Description
This Creamy Chicken Carbonara Skillet is a quick and delicious one-pan meal perfect for weeknight dinners. Tender chicken breasts and crispy bacon are combined with a rich, creamy sauce made from eggs, Parmesan, and cream, tossed with fettuccine or spaghetti, then garnished with fresh parsley and zesty lemon for a bright finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 6 slices of bacon
- 8 oz fettuccine or spaghetti
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Fresh parsley for garnish
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Minced garlic (about 2 cloves)
- Diced onion (about 1 small onion)
Pasta
Sauce
Garnish
Instructions
- Cook the bacon: Place bacon slices in a skillet over medium heat and cook until crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet and drain on paper towels. Set aside.
- Sauté the chicken and aromatics: In the same skillet with rendered bacon fat, add sliced chicken breasts and cook until golden brown and cooked through. Then add minced garlic and diced onion to the skillet and sauté until the onion is soft and translucent.
- Cook the pasta: Boil pasta in salted water according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve a cup of pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
- Prepare the sauce: In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, heavy cream, grated Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, salt, and pepper until fully combined.
- Combine all components: Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the chicken mixture. Pour the creamy sauce over the pasta and toss everything together vigorously, adding reserved pasta water as needed to help create a silky, smooth sauce that coats the pasta evenly.
- Serve: Plate the creamy chicken carbonara and garnish with the crispy bacon pieces and freshly chopped parsley. Serve immediately while warm.
Notes
- Be careful when tossing the pasta with the egg-based sauce to avoid scrambling the eggs; use some reserved pasta water to temper the sauce and keep it creamy.
- You can substitute bacon with pancetta or guanciale for a more traditional carbonara flavor.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for the best flavor and creaminess.
- This dish can be easily modified to gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days but are best enjoyed fresh.
