Linguine Carbonara is an easy family favorite version of a classic Spaghetti Carbonara recipe! Tender linguine noodles, ham and peas are tossed in a cheese and egg yolk mixture for an incredibly creamy pasta that everyone raves over!
This delicious meal is perfect for a busy weeknight! Add in a tossed green salad and some garlic bread and you’ve got a homemade meal in under 30 minutes!
Easy Carbonara Sauce
If you’ve never had carbonara before, it’s such a deliciously rich and creamy pasta… and SO easy to make! Typically a traditional spaghetti carbonara contains Italian style bacon such as pancetta however, my kids love it with diced ham… plus it’s the perfect way to use leftover ham!
The best part about this delicious creamy dish is that it’s on the table in less than 20 minutes start to finish. The sauce doesn’t require cooking, just mixing and the heat from the pasta will cook it into an incredible creamy base. I use fresh linguine from the refrigerator case at the store which takes about 3-4 minutes to cook. Talk about easy!
Tips for Linguine Carbonara
- Sauce:
- Have your sauce completely prepared before starting this dish. The pasta has to be hot to cook the egg mixture.
- Don’t cook the sauce or you’ll end up with scrambled eggs.
- Meat:
- A traditional carbonara uses pancetta or guanciale (pork jowl). Bacon is a great substitute.
- If you’d like to add extra protein, use leftover cooked chicken breasts.
- Parmesan Cheese:
- Freshly grated is best (I use my magic bullet to grate cheese).
- Avoid pre-shredded parmesan, the starches added to keep it from sticking also keep it from melting smoothly.
- Powdered grated parmesan cheese can be used in this recipe.
Serve this easy carbonara with your favorite Easy Italian Salad and some crusty bread with homemade garlic butter for a great meal!
To Reheat: Heat over low heat until warm, you may need to add a splash of milk or cream to keep a creamy consistency.
More Italian Favorites
- Easy Chicken Marsala Recipe – A quick mushroom sauce, great over pasta or Mashed Potatoes.
- Easy Homemade Lasagna – Classic recipe for good reason!
- Baked Spaghetti – Family (and reader) favorite!
- Baked Ziti – Flavorful meat sauce, ricotta cheese and tender pasta.
- Baked Rigatoni Pasta– Make ahead!
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh linguine
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ cup finely diced onion
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2 cups diced ham
- ½ cup dry white wine
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 3 egg yolks
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat olive oil and cook ham, garlic and onions over medium heat until onion is translucent. Add wine and let reduce until almost evaporated.
- Stir together egg yolks, eggs and parmesan cheese. Set aside.
- Cook pasta & peas together in a large pot of salted water just until pasta is al dente. Drain pasta ensuring that you reserve 1 ½ cups of the cooking liquid.
- Immediately toss pasta with the egg mixture and ham (you must do this right away to ensure the hot pasta cooks the egg). Add reserved cooking liquid a little at a time to get desired consistency (I usually use about ¾ cup). Stir in parsley and serve.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Dinner, Pasta
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Made this tonight and it was delicious and easy, what more can you ask for, thank you!
You’re welcome Anna!
Thank you for your Wonderful Recipes on a Budget. I will use your blog to feed my family nutritious inexpensive meals. I am beginning with your recipe for Linguine Carbonara with our after-Christmas ham. Carbonara has always been a favorite, but I’ve found it to be a time-consuming mess. I’m looking forward to your recipe with a no-cook sauce.
Another favorite is Chicken Cordon Bleu. I’m adding this to my list!
PS for those of us who don’t drink wine, I use 100 % apple juice in small 8 oz cartons. Works for me!
You will have to let us know what you think of this one Charity!
That’s great Leanne! So happy to hear this is one you can both enjoy.
This recipe looks so good! I love that I can use my leftover ham and put it into a whole new dish. I’m going to try this recipe this week! Thanks!
That would be a great addition Amy!
Yum! I’m a huge pasta lover and this carbonara sounds dreamy! Thanks so much for sharing :).
You are so welcome Daniela! So happy you think so.
We loved this tonight! My kids asked for seconds which never happens! Linguine is a pasta that doesn’t get much credit and it will be getting more attention at my house now.
Yay! Success! So happy your family loved it.
You KNOW that all I want during the weekday are meals that are ready in under 20 minutes. This is the perfect quick and easy meal!!
Glad we could help Cathleen! Enjoy!
Thanks Sharon! So happy you think so!
Loving this family-friendly recipe! It’s so versatile as well! We love our pasta in this house! YUM!!
I totally get it, I could live off of pasta Leslie! Glad you guys enjoyed it.
It’s never too late! Enjoy Maggie.
So happy you enjoy it Amanda!
This is my kind of comfort food! I love how you got that perfect bite right in that shot. All the gang’s there! Yum
Aww thanks Kylee! It’s so delicious.
I thought the sauce was a bit bland. Followed the recipe exactly. I love this site and have had success with many other recipes.
We loved this recipe Carlie, sorry to hear it didn’t work out as well for you!
What can you use in place of the wine?
You could try broth in place of the wine however it will change the flavor of the dish.
Great Linguine Carbonara, yum!
This is my kind of dinner! Thanks for linking up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!
Try it with tortellini it’s delicious!
My kids would LOVE that, they’re crazy for tortellini! I’m definitely going to try it!
I am such a pasta fan and this looks delicious!! Thanks for sharing at Motivation Monday :)
This sounds so yummy! Can’t wait to try this recipe out. I am always looking for something different to make and I think this could be a winner for all of my kids! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for stopping by Sharon!