Hen Carbonara - The Keep At Dwelling Chef

It’s simply too darn simple to like Hen Carbonara with that velvety sauce, crispy bacon, and pecorino romano cheese. Critically, how might you not love this dish? And, including rooster to a traditional carbonara makes this meal a bit extra substantial, so it’s not simply loading up on the pasta.

However while you just do wish to load up on the pasta, go for our Authentic Pasta Carbonara.

Why Our Recipe

Prepared in simply half-hour which is ideal for weeknight dinners.
Deliciously juicy rooster provides to the traditional pasta to make it extra filling.
The sauce is velvety easy, made with eggs, pasta water, and pecorino romano cheese.

Closeup shot of tongs picking up chicken carbonara in cast iron pot.

No want to attend for an important day to order this at your favourite Italian restaurant when you notice how simple it’s to make. Take pleasure in this at your kitchen desk each time the craving hits! Add some rooster to a traditional carbonara and it’s an entire meal prepared in half-hour. You continue to have that superb, thick-cut bacon and a velvety egg and cheese sauce. When you don’t have pecorino romano, you possibly can at all times cheat and use parmesan—we gained’t inform in case you gained’t. We do it on a regular basis!

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients used to make chicken carbonara.

Thick-Reduce Bacon: You may at all times substitute pancetta for bacon which is the genuine ingredient. Pancetta isn’t at all times as simple to come back by and will be dearer, so we default to bacon as the higher possibility for many of our viewers.
Hen Breasts: Boneless, skinless rooster breasts are nice for this recipe. Cube into bite-sized items.
Eggs: You’ll need massive grade AA eggs for this recipe. You’ll use a mix of egg whites and entire eggs for the proper silky easy sauce.
Spaghetti: Simply use from the field. Prepare dinner to al dente, tender however agency.
Pecorino Romano Cheese: You may simply substitute with parmesan cheese. Simply be sure it’s freshly grated as pre-grated doesn’t soften as easily and might make the sauce gritty.
Parsley: It’s simply there so as to add a pop of coloration. It’s elective, however makes it look a bit extra fancy.

Hen Choices

We choose to make use of boneless skinless rooster breasts, however you can at all times use rooster thighs in case you choose darkish meat or a fattier minimize of rooster. These boneless skinless rooster thighs are at all times juicier than the breasts.

Time & Cash Saver

You may simply use leftover rooster or shredded rotisserie rooster on this recipe. You’ll want about 2 cups or you possibly can actually load it up with a cup or two extra. Rotisserie rooster is usually offered as one thing referred to as a “loss chief” for grocery shops the place they promote the rooster at or beneath price to get you into the shop and hopefully purchase different issues. Which means rotisserie rooster is usually one of the best worth per pound for rooster you will get. Save a bit time, save a bit cash.

Pasta Choices

Spaghetti is the normal alternative for pasta in a carbonara, nevertheless, you don’t must really feel tied to that. You can use nearly any lengthy, skinny pasta form. Different favorites are linguine, fettuccine, and bucatini.

Overhead shot of chicken carbonara in cast iron pot.

Pasta Water

Pasta water is the key weapon when combining pasta and cheese. The starch that’s pulled from the pasta through the cooking course of emulsifies (binds) the components collectively, making a easy sauce. No clumpy cheese right here. You may at all times use a bit extra pasta water to regulate the thickness of your sauce as wanted.

Wait till the final minute to get your pasta water in order that the water is stuffed with starch. Dip the sting of a glass 2-cup measuring cup into the pot of pasta water and fill the cup, ensuring you get at the least 1 1/2 cups. Then, you possibly can go forward and drain your pasta.