Join our Vincenzo’s Plate famiglia!
Vincenzo's Plate
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Pasta
    • Pizza
    • Sauces
    • Bread
    • 30 Minute Meals
    • Nonna’s Recipes
    • Vincenzo’s Basics
    • Recipes by Course
      • Appetizer
      • Mains
      • Dessert
      • Sides
      • Drink
  • About
  • Tours
  • Shop
  • Academy
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Pasta
    • Pizza
    • Sauces
    • Bread
    • 30 Minute Meals
    • Nonna’s Recipes
    • Vincenzo’s Basics
    • Recipes by Course
      • Appetizer
      • Mains
      • Dessert
      • Sides
      • Drink
  • About
  • Tours
  • Shop
  • Academy

Spaghetti Carbonara

Author:

Vincenzo Prosperi

Updated:

14th May, 2025

81 Comments

share:

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on X
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Email this Page

This post contains affiliate links. See disclosure policy.

Jump to Recipe

Jump to Video

How to Make Spaghetti Carbonara

Spaghetti carbonara recipe – original and approved by Romans! Before we start, the number one rule is simple –REAL SPAGHETTI CARBONARA RECIPE IS MADE WITH EGGS, NOT CREAM!

Combine fresh eggs, with crispy guanciale, salty pecorino cheese and pepper to create the perfect, classic Roman pasta dish, Carbonara. In this video recipe, I tested out my traditional version with some locals from Rome and they loved it! Make this classic the right way and I promise, your tastebuds will thank you.

Watch video recipe:

 

SPAGHETTI CARBONARA RECIPE | How to Make Spaghetti Carbonara

spaghetti-carbonara-recipe

Vincenzo’s Top Tips To Make Spaghetti Carbonara

Pasta water is KEY

The pasta water is the KEY to making the Spaghetti Carbonara recipe PERFECTLY! Don’t miss this step!! It will help to combine all the ingredients well and they will stick to the pasta better.

RIGHT pasta!

Make sure that your pasta is al dente

Be gentle, but fast!

In mixing, let it cook through but don’t let the eggs scramble or you will end up with a frittata!

spaghetti-carbonara-recipe

Spaghetti Carbonara

Print Recipe
4.73 from 22 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Cook Time: 15 minutes mins
Total Time: 20 minutes mins
Servings: 4

Equipment

  • large pot for cooking pasta
  • Chopping-board
  • knife
  • Large fry pan
  • Mixing bowl
  • fork
  • Ladle
  • Long set of tongs

Ingredients

  • 5 L Water, 21.134 cups
  • Pinch Rock salt
  • 300 grams Spaghetti, 10 oz. or Spaghettoni/Rigatoni/Paccheri
  • 150 grams Guanciale, 5.3 oz. Pig Cheek or Pancetta
  • 200 grams Pecorino cheese, 2 cups
  • 4 Eggs
  • Pepper

Instructions

  • Spaghetti carbonara takes just a short time to make so first up, boil the water to cook your pasta in a large pot.
  • Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions when it comes to time, making sure the pasta is al dente.
  • Cut the skin off the guanciale (making sure to leave the peppery/seasoned crust), then slice it into thin strips.
  • Put the large fry pan on the stove at a low to medium heat. For the spaghetti carbonara recipe to be just right, add the guanciale into the pan, let it cook very slowly and it will create its own delicious oil.
  • Let the guanciale simmer and crisp up very gently.
  • Get your mixing bowl and add 4 eggs, then whisk them really well.
  • Next, add the pecorino cheese to make this spaghetti carbonara recipe, and lots of pepper before mixing it together really well. This will create a scrumptious cream for you to add to your pasta.
  • Once the pasta has boiled to your preferred taste, using a set of tongs, take out the pasta from the boiling water and add it straight to the pan, making sure small drops of the water mix into the pan too.
  • Turn off the cook top, so the pasta and guanciale stop cooking.
  • Next, using the ladle, get a full scoop of pasta water out of the pot and add it to the egg and cheese cream, then mix through well using a fork.
  • Now, turn the cook top back on a low heat, add some pasta water to the pan, and now, pour the cream over the top, then mix it through using your tongs – be gentle, but fast! Let it cook through but don’t let the eggs scramble or you will end up with a frittata!
  • Keep mixing the cream through until it just starts to thicken, stir is through and then serve.
  • E ora si mangia, Vincenzo’s Plate….Enjoy!

Video

How to serve Spaghetti Carbonara

Once you have served up your portions on individual flat plates, sprinkle some freshly cracked pepper over the top and make sure your guests eat it up right away.

 

Subscribe to my Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/vincenzosplate

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




81 responses

  1. Joey
    June 9, 2023

    5 stars
    This recipe turned out amazing, granted, I took extra time on it, but it was worth the wait. I ended up replacing Guanciale with bacon, and pecorino with Parmesan because my local store didn’t have them. Thanks Vincenzo!

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      June 10, 2023

      Using bacon as a substitute for Guanciale and Parmesan instead of pecorino is a creative solution when you couldn’t find the exact ingredients. Cooking is all about adapting to what’s available and making the most out of it. I’m glad you were able to find suitable alternatives that worked well in your dish.

      Reply
  2. Tom
    July 20, 2023

    5 stars
    The internet is crazy…. I am British guy, living in Bogota Colombia, who managed to find guanciale and Pecorino Romano, from an Italian food importer. I then followed an Italian chef, who lives in Australia, who showed me how to make authentic carbonara.

    The result was absolutely fantastic. The only problem was that I am going to have to keep making it, to use up the extra pecorino romano and guanciale I bought

    Thank you Vincenzo! Keep the videos and recipes coming!!

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      August 2, 2023

      Grazie mille for your kind words and encouragement! I’m thrilled to know that my videos and recipes are adding to your culinary journey. I promise to keep sharing more delicious dishes and inspiration from Italy. Buon appetito and happy cooking! 🇮🇹🍝😊

      Reply
  3. Dominic
    July 26, 2023

    5 stars
    I watched your videos with you critiquing other chef’s carbonara attempts and that was the first I knew that it wasn’t a dish made with a cream sauce. As I cannot stomach much cream, I’d never tried it. My mind was made up to try your recipe and advice and tonight myself and my partner cooked it and it was beautiful. I think we made it slightly too thick and need a little more pasta water next time, but cooking is all about learning.

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      August 2, 2023

      Thank you for embracing the traditional approach to carbonara and being open to trying new recipes. It’s a joy to share my love for Italian cuisine and see others enjoy it too. I’m here to support your culinary journey, so if you ever need any tips or have questions about other Italian dishes, feel free to reach out. Buon appetito and happy cooking! 🇮🇹🍝😊

      Reply
  4. Gary Freeman
    July 30, 2023

    Hi,

    Followed this pretty well but mine did turn a little scrambled egg.
    Could this be because the pan was still to hot?

    I did mix very quickly like instructed.

    Thank you.

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      August 2, 2023

      To avoid this, try removing the pan from the heat completely before adding the egg mixture. The residual heat from the pasta and guanciale will be enough to cook the eggs gently without scrambling them.

      Reply
  5. Michael
    August 25, 2023

    A big hit here and will be for years to come. My pasta water was a bit too salty. Had to use bacon and supermarket Parmigiano etc., but we didn’t care. I used a good pasta that was a little thicker which kept it al dente. I can play around with it and fine tune, but the key points you made clear with the temperature etc are the best advice. I cook a lot and this will be a family goto meal weeknights as well as special occasions.

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      September 1, 2023

      I understand that you had to use bacon and supermarket Parmesan, but I’m happy that you still found it delicious. Using a good pasta that was a little thicker was a great idea, and I’m sure that helped to keep the pasta al dente.

      Reply
  6. Eric
    October 28, 2023

    Are you supposed to use the whole egg or just the yolk? I’ve always seen recipes saying you just use the yolks and it makes it creamier.

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      November 8, 2023

      Traditionally, authentic spaghetti alla carbonara recipes use the whole egg, including the yolk and the white.

      Reply
  7. Ryan
    November 12, 2023

    5 stars
    Hey Vincenzo, I tried to make a carbonara for the first time today. Thanks to your videos it was a huge success. I had trouble getting the ingredients here in korea and it caused a few issues (I got pancetta but I think it had been cured and then smoked, so there was hardly any oil, and I didn’t have any spaghetti so i used casarecce from garofalo), but the sauce was sensational. It was so rich and creamy. I can’t wait to try it again. Your videos have motivated me to get cooking. Thank you!!

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      November 13, 2023

      Ciao amico! I’m thrilled to hear about your carbonara adventure in Korea! Bravo for adapting and still creating a sensational sauce. It’s all about the journey, and I’m glad my videos could be a source of inspiration. Keep up the culinary spirit, and remember, cooking is an art where every twist and turn leads to delicious discoveries. If you ever need more recipes or tips, I’m here. Grazie for sharing your experience, and happy cooking

      Reply
  8. Doug
    March 29, 2024

    5 stars
    Exellent…even if I did have to suffer the Americanism of bacon as guancalie is not a very US staple. Will seek some out next time. Key for me was getting the amount of pasta water right to give it a creaminess…nailed it after adding bit by bit and stirring. Also saw your tip somewhere of putting the pan on top of the pot of water to let the steam keep the pan warm while stirring the pasta and sauce…perfect. Lovin’ your recipes Vincenzo! Thank you.

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      March 29, 2024

      Ciao! I’m delighted to hear that you enjoyed the Spaghetti carbonara recipe and that it turned out excellent!
      It’s not always easy to find guanciale outside of Italy. Using pancetta or even bacon is a good substitute. I do hope you get to try it with guanciale next time—the taste is just next level. And yes, putting the pan on top of the pot of water to use the steam to keep it warm is a clever technique, isn’t it?

      Reply
  9. Gerard
    April 21, 2024

    Thank you, I love your passion for real Italian food and I follow you for a long time and tonight I make this wonderful dish and it brings me back to my holidays that I spend in Italy

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      April 22, 2024

      That’s fantastic to hear! I’m thrilled that the Spaghetti Carbonara brought back such wonderful memories of your holidays in Italy. Thank you for your kind words it truly means a lot to me. Happy cooking, and may each dish keep those beautiful memories alive!

      Reply
  10. Nikolas
    May 23, 2024

    It’s a great recipe. Sadly in Greece I couldn’t find Pecorino Romano or Guanciale, but I used thick slices of smoked bacon, and Pekorino from Amfilohia (it’s a bit less salty). But it was perfect.

    I used Barilla Spaggetoni no 7.

    Next I am gonna make it with home made pici. What do you think?

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      May 23, 2024

      Ciao Nikolas! I’m so thrilled you liked the recipe and made it work with what you could find! Using smoked bacon and local Pekorino sounds like a delicious twist. Barilla Spaghettoni is a great choice too! Homemade pici sounds amazing for your next try—it’ll definitely bring a lovely, rustic touch to the dish. Can’t wait to hear how it turns out!

      Reply
Older
1 2 3 4
Newer

Ciao, from Vincenzo

I’ve made it my mission to bring authentic Italian recipes into your kitchen, because great Italian food shouldn’t be complicated. Good food brings people together!

Join our famiglia and stay up to date with my new recipes, exclusive news and cooking tips direct from Nonna

Subscribe

Unleash Your
Inner Italian Chef with Vincenzo!

If you want to master Italian cooking, join my academy and get lifetime access to every lesson.

For a limited time the course is 35% off

Save Now

Join Me In Italy

Pescara, Abruzzo

Experience the heart of Italy like never before with our exclusive, intimate Abruzzo tours. Explore hidden gems, savor world-class truffles, make pasta with locals and create memories to last a lifetime. Hosted by yours truly, and my family.

Group Tours

Most Popular Videos

16:17

10M Views

How to Make Neapolitain Pizza…

14:56

6M Views

How to Make Spaghetti Carbonara…

18:17

5M Views

Italian Chef Reacts to Popular…

9:26

3M Views

Mouthwatering Spanish Omlette…

More Videos

Vincenzo’s
Favourite Recipes

A carefully curated selection of the recipes I literally cannot live without. My favourites mostly because of the irresistible flavors but also often because of the memories they evoke.

  • How To Make The Best Tiramisu Recipe Nobody Can Resist

    How To Make The Best Tiramisu Recipe Nobody Can Resist

  • How To Make The Best Chicken Broth Aka Italian Penicillin

    How To Make The Best Chicken Broth Aka Italian Penicillin

  • Easy Panna Cotta Recipe Everyone Will Fall in Love With

    Easy Panna Cotta Recipe Everyone Will Fall in Love With

  • How to Make Ultimate Bolognese Sauce Recipe

    How to Make Ultimate Bolognese Sauce Recipe

Subscribe for weekly recipes

Name

About
Tours
Work with us
Contact
Privacy and Disclosures
Instagram
YouTube
Facebook
TikTok

© Vincenzo’s Plate | Design by Street Fresh Digital Media. Theme by OC.

Vincenzo's Plate

Subscribe for weekly recipes

Name