This simple and easy take on spaghetti carbonara is made without egg and features creamy parmesan cheese and crispy bacon.
Jump to RecipeFirst, 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. 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 pretty close to the real thing.
Eggless Spaghetti Carbonara Recipe Ingredients
This easy spaghetti carbonara recipe with cream, no egg only requires 8 ingredients:
- Spaghetti
- Olive oil
- Minced garlic
- Heavy cream
- Shredded parmesan cheese
- Pasta water
- Bacon
- Salt and pepper
Like we mentioned earlier, this isn’t a traditional spaghetti carbonara. But it’s made with easy-to-find ingredients and it tastes just as good as your favorite Italian dish, if not better, in our opinion!
How To Make No Egg Spaghetti Carbonara
Here’s how to make our simple no egg spaghetti carbonara recipe in just a few steps (and under 30 minutes!):
- Dice a few strips of bacon and fry it ahead of time, making sure to drain the excess grease.
- Boil a pot of salted water and begin cooking the spaghetti.
- Sauté minced garlic in olive oil in a skillet or saucepan. Then, add heavy cream and stir in the shredded parmesan until it melts.
- Next, add some pasta water to the sauce to help thicken it up. Stir in most of the bacon bits (leave some for garnish), then season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Finally, stir the cooked spaghetti into the sauce and serve hot, topped with the remaining bacon.
Spaghetti Carbonara Serving Suggestions
This pasta recipe is super easy to whip up for a quick weeknight meal, especially if you prepare the bacon ahead of time. It’s also a great “cheat” recipe for showing off your cooking skills because it looks and tastes a lot more complex than it really is (much like our spinach tomato & olive oil pasta!).
Serve it with fresh Italian bread and dipping oils – and maybe a glass or two of white wine – and you’ve got yourself a well-rounded Italian dinner.
Storing & Reheating Leftovers
If you somehow happen to have any leftover spaghetti carbonara, you can store it in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in a frying pan over medium heat for about 5 to 10 minutes, or until warmed through. Or, you can simply microwave for about 2 minutes per serving, stirring halfway through.
We’d love to hear what you think of our take on spaghetti carbonara. Try our easy eggless recipe and let us know what you think in the comments, and don’t forget to rate and share if you love it!
Love this recipe? You may enjoy these other pasta recipes, too:
- One Pot Spinach & Artichoke Pasta
- Italian Sausage & Peppers Pasta
- Goat Cheese & Tomato Gnocchi
- Caprese Pesto Pasta
- Fettuccine Alouette-o
To browse more of our latest recipes and seasonal dishes, visit our homepage here.
Like this recipe? Don’t forget to share it and follow us on Pinterest!
Spaghetti Carbonara (No Egg)
Ingredients
- 2 servings spaghetti
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup shredded parmesan
- 2 tbsp pasta water
- 5 strips bacon diced and fried
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch black pepper
Instructions
- Boil the pasta in a pot of salted water according to package directions.
- While the pasta is cooking, begin preparing the sauce. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
- Turn heat to low and stir in the heavy cream. Then, add shredded parmesan cheese in batches, stirring constantly until melted, about 10 minutes.
- Next, take about 2 tbsp pasta water from the pot and add it to the sauce, stirring to incorporate. Stir in most of the bacon, leaving some out to top the dish with, and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes.
- Finally, season with salt and pepper to taste, then stir in the cooked pasta. Serve hot, topped with the remaining bacon bits.
Notes
Nutrition
If you have any questions regarding the information presented in this post, please refer to our Nutrition Disclaimer here.
Looking for kitchen inspiration? Head over to our shop to see what we cook with every day, plus recommendations for foodie gifts and eco-friendly products.
Thank you for the recipe. It’s easy to follow through. I would appreciate more recipes in the future.
Great 👍
Of course, we’re so glad you liked it!