It’s simply too darn straightforward to like Hen Carbonara with that velvety sauce, crispy bacon, and pecorino romano cheese. Significantly, how may you not love this dish? And, including hen to a traditional carbonara makes this meal a bit extra substantial, so it’s not simply loading up on the pasta.
However whenever you just do need to load up on the pasta, go for our Authentic Pasta Carbonara.
Why Our Recipe
- Prepared in simply half-hour which is ideal for weeknight dinners.
- Deliciously juicy hen provides to the traditional pasta to make it extra filling.
- The sauce is velvety clean, made with eggs, pasta water, and pecorino romano cheese.


No want to attend for an important day to order this at your favourite Italian restaurant when you understand how straightforward it’s to make. Take pleasure in this at your kitchen desk each time the craving hits! Add some hen to a traditional carbonara and it’s a complete meal prepared in half-hour. You continue to have that wonderful, thick-cut bacon and a velvety egg and cheese sauce. If you happen to don’t have pecorino romano, you possibly can at all times cheat and use parmesan—we received’t inform if you happen to received’t. We do it on a regular basis!
Ingredient Notes


- Thick-Reduce Bacon: You’ll be able to at all times substitute pancetta for bacon which is the genuine ingredient. Pancetta isn’t at all times as straightforward to come back by and may be costlier, so we default to bacon as the higher choice for many of our viewers.
- Hen Breasts: Boneless, skinless hen breasts are nice for this recipe. Cube into bite-sized items.
- Eggs: You’ll need massive grade AA eggs for this recipe. You’ll use a mix of egg whites and complete eggs for the right silky clean sauce.
- Spaghetti: Simply use from the field. Prepare dinner to al dente, tender however agency.
- Pecorino Romano Cheese: You’ll be able to simply substitute with parmesan cheese. Simply ensure that it’s freshly grated as pre-grated doesn’t soften as easily and may make the sauce gritty.
- Parsley: It’s simply there so as to add a pop of shade. It’s non-compulsory, however makes it look a bit of extra fancy.
Hen Choices
We favor to make use of boneless skinless hen breasts, however you might at all times use hen thighs if you happen to favor darkish meat or a fattier minimize of hen. These boneless skinless hen thighs are at all times juicier than the breasts.
Time & Cash Saver
You’ll be able to simply use leftover hen or shredded rotisserie hen on this recipe. You’ll want about 2 cups or you possibly can actually load it up with a cup or two extra. Rotisserie hen is commonly offered as one thing referred to as a “loss chief” for grocery shops the place they promote the hen at or under price to get you into the shop and hopefully purchase different issues. Which means that rotisserie hen is commonly the very best worth per pound for hen you may get. Save a bit of time, save a bit of cash.
Pasta Choices
Spaghetti is the normal alternative for pasta in a carbonara, nonetheless, you don’t have to really feel tied to that. You possibly can use nearly any lengthy, skinny pasta form. Different favorites are linguine, fettuccine, and bucatini.


Pasta Water
Pasta water is the key weapon when combining pasta and cheese. The starch that’s pulled from the pasta throughout the cooking course of emulsifies (binds) the components collectively, making a clean sauce. No clumpy cheese right here. You’ll be able to at all times use a bit of extra pasta water to regulate the thickness of your sauce as wanted.
Wait till the final minute to get your pasta water in order that the water is stuffed with starch. Dip the sting of a glass 2-cup measuring cup into the pot of pasta water and fill the cup, ensuring you get no less than 1 1/2 cups. Then, you possibly can go forward and drain your pasta.
Storage & Reheating Directions
Refrigerate leftovers in an hermetic container for as much as 4 days.
Reheat in a saucepan on medium-low warmth. Add a little bit of water and stir sometimes till warmed by way of.
Microwave parts on excessive in 30-second increments or till warmed by way of.
Extra Italian classics…
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