
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 basic carbonara makes this meal a bit extra substantial, so it’s not simply loading up on the pasta.
However whenever you do exactly wish 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 basic pasta to make it extra filling.
- The sauce is velvety easy, 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 basic carbonara and it’s a complete meal prepared in half-hour. You continue to have that superb, thick-cut bacon and a velvety egg and cheese sauce. For those who don’t have pecorino romano, you’ll be able to all the time cheat and use parmesan—we received’t inform in case you received’t. We do it on a regular basis!
Ingredient Notes


- Thick-Lower Bacon: You’ll be able to all the time substitute pancetta for bacon which is the genuine ingredient. Pancetta isn’t all the time 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 giant grade AA eggs for this recipe. You’ll use a mixture of egg whites and complete eggs for the proper silky easy 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 might make the sauce gritty.
- Parsley: It’s simply there so as to add a pop of colour. It’s optionally available, however makes it look just a little extra fancy.
Hen Choices
We want to make use of boneless skinless hen breasts, however you would all the time use hen thighs in case you want darkish meat or a fattier lower of hen. These boneless skinless hen thighs are all the time 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’ll be able to 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 beneath price to get you into the shop and hopefully purchase different issues. Which means rotisserie hen is commonly the most effective worth per pound for hen you will get. Save just a little time, save just a little cash.
Pasta Choices
Spaghetti is the standard alternative for pasta in a carbonara, nonetheless, you don’t must really feel tied to that. You may use virtually 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 in the course of the cooking course of emulsifies (binds) the components collectively, making a easy sauce. No clumpy cheese right here. You’ll be able to all the time use just a little 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 a minimum of 1 1/2 cups. Then, you’ll be able to 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 often till warmed by means of.
Microwave parts on excessive in 30-second increments or till warmed by means of.
Extra Italian classics…
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