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Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Pasta

Healthy Carbonara

May 23, 2021 · Written by Dannii Martin · This post may contain affiliate links which earn us commissions if purchases are made · 19 Comments

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A bowl of healthy carbonara with a text title overlay.

Carbonara is classic Italian comfort food and this is our healthier twist on it. It still has the essential eggs and bacon (which we grilled instead of fried), however we used reduced fat creme fraiche instead of cream or butter and used reduced fat cheese to save some calories. It still has all the flavour, but this healthy carbonara is a little bit lighter and ready in under 20 minutes.

Pasta carbonara on a pink plate. A bowl of salad and some bread are next to it.

Carbonara is such a simple, but delicious comforting dish made up of spaghetti, bacon, eggs and cheese and this is our healthier twist on it. Ready in under 20 minutes, it is easy to adapt and a quick and easy comforting dish that the whole family will love. You can even add some greens to it.

Jump to:
  • Why should you try it?
  • Step by step
  • What else can be added?
  • What to serve a carbonara with
  • FAQs
  • Extra tips
  • More pasta recipes
  • Recipe
  • Feedback

Why should you try it?

  • A lighter alternative to a traditional carbonara
  • Ready in under 20 minutes
  • Easy to add some greens

Step by step

One: Cook the spaghetti according to the packet instructions.

A saucepan with spaghetti cooking in it.

Two: Cook the bacon under the grill (broiler).

A black baking tray with four rashers of bacon.

Three: Put the eggs in a bowl and whisk and then add the creme fraiche and cheese.

A mixing bowl containing eggs, cream, grated cheese and seasoning.

Four: Once the spaghetti is cooked, drain it and then put it back into the pan. If you have an electric hob, turn off the heat and put the pan back on it, or if you have a gas cooker, turn it to the lowest setting and put the pan back on it. Add the egg, yogurt and cheese mixture to the spaghetti, along with the bacon and stir briskly, so the eggs do not scramble. Stir and heat for around 2 minutes.

A frying pan containing spaghetti in a creamy sauce.

Five: Serve with chopped basil and a little grated parmesan.

Spaghetti Carbonara on a plate with basil on top.

Is carbonara healthy?

The traditional recipes for carbonara are incredibly indulgent, and high in fat. Whilst that is delicious and nothing wrong with it, if you are looking for something a bit lighter and lower in calories then we have you covered.

The bacon has been grilled instead of fried, and you could even use turkey bacon to make it even leaner. We also used whole wheat spaghetti, as it is higher in fibre.

We haven't used any cream or butter that some recipes call for and have instead used a little reduced fat creme fraiche and some reduced fat cheddar for the creaminess, along with the eggs. You could still use traditional Parmesan if you wanted.

The average portion of spaghetti carbonara has around 650 calories, and are version has just 540 calories. More room for some delicious side dishes I say.

Basil leaves on top of a dish of pasta carbonara.

What else can be added?

We love a recipe that can be adapted - it means we never have to make it the same way. One thing we love to add to this dish, when we want to make it even healthier, is some peas. They add a nice green boost to the dish, and you just have to cook them with the pasta, so no extra effort.

You could even wilt some spinach in to it for some extra greens. We love cooking some chunks of mushroom to stir through too.

What to serve a carbonara with

I think that garlic bread is a must when it comes to any kind of pasta dish. We make our own super easy garlic bread by mixing together some butter and crushed garlic and spreading it on slices of french stick and then putting it under the grill for a minute. Then adding some grated cheese and putting it back under the grill to melt.

We also love making a big batch of our Roasted Cherry Tomatoes to go with this pasta dish. They are nice mixed through it too, as the tomato juice adds to the sauce.

Spaghetti Carbonara on a plate with chopped basil leaves sprinkled on top.

FAQs

Best pasta to use for carbonara

Carbonara traditionally uses spaghetti, however this sauce recipe can be used with any pasta and we have used penne, fusilli and macaroni (which kids love) in the past.

Can carbonara be reheated?

Yes, it can be reheated if you have leftovers, however it is best to do it on the stove, rather than in the microwave. Put it in a frying pan over a medium heat and heat for 3-4 minutes, until warmed through. If it is a little dry, then you can stir some olive oil through it.

Extra tips

  • Keep the dish more traditional by using parmesan instead of cheddar.
  • You can give this dish a veggie boost by adding peas and/or spinach.
  • You can use Prosciutto or parma ham instead of bacon.
  • If you are going to reheat this, then do it on the stove top rather than in the microwave.

More pasta recipes

  • Creamy Lemon Pasta in a round white bowl.
    Creamy Lemon Pasta
  • Cherry Tomato Psta in a blue bowl surrounded by tomatoes and basil leaves.
    Cherry Tomato Pasta
  • Tomato Basil Pasta in a white bowl next to a tomato, basil leaves and lemon halves.
    Tomato Basil Pasta
  • Instant pot chicken pasta on a white plate.
    Instant Pot Chicken Pasta

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Recipe

A plate of healthy carbonara next to a bowl of salad.

Healthy Carbonara

By: Dannii Martin
A classic Italian dish, but this is our healthier version. It still has all the flavour, but this Healthy Carbonara is lighter and ready in under 20 minutes.
4.69 from 70 votes
Pin Print Save recipe Saved!
Course: Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Prep: 2 minutes mins
Cook: 14 minutes mins
Total: 16 minutes mins
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 540kcal
Allergens:
An illustration of a carton of milk.
Dairy
An illustration of a cracked egg.
Eggs
An illustration of two ears of wheat.
Gluten
An illustration of a cow's head.
Meat

Ingredients

  • 140 g (5 oz) Whole wheat spaghetti
  • 4 rasher Bacon - cooked and chopped
  • 4 Eggs
  • 40 g (0.33 cups) Reduced fat cheddar
  • 100 ml (0.5 cups) Reduced fat creme fraiche

Instructions

  • Cook 140 g Whole wheat spaghetti according to the packet instructions.
  • Cook 4 rasher Bacon under the grill (broiler).
  • Whisk 4 Eggs in a bowl and then add 40 g Reduced fat cheddar and 100 ml Reduced fat creme fraiche. Mix well.
  • Once the spaghetti is cooked, drain it and then put it back into the pan. If you have an electric hob, turn off the heat and put the pan back on it, or if you have a gas cooker, turn it to the lowest setting and put the pan back on it. Add the egg mixture to the spaghetti, along with the bacon and stir briskly, so the eggs do not scramble. Stir and heat for around 2 minutes.
  • Serve with chopped basil and a little grated parmesan.

Recipe Tips

  • Keep the dish more traditional by using parmesan instead of cheddar.
  • You can give this dish a veggie boost by adding peas and/or spinach.
  • You can use Proscuitto or parma ham instead of bacon.
  • If you are going to reheat this, then do it on the stove top rather than in the microwave.

Nutritional Information

Serving: 1portion | Calories: 540kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 361mg | Sodium: 589mg | Potassium: 359mg | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 517IU | Calcium: 160mg | Iron: 4mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.

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Comments

  1. Victoria says

    October 08, 2021 at 7:36 pm

    1 star
    These measurements seem way off. I’ve got an incredibly runny sauce with 8 eggs for 4 people!!!

    Reply
    • Dannii says

      October 09, 2021 at 7:58 am

      Sorry the recipe did't turn out right. Were all the rest of the measurements correct? Like, the full amount of pasta? and it was stirred for 2 minutes? As if so, it should not result in a runny sauce.

      Reply
  2. Louise says

    April 06, 2021 at 9:55 pm

    Can you add chicken to this? What would the calories be if I did x

    Reply
    • Dannii says

      April 07, 2021 at 2:06 pm

      Yes, you can add chicken to it. The calories would depend on how much you use.My Fitness Pal is a great please to work out nutritional information.

      Reply
  3. Cyndy says

    January 16, 2020 at 6:09 pm

    5 stars
    I love carbonara and the idea of being able to make it less caloric is awesome. Thanks for a great recipe.

    Reply
  4. Leslie says

    January 16, 2020 at 5:45 pm

    5 stars
    I'm always looking for healthier ways to make my favorite Italian foods, so this is going in my recipe bank right now. I can't wait to make it!

    Reply
  5. Julia says

    January 16, 2020 at 5:04 pm

    5 stars
    I have always found the classic carbonara too heavy to my liking so can't wait to try your version!

    Reply
  6. Alyssa says

    January 16, 2020 at 3:43 pm

    5 stars
    I love the idea of adding spinach. It adds some freshness to the rich flavors, and then it's a one pot meal without the need for an extra veggie side dish!

    Reply
  7. Jenn says

    January 16, 2020 at 3:35 pm

    5 stars
    I love that you've lightened up one of my favorites! Yum!

    Reply
  8. kim says

    January 15, 2020 at 7:30 pm

    5 stars
    Love this recipe! So much great flavor and it was so easy! Will definitely be making again!

    Reply
  9. Pina says

    January 15, 2020 at 7:17 pm

    5 stars
    Love this healthier take on a carbonara! Thank you so much for sharing.

    Reply
  10. Catherine says

    January 15, 2020 at 7:01 pm

    5 stars
    I love carbonara but because it's so rich, it's a rare treat. Love this lightened up version...your healthy swaps are terrific and looks so delicious!

    Reply
  11. Sophie says

    January 15, 2020 at 6:59 pm

    5 stars
    Wow, love this healthy version a lot. And enjoyed viewing the video too. Thanks a lot for sharing the recipe.

    Reply
  12. Jill says

    January 15, 2020 at 11:59 am

    5 stars
    Carbonara is so delicious. Glad to know I can still make it and save a few calories.

    Reply
  13. Michelle says

    January 15, 2020 at 10:20 am

    This looks great, love that it's a healthy version of the classic dish too.

    Reply
  14. Marie says

    November 16, 2012 at 10:30 pm

    This looks fab. Can't wait to make it x

    Reply
  15. Tracey says

    November 16, 2012 at 9:41 pm

    Thank you. I have been looking for a recipe just like this. That is Saturday night's dinner planned.

    Reply
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My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.

Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

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