How can I make this for picky eaters?

Yes‚ this recipe could be suitable for picky eaters․ This recipe offers optional garnishes․ Fettuccine‚ chicken‚ egg‚ and Parmesan are other ingredients common to this recipe․ Offer parsley and black pepper separately with this recipe․ Do not leave out Parmesan cheese when making the egg mixture․ Parmesan cheese is a key ingredient in the sauce․ Offer extra Parmesan cheese with this recipe․ Do not add garnishes to the pan․

Can I double chicken carbonara?

Yes‚ you can double the recipe to feed more people․ Choose a larger pot for cooking pasta․ Don't crowd the chicken when cooking it‚ crowded chicken won't brown properly․ Other than that‚ cook as instructed and stir the egg mixture into the pan after removing it from the heat․ This will help coat more of the chicken before the egg mixture solidifies․

Can I use chicken thighs instead?

Yes‚ chicken thighs can be used instead of chicken breasts to add moisture․ Slice the chicken thighs as directed in the recipe to mimic chicken breasts․ Thicker chicken pieces may add moisture when tossing in the pan․ Watch to make sure all pieces of chicken are coated in sauce․ Precook the bacon mixture and keep pasta water ready before adding eggs․

Why did my carbonara sauce scramble?

Scrambled eggs are usually made by adding an egg mixture to a hot pan․ Cooked pasta and other ingredients in the pan can be used to make an egg sauce for the pasta․ Tips for avoiding scrambled eggs include removing the pan from the heat source before adding eggs and stirring constantly․ Add reserved pasta water to the pan one tablespoon at a time as needed to add liquid to the sauce․

Can I reheat leftover chicken carbonara?

Yes‚ you can add a little water when reheating leftovers․ The sauce may have thickened during storage‚ and you will likely need to add water to the pasta․ Heat the pasta slowly to keep egg sauce ingredients from changing texture․ Stir the pasta to heat the chicken and other foods thoroughly․

Chicken Carbonara with Crispy Turkey Bacon and Silky Parmesan Sauce

By Ava MitchellSep 25, 2026

Prep

15 min

Cook

20 min

Total

35 min

Servings

Level

Easy

Jump to recipe

For a family dinner‚ chicken carbonara is a skillet dish made with fettuccine‚ chicken‚ and turkey bacon․ Hot fettuccine is mixed with an egg and Parmesan cheese sauce․ Turkey bacon‚ garlic‚ parsley‚ and more cheese are used to enhance the appearance and taste of this dish․

Chicken Carbonara with Crispy Turkey Bacon and Silky Parmesan Sauce

Wide fettuccine adds surface area for sauce․ Skinless chicken breast adds protein to make the dish more substantial as a main meal․ Turkey bacon is cooked and used to cook garlic before adding chicken to the pan․ Freshly grated Parmesan cheese is key to this recipe because it combines well with eggs and pasta cooking water and chopped parsley․

Make the egg mixture in advance along with the pasta and chicken․ Getting things prepared in advance will help you toss the egg mixture with the pasta efficiently․ The egg mixture is cooked and ready when it is shiny and coats the pasta evenly without dripping off the sides․ A mistake people often make is pouring eggs over hot pasta‚ which can cause chunks of scrambled egg to form instead of an even coating․

Serve with a simple salad or bread alongside extra chopped parsley and Parmesan when requested․ Hot service is recommended for this recipe‚ but leftover portions can be reheated with water to loosen the sauce․

Why you'll love this recipe

Serves four people with chicken‚ turkey bacon‚ and fettuccine․ Can be a main-course meal for weeknights without other main dishes․
Families like pasta with this sauce because it includes familiar ingredients like Parmesan cheese‚ garlic‚ and parsley․ Other ingredients are not included․
Guests will like the creamy sauce on the fettuccine and the crispy turkey bacon for added texture․
Busy cooks can save preparation time by cooking bacon‚ garlic‚ chicken‚ and pasta while preparing the sauce quickly to serve over the other ingredients․
Diners who dislike desserts can use more grated Parmesan cheese as a topping to help reduce serving sizes and have less parsley and black pepper available for other uses․
Leftovers can be consumed after reheating them with some water to dilute the sauce and make it more palatable․

Instructions

Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil.

Cook the fettuccine until al dente according to package instructions.

Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water.

Drain the pasta and return it to the pot.

While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat.

Add the chopped turkey bacon and cook until crisp, about 5 minutes.

Add the garlic to the skillet and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until fragrant.

Transfer the bacon and garlic to a bowl and discard excess fat, leaving a thin layer in the pan.

Increase the heat to medium-high and add the chicken strips to the skillet.

Season the chicken generously with salt and pepper.

Cook the chicken, turning once, until cooked through and lightly golden, about 8 to 10 minutes.

Reduce the heat to low.

Return the turkey bacon mixture to the skillet.

Add the cooked pasta and toss gently to combine.

Whisk together the eggs, Parmesan cheese, and parsley in a bowl.

Season the egg mixture lightly with salt and pepper.

Remove the skillet from direct heat.

Pour the egg mixture over the pasta and toss quickly to coat.

Add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time, tossing constantly, until the sauce becomes creamy and glossy.

Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan and parsley.

FAQ

Serve chicken carbonara with a salad or crusty bread‚ as suggested in the recipe․ Served with a salad‚ the dish has a pleasant balance of flavors․ Bread can help diners eat the sauce on their plates․ Avoid other side dishes that would conflict with the flavors of Parmesan cheese‚ turkey bacon‚ and garlic in the carbonara․ Provide extra Parmesan cheese and parsley at the table for diners who want more․

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Dinner Pasta Chicken Eggs Italian Quick Meals

Chicken Carbonara with Crispy Turkey Bacon and Silky Parmesan Sauce

Name: Chicken Carbonara with Crispy Turkey Bacon and Silky Parmesan Sauce
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: water (for boiling pasta; reserve 1/2 cup pasta water); 12 oz fettuccine; 4 slices turkey bacon (chopped); 3 cloves garlic (minced); 1/2 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts (sliced into strips); kosher salt (to taste); freshly ground black pepper (to taste); 4 large eggs; 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for garnish); 1/3 cup freshly chopped parsley (plus more for garnish)

By Ava MitchellSep 25, 2026

Prep

15 min

Cook

20 min

Total

35 min

Servings

Level

Easy

Jump to recipe

Why you'll love this recipe

Serves four people with chicken‚ turkey bacon‚ and fettuccine․ Can be a main-course meal for weeknights without other main dishes․
Families like pasta with this sauce because it includes familiar ingredients like Parmesan cheese‚ garlic‚ and parsley․ Other ingredients are not included․
Guests will like the creamy sauce on the fettuccine and the crispy turkey bacon for added texture․
Busy cooks can save preparation time by cooking bacon‚ garlic‚ chicken‚ and pasta while preparing the sauce quickly to serve over the other ingredients․
Diners who dislike desserts can use more grated Parmesan cheese as a topping to help reduce serving sizes and have less parsley and black pepper available for other uses․
Leftovers can be consumed after reheating them with some water to dilute the sauce and make it more palatable․

Ingredients

Servings4

•water (for boiling pasta; reserve 1/2 cup pasta water)
•12 oz fettuccine
•4 slices turkey bacon (chopped)
•3 cloves garlic (minced)
•½ lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts (sliced into strips)
•kosher salt (to taste)
•freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
•4 large eggs
•¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for garnish)
•⅓ cup freshly chopped parsley (plus more for garnish)

Instructions

1
Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil.
2
Cook the fettuccine until al dente according to package instructions.
3
Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
4
Drain the pasta and return it to the pot.
5
While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat.
6
Add the chopped turkey bacon and cook until crisp, about 5 minutes.
7
Add the garlic to the skillet and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until fragrant.
8
Transfer the bacon and garlic to a bowl and discard excess fat, leaving a thin layer in the pan.
9
Increase the heat to medium-high and add the chicken strips to the skillet.
10
Season the chicken generously with salt and pepper.
11
Cook the chicken, turning once, until cooked through and lightly golden, about 8 to 10 minutes.
12
Reduce the heat to low.
13
Return the turkey bacon mixture to the skillet.
14
Add the cooked pasta and toss gently to combine.
15
Whisk together the eggs, Parmesan cheese, and parsley in a bowl.
16
Season the egg mixture lightly with salt and pepper.
17
Remove the skillet from direct heat.
18
Pour the egg mixture over the pasta and toss quickly to coat.
19
Add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time, tossing constantly, until the sauce becomes creamy and glossy.
20
Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
21
Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan and parsley.