Name: Lightened Up Spaghetti Carbonara
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 lb spaghetti; 1 tbsp olive oil; 0.5 lb turkey bacon; 1 onion; 2 cloved garlic; 2 eggs; 0.75 cup parmesan cheese; 1 cup reserved pasta water

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Lightened Up Spaghetti Carbonara

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Ingredients

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Instructions

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Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to the package directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the pasta cooking water. Return the pasta to the pot.

While the pasta is cooking, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally so it cooks evenly, about 5 minutes.

Add the onions and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft, about 3 minutes.

Whisk together the eggs and cheese in a small bowl. Add it to the pasta and immediately (so it doesn't curdle) stir and toss together.

Add the bacon, onions and 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water*. Toss to coat well and serve immediately

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Temper Your Eggs Properly 🥚
Whisk eggs with grated Parmesan off heat, then slowly add a ladle of hot pasta water while whisking constantly to prevent scrambling when combining with hot pasta.
Reserve Pasta Water Before Draining 💧
Save at least 1 cup of starchy pasta water before draining—this is essential for creating the creamy sauce without heavy cream, as the starch emulsifies the eggs and oil.
Cook Turkey Bacon Until Crispy 🥓
Render turkey bacon slowly over medium heat until it's completely crispy to add textural contrast and prevent it from becoming chewy in the final dish.
Work Off Heat for the Sauce 🔥
Remove the pasta from heat before adding the egg mixture, then toss quickly and continuously while adding pasta water gradually to achieve a silky, creamy carbonara without scrambled eggs.
Minimize Aromatics for Authenticity 🧄
Use garlic and onion sparingly (or skip entirely) since traditional carbonara relies on the pork, Parmesan, and eggs for flavor—too many aromatics muddy the delicate balance.