Pasta carbonara is a timeless classic, loved for its rich flavors and simple preparation. It’s a dish that many home cooks turn to for a quick and satisfying weeknight meal. If you’re looking to elevate your usual carbonara, this recipe, inspired by the Pioneer Woman’s style, adds a delicious twist with the inclusion of garlic, onions, and fresh parsley. This garlic pasta carbonara recipe takes the traditional creamy sauce and infuses it with aromatic vegetables and herbs for a more vibrant and flavorful dish that’s still incredibly easy to make.
Pasta carbonara
A close up shot of a plate of garlic pasta carbonara, showcasing the creamy sauce, parsley flecks, and bacon pieces, highlighting the Pioneer Woman inspired twist on the classic dish.
What makes this carbonara recipe stand out is the thoughtful addition of extra ingredients. While classic carbonara focuses on eggs, cheese, pancetta or bacon, and black pepper, this version, drawing inspiration from the resourceful cooking of the Pioneer Woman, incorporates a generous amount of garlic, savory onions, and a burst of freshness from parsley. This recipe is perfect for those who appreciate the simplicity of carbonara but crave a little more depth and flavor in their pasta dishes.
Pasta carbonara
A slightly wider angle photo of the pasta carbonara, showing a serving fork lifting a portion of the dish to emphasize the texture and ingredients like bacon, parsley, and creamy sauce.
One of the best things about this garlic pasta carbonara recipe is that it remains a relatively quick meal to prepare, even with the added vegetables. While it might take a few minutes longer than a minimalist carbonara due to the chopping of garlic and onions, the extra flavor payoff is well worth the minimal effort. It’s still an ideal choice for a busy weeknight when you want a comforting and flavorful homemade dinner without spending hours in the kitchen. And like many of the Pioneer Woman’s recipes, this dish is designed to be approachable and satisfying for the whole family.
Pasta carbonara
A top-down view of a bowl of garlic pasta carbonara, beautifully garnished with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese, emphasizing the freshness and appealing presentation of this Pioneer Woman inspired recipe.
Another advantage of this Pioneer Woman inspired carbonara recipe is that it avoids heavy cream, keeping the focus on the rich egg and cheese sauce while incorporating lighter elements. By carefully rendering the bacon and using a moderate amount of butter, the dish achieves a delightful balance – rich and flavorful without feeling overly heavy. The generous amount of fresh parsley further contributes to this lighter feel, adding a vibrant herbal note that cuts through the richness of the sauce. If you are someone who loves fresh herbs, you’ll appreciate how the parsley elevates this carbonara recipe.
Pasta carbonara
A close-up shot highlighting the creamy texture of the carbonara sauce coating the pasta strands, with visible pieces of bacon, garlic, onion, and parsley, illustrating the key ingredients of this Pioneer Woman style dish.
Garlic Pasta Carbonara Recipe: Pioneer Woman Inspired
This Garlic Pasta Carbonara Recipe offers a delightful twist on the classic Italian dish, inspired by the hearty and flavorful cooking style of the Pioneer Woman. With the addition of garlic, onions, and parsley, this recipe creates a more vibrant and aromatic carbonara that’s perfect for a satisfying weeknight meal.
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Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 4 people
Calories per serving: 630 kcal
Ingredients
- 1 pound pasta (spaghetti, fettuccine, or your favorite shape)
- 6 slices bacon, thinly sliced
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup dry white wine or chicken stock
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
- 1 bunch fresh parsley, chopped
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for garnish
- 2 tablespoons butter
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Bacon: Slice bacon into thin pieces and cook in a large skillet over medium heat until crispy. Remove bacon from the skillet and set aside on paper towels to drain excess grease, reserving about 1-2 tablespoons of bacon grease in the skillet.
- Sauté Onion and Garlic: Add the chopped onion to the reserved bacon grease in the skillet and cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add the sliced garlic and cook for another 2 minutes until fragrant. Remove the onion and garlic from the skillet using a slotted spoon and set aside. Discard any remaining grease in the skillet.
- Deglaze the Pan: Place the skillet back over high heat and pour in the white wine or chicken stock to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Add ½ cup chicken stock and bring to a simmer. Return the cooked bacon, onion, and garlic to the skillet. Cover and keep warm over low heat, ensuring the liquid doesn’t evaporate too much.
- Prepare Egg Mixture: Finely chop the fresh parsley. In a large bowl, crack the eggs. Add the grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley to the eggs, reserving a little Parmesan and parsley for garnish. Mix well with a fork until combined.
- Cook Pasta: Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of pasta water.
- Combine Everything: Immediately add the hot, drained pasta to the egg mixture in the bowl and toss quickly to coat the pasta evenly with the egg mixture. The heat from the pasta will gently cook the eggs to create a creamy sauce. Add a little reserved pasta water if needed to reach desired consistency. Add the bacon, onion, and garlic mixture to the pasta and toss to combine. Stir in the butter. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Serve: Serve immediately, garnished with extra grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley.
easy pasta carbonara
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Recipe Notes
- Recipe Inspiration: Adapted from a recipe inspired by The Pioneer Woman.
- Parsley: If you are not a fan of a lot of parsley, start with a smaller amount and add more to taste. However, the parsley really adds a fresh dimension to this carbonara.
- Serving: This recipe is best served immediately. Reheating egg-based pasta sauces can affect the texture.
Nutrition Information
Garlic Pasta Carbonara Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories: 630
% Daily Value*
Fat: 34g 52%
Saturated Fat: 14g 88%
Cholesterol: 143mg 48%
Sodium: 706mg 31%
Potassium: 388mg 11%
Carbohydrates: 49g 16%
Fiber: 2g 8%
Sugar: 3g 3%
Protein: 23g 46%
Vitamin A: 455IU 9%
Vitamin C: 3.9mg 5%
Calcium: 191mg 19%
Iron: 1.8mg 10%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition Disclaimer: Nutritional information is an estimate and should not be considered professional nutritional advice.
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