Print

Classic Authentic Italian Carbonara Recipe Easy Crispy Guanciale Pasta

authentic italian carbonara - featured image
Print Recipe

A quick and indulgent classic Italian carbonara made with crispy guanciale, silky eggs, and Pecorino Romano cheese for a rich, authentic Roman pasta experience.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 ounces (115 g) guanciale, diced small
  • 12 ounces (340 g) spaghetti
  • 4 large egg yolks (room temperature)
  • 1 large whole egg (room temperature)
  • 1 cup (100 g) finely grated Pecorino Romano cheese
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or more to taste
  • Salt for pasta water

Instructions

  1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced guanciale and cook until golden and crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent burning. Remove from heat but keep the rendered fat in the pan.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add spaghetti and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Reserve about 1 cup (240 ml) of pasta cooking water before draining.
  3. While pasta cooks, whisk together 4 large egg yolks, 1 whole egg, and 1 cup finely grated Pecorino Romano cheese in a bowl. Add freshly ground black pepper and mix until smooth and creamy.
  4. Add the drained pasta to the skillet with guanciale and its fat over low heat. Toss to coat evenly. Remove the pan from heat to avoid scrambling the eggs.
  5. Pour the egg and cheese mixture over the pasta, stirring vigorously to create a silky sauce. Add reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen the sauce if too thick.
  6. Taste and adjust seasoning with more black pepper if desired. Serve immediately with an extra sprinkle of Pecorino Romano on top.

Notes

Use room-temperature eggs to prevent scrambling. Remove pan from heat before adding egg mixture. Reserve pasta water to loosen sauce as needed. If guanciale is unavailable, pancetta can be used but flavor will be milder. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta.

Nutrition

Keywords: carbonara, Italian pasta, guanciale, authentic carbonara, Pecorino Romano, creamy pasta, quick dinner, Roman recipe

Find it online: https://cheerycrisp.com/classic-authentic-italian-carbonara-recipe-easy-crispy-guanciale-pasta/