ORECCHIETTE CARBONARA

Orecchiette Carbonara a fresh, light dish that is perfect for any night of the week! Making this pasta carbonara with bacon is so simple, the end results are a velvety smooth pasta with the amazing crunch of crispy bacon!

This fusilli carbonara with frisee and lemon has subtle but delicious flavors, the combination of the light citrus lemon with the savory bacon is just incredible. If you are a pasta lover like myself and want a quick, easy dish, look no further than this pasta carbonara recipe!

Carbonara Pasta with Frisee and Lemon

This recipe is for all the pasta lovers out there that want a sensational dish that satisfies the craving for a nice pasta meal. What I love about this delicious recipe is that it is not heavy, it has a crisp, light taste that does not leave you feeling uncomfortably full. The carbonara sauce comes together quickly and easily, it makes for a great week night dinner that you can whip up in no time. All the combined flavors and ingredients are incredible, the light creamy sauce, crispy bacon and leafy green frisee make for a delectable meal!

Orecchiette Carbonara with Frisee and Lemon Ingredients

Eggs: You will need 3 large eggs for the base of the carbonara sauce. 

Parmesan cheese: For amazing taste add in 1 ½ cups of parmesan cheese to this pasta dish. 

Bacon: Use 3-6 slices of bacon, cooked to a crisp, to add amazing flavor and protein to this pasta recipe. You can decide how much bacon you like, I tend to lean more towards the 6 slices because I want bacon in every bite. 

Orecchiette pasta: You need 1 pound of Orecchiette pasta shells. If you want to use pasta shells you have on hand feel free. Bowties, macaroni or even spaghetti, any small shell will work great.

Lemon juice: Adding in 2 tbsp. of lemon juice give this dish an amazing citrus and fresh taste!

Frisee: You will need 1 cup of leafy green frisee to provide a bit of texture and dimension to this pasta dish.

Seasonings: Add in salt and pepper to your taste preference. Add 1 tsp of each during the cooking process and if you need more later you can add it to your plated pasta.

Step by step on how to make Orecchiette Carbonara Pasta

Prep

Start with getting the bacon cooking, you can cook in a skillet over medium heat until crispy. Or you can pop it in the oven at 375 degree F for 15-20 minutes. I usually check it at 10 minutes and rotate the baking sheet to ensure the slices cook evenly. Check out this recipe for the easiest way to cook bacon.

Then, get water boiling in a large pot after starting the bacon, generously salt the water as well.

Wash and dry the frisee lettuce, then chop into bite size pieces. Set aside.

Carbonara Pasta

Once the water is boiling, add in the pasta shells and cook until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining pasta to use for sauce. 

In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and parmesan cheese and let it sit while the pasta cooks. You want the egg mixture to be room temperature for maximum results. 

Drain the cooked pasta (remember, reserve 1 cup of water) and put the pasta back into the pot. 

Then, add in the lemon juice to cooked/drained pasta, followed by the egg/cheese mixture, and the reserved pasta water to make a smooth sauce that coats the noodles.

Stir well to combine all ingredients, let sit for 2-3 minutes for the sauce to thicken slightly. 

After that, add the crispy bacon (break into small pieces), frisee lettuce, and more salt and pepper if desired.

Serve immediately and enjoy! 

What goes well with Orecchiette Carbonara? 

For a more complete and full meal, you will need something to serve along side this exquisite dish. I like to keep this meal nice and light so I typically serve some fresh vegetables with it. Some sautéed green beans or asparagus goes really well with this pasta dish. Or another great side option would be a classic Caesar salad, the flavors pair well together in these two dishes. One of my favorite side dishes is of course bread, try out this amazing cheesy garlic bread!  

How long is carbonara pasta good for?

You can keep the leftovers from this pasta dish in an airtight or well covered container for up to 3 days in the fridge or for up to 3 months if stored in the freezer.

Can I make this Orecchiette Carbonara ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the recipe as directed above and then place it into a foil covered casserole dish. If desired you can even sprinkle another 1-2 cups of cheese on top to make it into a casserole. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 30 minutes to heat it up when you are ready to eat.

HOW TO COOK PASTA PERFECTLY EVERY TIME

Pasta is pretty simple to cook, but there are a few little tricks to making sure it turns out perfect every time!

• Make sure you use a large enough pot to boil your noodles in. If it is too small, you may find that your noodles stick together and you may run out of water before the noodles are completely cooked. To cook one pound of pasta, you should be using at least 4-6 quarts of water. Make sure your pot is big enough to hold the water and the pasta and be able to boil without boiling over. Remember, pasta expands as it cooks!
• Add some salt to the water. Adding salt increases the boiling point of the water, meaning that the water will boil faster and also helps the pasta cook a little bit faster too! I usually add about a tablespoon of salt.
• Test the pasta. Even though there are recommended cooking times for each type of pasta, the only fool-proof method I have found to make sure pasta is done perfectly is to taste test it! About a minute before the recommended cooing time, I use a slotted spoon to get a noodle out of the pot. Rinse with cold water to avoid burning your tongue! If it is still a little crunchy, let it boil another minute or two before testing again.
• Drain the pasta well and rinse with cold water immediately. The cold water will prevent the pasta from continuing to cook and will also prevent the noodles from sticking together.

Try some of our other favorite pasta recipes here!

• CHICKEN PASTA SALAD
• FIESTA RANCH CHICKEN PASTA SALAD
• SAUSAGE PEPPER PASTA
• PIZZA PASTA SALAD
• MEXICAN CHICKEN ALFREDO PASTA BAKE
• CREAMY LEMON CHICKEN PASTA
• PASTA W/ GARLIC ROASTED VEGETABLES & (THE EASIEST) CREAM SAUCE (EVER)!
• TACO STUFFED PASTA SHELLS
• GRILLED ITALIAN CHICKEN & PASTA
• PASTA FAGIOLI RECIPE
• SPINACH CHICKEN PASTA SALAD

Orecchiette Carbonara is a delightful dish that is perfect for any night of the week! Making this pasta carbonara with bacon is so easy, the end results are a velvety smooth sauce with soft pasta and the amazing crunch of crispy bacon!