Romantic Pasta Carbonara Beef (Printer-friendly)
Creamy egg sauce and crispy beef bacon elevate a classic pasta for a special meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 7 oz dried spaghetti or linguine
→ Sauce
02 - 2 large eggs
03 - 1.8 oz freshly grated Parmesan cheese
04 - 1 oz freshly grated Pecorino Romano (optional, or use more Parmesan)
05 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
06 - 1/4 tsp sea salt
→ Beef Bacon
07 - 3.5 oz beef bacon, sliced into 1/2 inch strips
08 - 1 tsp olive oil
→ To Serve
09 - Extra Parmesan, for garnish
10 - Freshly ground black pepper
11 - Chopped fresh parsley (optional)
# How to Prepare:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water, then drain.
02 - While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add beef bacon strips and cook until crisp and golden, about 5–7 minutes. Remove from heat.
03 - In a bowl, whisk together eggs, grated Parmesan, Pecorino (if using), black pepper, and salt until well combined.
04 - Add drained pasta to the skillet with the beef bacon (heat off). Quickly pour in the egg-cheese mixture, tossing vigorously to coat the pasta. Add reserved pasta water, a little at a time, until the sauce is creamy and silky.
05 - Divide immediately between two warmed plates. Sprinkle with extra Parmesan, more black pepper, and parsley if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The beef bacon adds a subtle smokiness that regular pancetta just cant match, creating depth without overwhelming the delicate sauce
- Everything comes together in under thirty minutes but tastes like you spent hours laboring over the stove
02 -
- Removing the skillet from heat before adding the eggs is absolutely non-negotiable unless you want scrambled eggs instead of carbonara
- The pasta water is the secret ingredient that transforms a clumpy sauce into something luxurious and creamy
03 -
- If your sauce looks too thick, add pasta water one tablespoon at a time until it reaches the right consistency
- The residual heat from the pasta and bacon is enough to cook the eggs, so resist the urge to turn the stove back on