Ingredients
Scale
- 1 teaspoon salt (for the pasta water) 🧂
- 8 oz (about 225 g) uncooked spaghetti 🍝
- Water for boiling 💧
- 1 tablespoon olive oil 🫒
- 8 slices thick-cut bacon, diced 🥓
- 3 egg yolks 🥚
- 1 whole egg 🥚
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan (plus extra for garnish) 🧀
- 1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano 🧀
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic 🧄
- 1/2 teaspoon salt 🧂
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 🌶️
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley (optional, for garnish) 🌿
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add 1 teaspoon salt, then cook the spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 3 cups of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- Heat a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil, then the diced bacon. Sauté until the bacon is crisp and golden. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate, leaving the bacon fat in the skillet.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together 3 egg yolks, 1 whole egg, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan and 1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano until smooth. Set the egg-and-cheese mixture aside.
- Lower the skillet heat to medium-low. Add 1 tablespoon minced garlic to the reserved bacon fat and sauté briefly (30–60 seconds) until fragrant, being careful not to brown the garlic.
- Pour 1 1/2 cups of the reserved hot pasta water into the skillet to deglaze, stirring and scraping any browned bits from the bottom. This will create a flavorful base for the sauce.
- Temper the egg mixture by very slowly whisking 1/2 cup of the hot pasta water into the eggs while whisking constantly. This raises the egg temperature gently and prevents scrambling.
- Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet and toss to combine with the garlic and deglazing liquid. Remove the skillet from the heat, then quickly pour in the tempered egg-cheese mixture and add the crispy bacon. Stir continuously until the sauce becomes creamy and clings to the pasta, adding more reserved pasta water a splash at a time to reach a silky consistency.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or black pepper if needed. Serve immediately, sprinkled with extra grated Parmesan and chopped parsley if desired.