Description
This Best Ever Chicken Carbonara is everything you want in a cozy, satisfying pasta dish. It’s a quick dinner idea made with seared chicken breast, crispy pancetta, fettuccine, and a rich, creamy egg yolk and Pecorino Romano sauce. A must-try for anyone looking for easy recipes, comfort food ideas, or weeknight dinner wins that feel gourmet without the stress.
Ingredients
12 oz fettuccine
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup diced pancetta
4 large egg yolks
1 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
2 cloves garlic minced
1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
Salt to taste
1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
1. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper, then sear them in olive oil over medium-high heat until golden and cooked through, about 6–7 minutes per side. Let rest and slice.
2. In the same pan, cook diced pancetta over medium heat until crispy. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate, keeping 1 tablespoon of the rendered fat.
3. Boil a large pot of salted water and cook fettuccine until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta.
4. In a bowl, whisk together egg yolks, Pecorino Romano, and black pepper. Slowly whisk in a bit of warm pasta water to temper the eggs.
5. Add hot pasta to the pan with pancetta and reserved fat. Toss to coat, then remove from heat and stir in the egg mixture, adding more pasta water as needed for a silky sauce.
6. Add sliced chicken and gently toss to combine. Serve with extra Pecorino and cracked pepper.
Notes
Use freshly grated cheese for best melting and flavor.
Temper the egg yolks before adding to avoid scrambling.
Save pasta water to adjust sauce consistency.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 720
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 880mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 65g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 42g
- Cholesterol: 260mg
Keywords: chicken carbonara, easy pasta recipe, quick dinner, comfort food, pasta with pancetta, fettuccine carbonara