Updated on September 15th, 2025
There’s something about chicken carbonara that makes it feel like comfort food at its best. The combination of pasta, smoky bacon, parmesan, and tender chicken creates a creamy, flavorful dish that comes together quickly. With a little help from eggs and cheese, the sauce clings to the spaghetti without being heavy. It’s the kind of meal that feels homemade and cozy but doesn’t take hours to pull together.
Why this recipe works
- Classic flavors in one bowl: Bacon, parmesan, and pasta are timeless together, and the addition of chicken makes it more filling.
- Simple creamy sauce: The heat of the pasta naturally thickens the egg and cheese mixture, so you get a smooth, rich sauce without much effort.
- Quick cooking time: From start to finish, this dish is ready in about half an hour, making it perfect for a weeknight dinner.
- Kid and adult friendly: The familiar cheesy pasta taste makes it something everyone at the table will look forward to.
- Easy to change up: Keep it classic with peas, or add extras like mushrooms, spinach, or onions to make it your own.
Serving suggestions
- Pair with garlic bread: The buttery, garlicky crunch of toasted bread is perfect for scooping up the creamy pasta.
- Add a side salad: A simple salad with vinaigrette cuts through the richness and balances the plate.
- Make it dinner-party ready: Top with extra parmesan and fresh cracked pepper for a little flair before serving.
- Add vegetables: Roasted asparagus or broccoli go especially well alongside chicken carbonara.
- Serve family-style: Pile the pasta into one big bowl at the table and let everyone dig in together.
Chicken Carbonara Recipe
Make chicken carbonara at home for a quick Italian-inspired dinner recipe that’s easy, creamy, and always satisfying for the family.
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1lb boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite size pieces)
- 1/2 lb bacon
- 12 ounces spaghetti noodles
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 cup white wine
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 cup frozen peas
Instructions
- In a small bowl mix together parmesan cheese, eggs, heavy cream, salt, and pepper. In another bowl mix together wine, chicken broth, and lemon juice. Set both aside.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil for cooking the noodles. In a large skillet cook bacon in batches until crispy. Drain on paper towels.
- Fry chicken pieces in bacon fat until fully cooked. Drain on paper towels.
- Deglaze the pan with wine mixture scraping up any bits on the bottom of the pan. Cook for about 2-3 minutes. Place noodles in boiling water and cook according to package directions.
- While noodles are cooking crumble bacon slices into bits and in a large bowl mix chicken, bacon bits, wine glaze mixture, and parmesan/egg mixture. Drain noodles and shake to get rid of any extra water.
- Add peas and egg mixture to piping hot noodles and mix well.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 609
- Sugar: 4.5 g
- Sodium: 671.1 mg
- Fat: 13.6 g
- Carbohydrates: 69.7 g
- Protein: 46.1 g
- Cholesterol: 194 mg