cooked pasta, and a luxurious egg-based sauce.

Fresh parmesan cheese adds depth and saltiness to each delectable bite.

Eggs and cheese create an indulgent coating that clings beautifully to every strand of pasta.

You’ll love how quickly this elegant meal comes together with minimal preparation.

Savor every forkful of this delightful culinary experience.

Quick Recipe Overview

Everything That Goes into Chicken Carbonara

• Chicken: Lean protein that adds hearty texture and satisfying flavor to the dish.
• Bacon: Delivers rich, smoky notes and crispy crunch to elevate the overall taste experience.
• Eggs: Crucial for creating silky, luxurious sauce that coats the pasta beautifully.
• Parmesan Cheese: Provides sharp, salty depth and helps thicken the sauce with its natural richness.

• Heavy Cream: Adds velvety smoothness and helps create a luscious, creamy sauce.
• Pasta Water: Essential for adjusting sauce consistency and helping ingredients bind together.

• Olive Oil: Helps sauté chicken and provides subtle background flavor.
• Salt and Pepper: Fundamental seasonings that balance and enhance all other ingredients.
• Fresh Parsley: Bright, fresh herb that adds color and light herbal notes to finish the dish.
• Pasta: Classic carbohydrate base that absorbs the creamy sauce and serves as the main vehicle for other ingredients.

Tools to Make Chicken Carbonara

• Large pot: Essential for boiling pasta evenly and perfectly.
• Large skillet: Crucial for cooking chicken, bacon, and creating the creamy sauce.
• Whisk: Perfect for blending eggs, cheese, and cream smoothly.
• Cutting board: Needed for dicing chicken and preparing ingredients.
• Sharp knife: Required for precise ingredient preparation.
• Measuring cups: Helpful for accurate pasta water measurements.
• Wooden spoon or tongs: Great for stirring and tossing pasta and ingredients.
• Paper towels: Used for draining crispy bacon.

How to Cook Chicken Carbonara with Rich Texture

• Boil the Pasta

Get a big pot of salty water bubbling and toss in your pasta. Cook until it’s perfectly tender, then scoop out some water before draining.

• Sizzle the Protein

Warm up a skillet with a splash of olive oil. Toss in diced chicken and cook until it’s golden and completely done. Pull it out and set aside.

• Crisp the Bacon

In the same pan, cook bacon until it’s wonderfully crunchy. Remove and let it rest on paper towels, keeping a tasty layer of bacon fat behind.

• Whip the Creamy Sauce

Blend eggs, Parmesan, and cream together in a bowl. Sprinkle in some salt and pepper for extra flavor.

• Mix and Meld

Lower the heat and slide pasta into the skillet. Gently coat the noodles with the bacon drippings. Pour the egg mixture slowly, stirring constantly to keep eggs silky smooth. Add reserved pasta water to make the sauce perfectly creamy.

• Bring It All Together

Return chicken and bacon to the pan. Stir everything so each bite is packed with flavor. Warm through for a minute.

• Serve and Enjoy

Plate up your carbonara and shower with extra Parmesan, a dash of black pepper, and fresh parsley. Dig in immediately!

Tips for Elevating Your Chicken Carbonara Game

• Creamy Chicken Carbonara Cooking Tips & Variations
• Temperature Control Trick: Keep the skillet heat low when adding egg mixture to prevent scrambling, creating a silky smooth sauce every single time.
• Protein Swap Magic: Replace chicken with turkey, shrimp, or tofu for diverse protein options that maintain the dish’s delicious carbonara essence.
• Low-Carb Transformation: Substitute traditional pasta with zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice for a lighter, keto-friendly version without sacrificing flavor.
• Vegetarian Adaptation: Skip the chicken and bacon, instead adding roasted mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, or crispy plant-based bacon alternatives for depth and texture.
• Make-Ahead Brilliance: Prepare components separately and store in refrigerator, assembling quickly when ready to serve, which helps maintain optimal sauce consistency and freshness.

Serving Chicken Carbonara with Style

• Comforting Family Dinner Companion: Pair this creamy carbonara with a light crisp green salad to balance the rich flavors and add refreshing texture to the meal.
• Elegant Wine Pairing: Select a chilled white wine like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc to complement the creamy sauce and cut through the richness of the chicken and bacon.
• Rustic Side Kick: Serve warm garlic bread or toasted ciabatta slices alongside the carbonara to soak up the delicious sauce and provide a delightful crunch with each bite.
• Weekend Brunch Star: Transform this dish into a weekend brunch favorite by topping with a soft poached egg for extra creaminess and a luxurious morning twist.

Best Practices for Storing Leftover Chicken Carbonara

• Smart Storage Solutions: Keep your carbonara delightful and fresh with these expert tips.
• Refrigerator Rescue: Transfer leftovers to an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, ensuring the best taste and texture.
• Sauce Separation Strategy: When reheating, add a splash of pasta water or cream to restore the creamy consistency. Gently warm in a skillet over low heat, stirring frequently to prevent sauce from breaking.
• Freeze with Caution: While possible, freezing isn’t ideal for this dish. Eggs and cream can separate, causing texture changes. If freezing, consume within 1 month and thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
• Portion Perfect: Divide carbonara into individual meal-sized containers for quick, easy reheating. This method helps maintain flavor and prevents repeated warming that can degrade quality.

Silky Chicken Carbonara Recipe

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4.7 from 28 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Rich and comforting chicken carbonara delivers a classic Italian pasta experience with silky egg sauce and crispy pancetta. Cheese-coated noodles and tender chicken create a satisfying meal you’ll want to savor with friends.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 lb (450g) chicken breast, boneless, skinless, diced
• 4 oz (115g) bacon, diced
• 3 large eggs
• 12 oz (340g) spaghetti or fettuccine
• ½ cup (120 ml) Parmesan cheese, grated (plus extra for garnish)
• ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream (optional, for extra creaminess)
• 2 tbsps olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• ¼ tsp salt (to taste)
• ¼ tsp black pepper (to taste)
• ¼ cup (60 ml) parsley, fresh, chopped (optional, for garnish)

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Instructions

1. Pasta Preparation: Bring a large pot of salted water to a vigorous boil. Cook pasta until al dente, reserving a cup of starchy cooking water before draining.
2. Chicken Cooking: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté chicken pieces until golden and fully cooked, then set aside on a separate plate.
3. Bacon Rendering: In the same skillet, crisp bacon until perfectly brown. Remove bacon, reserving one tablespoon of fat in the pan.
4. Sauce Creation: Whisk eggs, Parmesan, cream, salt, and black pepper in a mixing bowl until smooth and well-combined.
5. Sauce Integration: Reduce skillet heat to low. Add pasta to the bacon fat, coating thoroughly. Pour egg mixture over pasta, stirring constantly to prevent scrambling. Gradually add reserved pasta water to create a silky, creamy sauce.
6. Final Assembly: Fold cooked chicken and crispy bacon pieces into the pasta. Ensure all ingredients are evenly distributed and heated through.
7. Serving: Plate the carbonara immediately. Garnish with additional Parmesan cheese, a generous grind of black pepper, and freshly chopped parsley. Serve hot for maximum flavor and texture.

Notes

• Prevent Egg Scrambling: Maintain low heat and continuously stir when adding egg mixture to prevent unwanted scrambled egg texture, ensuring a smooth, creamy sauce.
• Pasta Water Magic: Reserve starchy pasta water as a secret weapon to adjust sauce consistency, helping create a silky, glossy coating that perfectly binds ingredients.
• Crisp Bacon Technique: Render bacon slowly to extract maximum flavor and achieve a perfectly crisp texture, draining excess grease for a cleaner, more refined final dish.
• Temperature Control: Work quickly and keep skillet temperature low when combining ingredients to maintain the delicate balance of flavors and prevent sauce from breaking or becoming grainy.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 569
• Sugar: 1g
• Sodium: 800mg
• Fat: 27g
• Saturated Fat: 10g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 51g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 34g
• Cholesterol: 225mg