Gnocchi Carbonara - Semi Homemade Recipes (2024)

Main Dishes / Gnocchi Carbonara

by Angie

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Gnocchi Carbonara – easy dinner recipe with soft gnocchi, bacon and cheese.

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RECIPE IS BELOW IN PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD BUT BLOG POST IS FULL OF “HOW TO MAKE IT”, TIPS, INFORMATION AND FAQ

I learned how to make Carbonara years ago and it has been been one of our “go to” base recipes for the past few years. It is a super easy meal that comes together quickly. Which means it is a great recipe for when we’re busy but want something comforting and delicious.

This is the regular Spaghetti Carbonara recipe <— that we use most of the time. I also have a Bacon Mushroom Carbonara recipe that we love.

Why You Should Make Gnocchi Carbonara…

  • Great meal in under 30 minutes
  • can be customized by adding mushrooms, removing peas or adding extra bacon

QUICK GLANCE AT INGREDIENTS for Gnocchi Carbonara:

  • gnocchi
  • bacon
  • large eggs, room temperature
  • Parmesan cheese
  • black pepper
  • green peas
  • fresh parsley

(AMOUNTS IN RECIPE CARD BELOW)

Gnocchi Carbonara - Semi Homemade Recipes (2)

How to make Gnocchi Carbonara:

  1. Cut bacon into 1 inch pieces.*
    Cook bacon on stove top over medium heat until crispy.
    Set aside about 2-3 tablespoons of bacon grease.
    Then chop bacon into bacon bits.

    Gnocchi Carbonara - Semi Homemade Recipes (3)

  2. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs with half the Parmesan and parsley. Season with pepper. Set aside.
    Gnocchi Carbonara - Semi Homemade Recipes (4)

  3. oil a large pot of salted water.
    Add the gnocchi and bring it back to a boil.
    Cook until the gnocchi are floating on top of the water.
    Gnocchi Carbonara - Semi Homemade Recipes (5)

  4. Drain and Reserve 1 cup of the gnocchi water(DON’T FORGET THIS)**

  5. Pour about 2 tablespoon of bacon fat from the pan into a large pot and heat to medium heat.
    Add the cooked gnocchi and toss to coat in the bacon fat.

  6. Turn off the heat and add the egg mixture.

  7. Toss gently to coat the pasta and cook the eggs. Toss in the chopped bacon. Toss in the peas.

  8. Toss everything together and let cook for 2-3 minutes.

  9. If the sauce is too thick, add the pasta water 1/4 cup at a time until the sauce is smooth and creamy.

  10. Serve with the remaining cheese.

Gnocchi Carbonara - Semi Homemade Recipes (6)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use homemade Gnocchi with this recipe?

I haven’t made it with homemade gnocchi but it should work fine.

How to store:

Carbonara is normally the best when eaten after it is made. I don’t normally like to reheat it but you can store leftovers in an air tight container BUT you’ll want to store some reserved pasta water too so that you can add it to the carbonara when reheated.

More great dinner recipes:

Gnocchi Carbonara

Gnocchi Carbonara - Semi Homemade Recipes (7)

Gnocchi Carbonara

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Gnocchi Carbonara - easy dinner recipe with soft gnocchi, bacon and cheese.

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces gnocchi
  • 6 strips bacon
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup green peas
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

  1. Cut bacon into 1 inch pieces.*
  2. Cook bacon on stove top over medium heat until crispy.
  3. Set aside about 2-3 tablespoons of bacon grease.
  4. Then chop bacon into bacon bits.
  5. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs with half the Parmesan and parsley. Season with pepper. Set aside.
  6. Boil a large pot of salted water.
  7. Add the gnocchi and bring it back to a boil.
  8. Cook until the gnocchi are floating on top of the water.
  9. Drain and Reserve 1 cup of the gnocchi water (DON'T FORGET THIS)**
  10. Pour about 2 tablespoon of bacon fat from the pan into a large pot and heat to medium heat.
  11. Add the cooked gnocchi and toss to coat in the bacon fat.
  12. Turn off the heat and add the egg mixture.
  13. Toss gently to coat the pasta and cook the eggs. Toss in the chopped bacon. Toss in the peas.
  14. Toss everything together and let cook for 2-3 minutes.
  15. If the sauce is too thick, add the pasta water 1/4 cup at a time until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
  16. Serve with the remaining cheese.

Notes

*I find that cutting the bacon into 1 inch pieces helps it cook faster.

**If you forget to save the pasta water before you drain it, have no fear. You can heat 1 cup of water on the stove or in the microwave and stir in ¼ teaspoon corn starch and ¼ teaspoon of salt into the water to create a fake starchy pasta water substitute.

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Gnocchi Carbonara - Semi Homemade Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is real carbonara sauce made of? ›

The ingredients are the classic ones: aged guanciale, egg yolks, Pecorino cheese (with the addition of Grana Padano to balance the saltiness), and freshly ground black pepper.

How many eggs do you need to make carbonara? ›

For 500 gr of pasta how many eggs, egg yokes and ground cheese do you use for a carbonara? It's 6 portions, so 6–7 egg yolks, a couple large handfuls of pecorino and one of Parmigiano Reggiano, and around 150 grams of guanciale. And pepper to taste.

What kind of cheese is good in carbonara? ›

Pecorino Romano: This aged sheep's cheese is always traditionally used in the Roman pastas, and its salty, grassy, earthy flavor is absolutely delicious in carbonara. That said, if Pecorino is unavailable at your local grocery store, you can use Parmesan as a non-traditional substitute.

What's the difference between carbonara and alfredo sauce? ›

The difference between alfredo and carbonara is that carbonara contains an egg while alfredo sauce does not. Carbonara is usually thinner in consistency than alfredo sauce, using the egg to coat the noodles instead of relying on the cream.

Which ingredient should never be used in traditional carbonara? ›

What not to put in Spaghetti Carbonara? Don't put garlic, cream, milk or butter. It is not needed. It is fine if you want to make a dish with those ingredients, but if you want to learn how to make this dish correctly, use only pecorino, eggs/egg yolks, black pepper, guanciale, and pasta water.

What is the golden rule of cooking a carbonara? ›

The golden rule to silky carbonara is to whisk your egg whites so that they're completely incorporated with the egg yolks. This will create a smooth, velvety sauce. As like any pasta dish, including carbonara, cook the pasta perfectly al dente so that it's soft but still firm, with some bite.

What thickens carbonara? ›

Equally important is that the fat that melts out of the guanciale is required to thicken the carbonara sauce to make it creamy. Basically, what happens is that when the fat from the guanciale and in the egg yolks is mixed with starchy pasta cooking water, it thickens.

How do you stop carbonara scrambling? ›

Using a large mixing bowl and setting it over the boiling pasta water to create a makeshift double boiler helps prevent you from accidentally scrambling the eggs.

Do you put raw egg in carbonara? ›

What distinguishes carbonara from other pasta dishes is its technique of combining eggs, hard cheese, cured pork, and black pepper into a rich, silky sauce. This recipe calls for raw eggs that are gently cooked by the hot sauce. If you prefer, you can use pasteurized eggs instead.

Does carbonara use whole eggs or just yolks? ›

Traditional carbonara sauce is made with whole eggs, not just the yolks. However, some recipes do call for just yolks. In the traditional recipe, the eggs are beaten together with grated Pecorino Romano cheese, black pepper, and sometimes a bit of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.

What is the best meat for carbonara? ›

Carbonara is traditionally made with guanciale, or cured pork jowl, though pancetta is often substituted, and both are fatty, salty and deeply savoury.

What type of meat is best in carbonara? ›

Guanciale is the most commonly used meat for the dish in Italy, but pancetta and pancetta affumicata are also used and, in English-speaking countries, bacon is often used as a substitute. The usual cheese is pecorino romano; occasionally Parmesan, Grana Padano, or a combination of hard cheeses are used.

What vegetable is good in carbonara? ›

We've added fresh mint, peas and broccoli to give this Italian classic a summery twist. There's no weeknight dinner more comforting than creamy, cheesy carbonara. We've added fresh mint, peas and broccoli to give this Italian classic a summery twist.

Does authentic carbonara contain cream? ›

Blown. Taste.com.au Food Director, Amira Georgy, confirmed this, saying: “Traditionally, carbonara sauce contains no cream, just eggs and cheese. The eggs and cheese are added to the hot pasta and tossed together until a silky sauce forms.”

Is carbonara just alfredo sauce? ›

Alfredo is made from butter, parsley, heavy cream and minced garlic, whereas carbonara is made from pecorino romano, eggs, black pepper and guanciale (ingredients seem to vary for the sauces depending on the recipe). In Italy carbonara is made without cream, adding cream to the sauce is an American thing it seems.

Is there a ready made carbonara sauce? ›

Sainsbury's Carbonara Sauce, Taste the Difference 350g (Serves 2) | Sainsbury's.

What does authentic carbonara taste like? ›

Does Pasta Carbonara taste like eggs? No, you do not have to worry about your Spaghetti Carbonara tasting like eggs! Although the sauce contains eggs, it also boasts an almost ridiculous amount of sharp, salty, tangy, and pungent Pecorino Romano cheese and rich, salty, savory pork.

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