Spaghetti Carbonara (No Egg)

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This simple and easy take on spaghetti carbonara is made without egg in less than 30 minutes! We use creamy parmesan cheese, crispy bacon, and plenty of black pepper to achieve restaurant flavor with easy to find ingredients. It’s the perfect weeknight dinner when you’re craving classic Italian comfort food.

First, I want to start off by saying that this is not a traditional spaghetti carbonara recipe. True Italian carbonara gets its creaminess from a combination of raw egg and pasta water. It also traditionally features a high-quality cured pork, Pecorino Romano, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and black pepper. 

But we are definitely not traditional cooks. We like to put our own spin on recipes to either make them easier, quicker, or more suited to our tastes (just like with our penne alla vodka with bacon). So when we thought about how to best emulate the flavors and textures of spaghetti carbonara, our minds went straight to three simple, easy-to-find ingredients: heavy cream, parmesan cheese, and bacon. And then we created this super easy spaghetti carbonara recipe that you can make without egg!

Adding cream to carbonara is somewhat controversial since the dish is supposed to get its texture from egg yolks. But the idea of having barely-cooked egg yolk in my pasta sauce weirded me out a bit. Even though I’ve definitely eaten a traditional carbonara before, the thought of trying to cook an egg-based pasta sauce scared me off just a little.

So we came up with an easier, no-egg carbonara recipe that we felt confident executing. And you should feel confident making this dish at home, too! In our opinion, it tastes just like the real thing.

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Featured Review

We recently learned my child is allergic to eggs, but absolutely loves carbonara. I was so happy to find this recipe…it was delicious. Will definitely make again.

– Sarah

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Eggless Spaghetti Carbonara Recipe Ingredients

Although it may not be traditional, this easy spaghetti carbonara is made with easy-to-find ingredients and tastes just as good as the traditional version, if not better!

• Spaghetti – Not all grocery store pastas are made equal. Pasta that’s made with the traditional bronze drawing method has a textured surface that helps sauces cling to the noodles, so we like to use a brand like DeCecco in our kitchen.
• Shredded parmesan – Since traditional carbonara gets its silky texture from egg, you’ll want to use freshly shredded parmesan to ensure the smoothest texture in your sauce. We always recommend buying a block of cheese and shredding it yourself for the best texture and melt.
• Pasta water – Make sure to reserve some of the cooking water before draining your pasta! This is the secret to a glossy, smooth sauce that clings to the noodles.
• Bacon – Traditional carbonara is made with pancetta or guanciale, but bacon is a great alternative that’s cheaper and easier to find. We think it tastes just as good!

How To Make No Egg Spaghetti Carbonara

Step 1: Boil a pot of salted water and begin cooking the spaghetti.

Step 2: Sauté minced garlic in olive oil in a skillet or saucepan over medium-low heat.

Step 3: Then, add heavy cream and stir in the shredded parmesan until it melts.

Step 4: Next, add some pasta water to the sauce to help thicken it up. Stir in the bacon bits.

Step 5: Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Step 6: Finally, stir the cooked spaghetti into the sauce and serve hot.

Spaghetti Carbonara Serving Suggestions

• Easy weeknight dinner – Eggless spaghetti carbonara is super easy to whip up for a weeknight meal, especially if you have leftover bacon in the fridge.
• Date night dinner for two – Impress your partner with a trattoria-style dinner at home, no advanced cooking skills required! This recipe looks and tastes a lot more complex than it really is, much like our goat cheese and tomato gnocchi and spinach tomato pasta.
• Valentine’s Day dinner – Serve carbonara with freshly baked bread and dipping oils, garlic bread, or a side salad for a well-rounded Italian dinner. Start the night off with easy appetizers like baked bruschetta dip or burrata toast with tomato and basil, pour two glasses of wine, and light a candle, and you’ll have the perfect Valentine’s Day date night.

Eggless Spaghetti Carbonara FAQs