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Best-Ever Chicken Carbonara Recipe

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★★★★★

4.4 from 118 reviews

This Best-Ever Chicken Carbonara is a creamy and comforting Italian-inspired pasta dish that combines tender chicken strips, crispy bacon, and a luscious egg and Parmesan sauce. Perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner, the rich flavors meld beautifully with fresh parsley and garlic, creating a deliciously indulgent meal everyone will love.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

  • 12 oz. fettuccine

Protein

  • 4 slices bacon
  • 1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips

Sauce & Flavorings

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 4 large eggs, beaten
  • 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish
  • 1/3 cup freshly chopped parsley, plus more for garnish

Instructions

  1. Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fettuccine and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
  2. Cook the Bacon: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon slices until crispy. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and place on paper towels to drain. Once cooled, roughly chop the bacon and set aside. Leave about 1 tablespoon of bacon fat in the skillet.
  3. Sauté the Chicken and Garlic: Add the chicken strips to the skillet with the reserved bacon fat. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cook over medium heat until the chicken is fully cooked and lightly browned, about 5-7 minutes. Add minced garlic and sauté for an additional 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
  4. Prepare the Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the beaten eggs, grated Parmesan, and chopped parsley until combined.
  5. Combine Pasta and Sauce: Reduce the heat to low. Add the drained fettuccine to the skillet with the chicken and garlic. Slowly pour the egg and Parmesan mixture over the pasta, tossing continuously to create a creamy sauce without scrambling the eggs. Add reserved pasta water a little at a time as needed to reach desired sauce consistency.
  6. Add Bacon and Adjust Seasoning: Stir in the chopped crispy bacon. Taste and adjust seasoning with extra salt, pepper, or Parmesan cheese if desired.
  7. Serve: Plate the chicken carbonara, garnish with additional chopped parsley and Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately for best flavor and texture.

Notes

  • Be sure to toss the pasta with the egg mixture off the direct heat to prevent the eggs from scrambling.
  • Reserve some pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency as the starch helps create a silky texture.
  • For added richness, you can stir in a tablespoon of butter at the end.
  • This dish is best served immediately as the creamy sauce thickens upon standing.
  • Substitute pancetta for bacon for a more traditional carbonara flavor.

Keywords: Chicken Carbonara, Creamy Pasta, Bacon Pasta, Fettuccine Carbonara, Italian Chicken Recipe

Find it online: https://spatulaqueen.com/best-ever-chicken-carbonara-recipe/