Creamy Chicken Carbonara: An Easy 30-Minute Weeknight Dinner
This Chicken Carbonara recipe is a true weeknight hero, bringing a delightful blend of savory and creamy flavors to your dinner table in just about 30 minutes. Featuring succulent, tender chicken breasts bathed in a rich milk and Parmesan cheese-based sauce, this dish is elevated with the aromatic notes of garlic and shallots, and the irresistible crunch of crispy bacon. Forget bland dinners; this satisfying pasta dish is designed for busy evenings when you crave something special yet effortless.
For many, pasta is the ultimate comfort food and a reliable solution for dinner dilemmas. When time is short, or inspiration wanes, a well-crafted pasta dish can transform a chaotic evening into a delightful meal. This Chicken Carbonara fits that bill perfectly, offering a creamy, flavorful experience that appeals to almost everyone. It’s a win-win: you get a quick, easy dinner on the table, and your family gets a delicious, hearty meal they’ll adore.
Years ago, I discovered a carbonara recipe that truly opened my eyes. While traditional carbonara often features peas, which aren’t my favorite (I confess, I eat them more out of parental duty than enjoyment!), this particular recipe included broccoli and spinach. This revelation transformed my view of carbonara. The crisp-tender texture of broccolini and the subtle freshness of spinach proved to be fantastic additions, perfectly complementing the rich, savory flavors of the bacon and chicken. After all, who doesn’t love bacon in their pasta?
Why This Chicken Carbonara Recipe Will Be Your New Favorite
This chicken carbonara, with its irresistible blend of crispy bacon and tender chicken, quickly becomes a family favorite. The sauce is a symphony of rich flavors, featuring the pungent sweetness of garlic, the delicate sharpness of shallots, and the salty, umami depth of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. It’s a deeply satisfying meal that you can effortlessly pull together even on the busiest weeknights. While some carbonara recipes might call for pancetta, we find that good old bacon provides that familiar, comforting flavor our family loves, making it our go-to choice for this recipe.
Adding Chicken for a Heartier Meal
Incorporating chicken into a pasta dish instantly elevates it from a side to a robust, stand-alone meal. This recipe is an excellent way to utilize leftover cooked rotisserie chicken you might have in the fridge or freezer. Simply shred or cube the cooked chicken and toss it into the creamy sauce before pouring it over your favorite pasta. It’s a simple step that adds significant protein and makes the dish incredibly satisfying for the whole family.
If you’re a fan of delicious chicken pasta recipes, you’ll undoubtedly enjoy these other fantastic options: Easy Chicken and Mushroom Florentine, a savory blend of chicken and mushrooms in a rich sauce; Creamy Chicken Penne Pasta, another quick and comforting option; and Country Club Chicken and Pasta, a classic that always pleases.
Understanding Creamy Chicken Carbonara (No Eggs Required!)
It’s important to differentiate carbonara from alfredo, as they are often confused. While traditional carbonara typically uses a sauce made with whisked eggs, cured pork like guanciale or pancetta, and hard cheese, our version takes a slightly different, yet equally delicious, path. We’ve opted to create a beautifully creamy sauce using milk and Parmesan, entirely skipping the egg mixture. Don’t worry, you’ll still achieve that luscious, velvety texture without the need to separate egg whites from yolks. Alfredo sauce, on the other hand, is generally characterized by a rich blend of heavy cream and Parmesan cheese, usually without the addition of eggs or cured meats like bacon.
This recipe focuses on creating an incredibly flavorful and satisfying cream-based sauce that is both simpler to prepare and still delivers on that comforting, indulgent carbonara experience. The combination of milk, Parmesan, and a touch of pasta water helps create a wonderfully smooth and thick sauce that coats every strand of pasta and piece of chicken perfectly.
Essential Ingredients for Your Delicious Chicken Carbonara
Gathering the right ingredients is the first step to creating this mouthwatering chicken carbonara. For a complete list with exact measurements and detailed instructions, please scroll to the bottom of this post for the full printable recipe card.
- Milk: The foundation of our creamy sauce. For the richest, most decadent sauce, opt for whole milk. If you prefer a slightly lighter version, 2% milk will also work, though the sauce may be a touch thinner.
- Parmesan Cheese: This is where a lot of the flavor comes from! Always use freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Pre-grated varieties often contain anti-caking agents that can make the sauce gritty and prevent it from melting smoothly. Freshly grated cheese melts beautifully, creating a silky texture and superior flavor.
- Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper adds a wonderful aromatic kick and depth of flavor. Adjust to your personal taste.
- Linguine Noodles: We love the broad, flat strands of linguine for this dish as they hold the creamy sauce exceptionally well. However, feel free to use any long pasta you prefer, such as spaghetti, fettuccine, or even bucatini.
- Broccolettes (Broccolini): These tender, slightly sweet vegetables add fantastic flavor, a pleasant bite, and a vibrant splash of color to the pasta. They cook quickly and seamlessly integrate into the dish.
- Spinach: We recommend using baby spinach, roughly chopped. It wilts down quickly into the warm pasta, adding essential nutrients and a subtle earthy note without overpowering the other flavors.
- Bacon: The crispy, salty star of the show! While you can cook fresh bacon, using a package of real bacon pieces makes this recipe even quicker. If cooking fresh, aim for a crisp texture.
- Shallot: Shallots provide a more delicate, sweeter onion flavor compared to regular onions. They add depth and complexity to the sauce. If you don’t have shallots, a small diced yellow onion can be used as a substitute.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is always best for its potent aroma and flavor. However, if you’re in a pinch, jarred minced garlic can work as a convenient backup.
- Parsley: Freshly chopped parsley is not just for garnish; it adds a bright, herbaceous freshness that cuts through the richness of the sauce and elevates the overall flavor.
- Chicken: We use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed, to make this a hearty and protein-packed meal. You can also use pre-cooked chicken, like rotisserie chicken, for an even faster prep time.
- Olive Oil: Extra virgin olive oil is preferred for its flavor, but any good quality olive oil will work for sautéing the chicken and aromatics.
Keep reading for invaluable tips and tricks, creative substitutions, and answers to common questions about preparing this delicious chicken carbonara recipe.
How to Craft Your Perfect Chicken Carbonara: Step-by-Step
Making this creamy chicken carbonara is surprisingly simple, requiring just a few straightforward steps to bring together a truly impressive meal.
Begin by preparing your pasta. In a large pot of generously salted boiling water, cook the linguine noodles according to package directions until they are al dente – meaning firm to the bite, but not hard. This is crucial for texture. For the last 3 minutes of the pasta’s cooking time, add the broccolini to the pot so it can cook simultaneously until tender-crisp. Once cooked, drain the pasta and broccolini, rinse with cool water to stop the cooking process and prevent sticking, and set them aside. Remember to reserve about a cup of the starchy pasta water before draining, as it can be a secret weapon for adjusting your sauce’s consistency later.
Next, prepare the chicken. In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the cubed chicken pieces and cook, stirring frequently, until they are beautifully golden brown on all sides and cooked through. Once done, remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside, leaving any flavorful drippings in the skillet.
Using the same skillet (no need to clean it – those browned bits add flavor!), add the chopped shallots, minced garlic, and bacon pieces. Sauté for a few minutes until the shallots are softened and fragrant, and the bacon is heated through and slightly crispy. This step builds the aromatic base for your carbonara sauce.
Now for the creamy sauce: gradually whisk in the milk, ensuring a smooth mixture. Stir in the freshly ground black pepper and the shredded Parmesan cheese. Continue to stir until the cheese is fully melted and incorporated, creating a rich and velvety sauce. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet, stirring it gently into the sauce. Allow the sauce to simmer for a few minutes, giving it time to gently thicken to your desired consistency. If it’s too thick, add a splash of your reserved pasta water.
Finally, it’s time to bring everything together. Add the cooked pasta and broccolini, the fresh baby spinach, and the chopped fresh parsley to the skillet. Toss everything gently with the creamy sauce until the pasta is thoroughly coated and the spinach has wilted. Serve immediately, perhaps with an extra sprinkle of Parmesan cheese on the side for those who love an even richer finish.
We love to serve this creamy pasta dish with a warm slice of crusty bread, like this amazing {No Knead} Crusty Dutch Oven Bread, perfect for soaking up every last bit of the delicious sauce.
This creamy chicken carbonara is fantastic fresh, but leftovers can also be enjoyed. Allow the pasta to cool completely to room temperature before storing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. While you can freeze leftovers for up to 3 months, be aware that the pasta and sauce texture might change slightly upon thawing and reheating. For best results, reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of milk or water to restore creaminess.
Love It? Pin It!
If you adore this easy chicken carbonara recipe as much as we do, don’t let it get lost in the shuffle! Make sure to save it for later by pinning it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board. It’s a fantastic way to keep track of go-to meals that consistently deliver on flavor and convenience.
Creative Substitutions and Variations
One of the joys of cooking is the freedom to customize recipes to suit your personal taste, dietary needs, or whatever ingredients you have on hand. Don’t be afraid to get creative with this chicken carbonara recipe – make it truly your own!
- If you’re out of cooked bacon, don’t fret! Cubed cooked ham or even prosciutto can make an excellent substitute, offering a similar salty, savory note.
- For an even richer and more indulgent sauce, swap out the milk for heavy cream. This will yield a thicker, more luxurious carbonara.
- Experiment with different hard Italian cheeses. Pecorino Romano, with its sharper, saltier profile, or the milder Grana Padano are both excellent alternatives to Parmesan cheese.
- If you prefer to cook your bacon fresh, you can easily cook bacon in an air fryer or on the stovetop until crispy, then crumble it into the sauce.
- Craving a seafood twist? If you love the Shrimp and Chicken Carbonara served at popular restaurants, try adding cooked shrimp to this recipe alongside the chicken for a delightful surf-and-turf experience.
- No broccolini? Regular broccoli florets or even asparagus spears can be used instead. Adjust cooking time as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chicken Carbonara Pasta
Let’s clear up some common questions about carbonara, especially our chicken-infused version!
- What exactly is chicken carbonara? Chicken carbonara is a modern take on the classic Italian pasta dish, “Spaghetti Carbonara.” While the traditional version typically relies on cured pork (like guanciale or pancetta), whisked egg yolks, hard cheese, and black pepper to create its creamy sauce, our chicken carbonara incorporates tender chicken and often uses milk or cream to achieve a rich, satisfying consistency without the raw egg component.
- What is chicken carbonara sauce made of in this recipe? Our chicken carbonara sauce features a creamy base made primarily with milk and generous amounts of Parmesan cheese. It’s seasoned with savory bacon, aromatic shallots, and fresh garlic. While traditional carbonara often includes eggs, our recipe provides a delicious, creamy sauce that skips the eggs for simplicity and a slightly different texture.
- What’s the difference between chicken alfredo and carbonara? This is a common point of confusion! The primary difference lies in the sauce base. Traditional carbonara sauce typically involves raw egg yolks, grated cheese, and the rendered fat from cured pork, creating a light, emulsified coating when tossed with hot pasta. Alfredo sauce, on the other hand, is generally made with heavy cream, butter, and Parmesan cheese, resulting in a much richer, thicker, and often more robust sauce. Our chicken carbonara, while using milk for creaminess, still embodies the savory, bacon-infused spirit of carbonara.
- What is the golden rule of cooking a traditional carbonara? For a *traditional* carbonara with eggs, the “golden rule” is to ensure the eggs are perfectly emulsified with the hot pasta water and rendered fat from the pork, without scrambling them. This requires constant tossing and precise temperature control. In our no-egg creamy carbonara, the “golden rule” is to ensure your sauce thickens beautifully and coats the pasta evenly, without becoming clumpy, which can often be achieved by adding some starchy pasta water.
Expert Tips & Tricks for Perfect Carbonara
Elevate your chicken carbonara from good to gourmet with these helpful tips and tricks:
- Al Dente Pasta is Key: Always cook your pasta al dente. This means it should be firm to the bite but not hard. This texture prevents the pasta from becoming mushy when tossed with the sauce and helps it absorb the flavors better.
- Reserve Pasta Water: Don’t toss out all your pasta water! Keep at least a cup of the starchy cooking water. It’s a chef’s secret weapon: if your sauce becomes too thick, a splash of this starchy water can thin it out while also helping the sauce emulsify and cling beautifully to the pasta.
- Fresh Herbs for Finish: While parsley is called for in the recipe, consider topping your carbonara with fresh basil leaves just before serving. The vibrant, slightly sweet aroma of basil adds another layer of fresh flavor that complements the richness of the dish.
- Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: When cooking the chicken, ensure you don’t overcrowd the skillet. Cooking in batches if necessary allows the chicken to brown properly and develop a nice crust, rather than steaming.
- Grate Cheese Fresh: We mentioned it in the ingredients, but it bears repeating: freshly grated Parmesan cheese is non-negotiable for the best texture and flavor in your sauce. It melts smoothly and integrates seamlessly.
- Season as You Go: Taste and adjust seasoning at each major step – after cooking the chicken, after making the sauce, and before serving. This ensures every component is perfectly flavored.
Explore More Quick & Easy Pasta Recipes
If you love the convenience and deliciousness of quick and easy pasta dishes, we have a few more recommendations that you’re sure to enjoy. This Lemon Basil Pasta offers a bright and fresh alternative, while this unique Pasta Salad With Spam is surprisingly delightful and perfect for potlucks. And for a fun, kid-friendly meal, our Pizza Pasta comes together in a cinch.
If baked pasta is more up your alley and you appreciate a comforting casserole, then this indulgent Creamy Baked Chicken Pasta With Bacon or the wholesome Chicken and Spinach Pasta Bake may be exactly what you’re looking for to warm your soul. Each offers a different take on bringing pasta to life, ensuring there’s a delicious option for every mood and occasion.
This creamy chicken carbonara pasta is truly a versatile and satisfying dish that is bound to become one of your new favorite go-to recipes. Whether you’re planning a casual family weeknight dinner or looking for an easy yet impressive meal for a special occasion, this recipe delivers on flavor, comfort, and ease.
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Print Recipe
Chicken Carbonara Recipe
Equipment
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Stainless Steel Pasta Cooker Steamer Multipots, 12 Quart, Silver
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Cuisinart Stainless Steel Pasta Server
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Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet With Assist Handle, 10.25″, Black
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Parmesan Cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 pound linguine noodles
- 3 cups broccolini
- 2 cups baby spinach rough chopped
- 2.8 ounce package real bacon pieces
- 1 shallot chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 Tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
- 2 large chicken breasts cubed
- 2 Tablespoons Olive oil
Instructions
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In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook linguine according to package directions, (do not overcook) add broccolette last 3 minutes of cook time, drain and rinse with cool water, set aside.
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In a skillet, add olive oil, cook chicken pieces, stirring frequently. Remove chicken from pan, set aside.
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In the same skillet, add shallots, garlic and bacon pieces and saute for a few minutes.
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Whisk in milk, pepper and Parmesan cheese.
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Return chicken to the skillet. Stir into sauce. Let thicken for a few minutes.
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Add pasta/broccolettes, spinach and parsley. Toss with sauce.
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Serve.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted on May 5, 2015. It has been updated and enhanced to improve user experience, optimize for SEO, and add more valuable content, and was reshared on May 22, 2024.