This 15 minute Gnocchi Carbonara recipe is a a traditional carbonara sauce mixed with gnocchi. It makes a tasty and quick weeknight dinner made with just 6 ingredients.
One of the few memories I have of my Italian grandmother in Italy was of her making gnocchi in her tiny kitchen. Gnocchi is Italian comfort food but, it’s only as good as the sauce that it’s served in. It tastes great in a homemade tomato sauce, creamy mushroom sauce (check out my Creamy Garlic Mushroom Gnocchi), pesto sauce or even soup- Creamy Sausage Gnocchi Soup.
Homemade gnocchi is awesome if you have extra time.
Gnocchi Carbonara
As I mentioned, you’ll make this easy recipe with just SIX ingredients. The traditional recipe uses pancetta but, you can easily substitute bacon instead.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. frozen gnocchi
- 2 eggs
- 3 oz of pancetta or 3 strips of bacon cut into small pieces
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
First, begin cooking the gnocchi according to package directions. They’ll float when they’re done. NOTE: Do the following steps before you drain the gnocchi as it needs to be hot to make the egg sauce.
Next, add the chopped pancetta or bacon to a frying pan and cook for 5-7 minutes or until done. Remove meat pieces and set aside. Reserve one teaspoon of the grease, discard the remaining grease.
Then, in the same pan as used above add olive oil and minced garlic. Cook two minutes and then add back in the pancetta or bacon pieces. Cook one more minute to reheat bacon.
Next, whisk eggs in a bowl. Add grated Parmesan cheese and black pepper. NOTE: Finish steps two through four before you drain the gnocchi. It must be hot in order to cook the egg sauce.
Then, when the gnocchi begin floating in the water, drain them in a colander and IMMEDIATELY and put them back to the hot empty pot you cooked them in (without water.) Add the egg and meat mixtures to the hot gnocchi and gently stir until eggs cook- about 30 seconds or so.
Next, add the pancetta or bacon mixture to the gnocchi and stir. Salt to taste. Serve with additional grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
That’s it! It’s ready in 15 minutes (plus the time to boil water.)
What is carbonara sauce made of?
The ingredients are pancetta (or bacon,) eggs, grated Parmesan cheese, olive oil, salt and pepper. The eggs are put into hot pasta and become silky not scrambled.
What type of pasta is used for carbonara?
Traditionally, spaghetti (or spaghetti-like pasta) is mixed with carbonara sauce but, can be mixed with tortellini or gnocchi too.
This easy recipe is perfect to make for a quick weeknight dinner. Serve it with some delicious broccoli rabe.
You may also like:
Creamy Garlic Mushroom Gnocchi-6 Ingredients
More Italian recipes.
I took this recipe to Weekend Potluck.
Gnocchi Carbonara
Ingredients
- 1 lb frozen gnocchi
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 2 oz pancetta cut into small pieces or 2 strips of bacon
- 1 tsp pancetta or bacon grease
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- First, begin cooking the gnocchi according to package directions. They'll float when they're done. NOTE: the following steps need to be done before you drain the gnocchi as it needs to be hot to make the egg sauce.
- Next, add the chopped pancetta or bacon to a frying pan and cook for 5-7 minutes or until done. Remove meat pieces and set aside. Reserve one teaspoon of the grease, discard the remaining grease.
- Then, in the same pan as used above add olive oil and minced garlic. Cook two minutes and then add back in the pancetta or bacon pieces. Cook one more minute to reheat bacon.
- Next, whisk eggs in a bowl. Add grated Parmesan cheese and black pepper. NOTE: Steps two through four must be finished before gnocchi is drained.
- Then, when the gnocchi is done cooking (they begin floating in the water,) drain them in a colander and IMMEDIATELY put them back to the hot empty pot you cooked them in (without water.) Add the egg and meat mixtures to the hot gnocchi and gently stir until eggs cook- about 30 seconds or so.
- Next, add the pancetta or bacon mixture to the gnocchi and stir. Salt to taste. Serve with additional grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
