What’s For Dinner: 15 Minute Smoky Spaghetti Carbonara

Dinners are sometimes difficult.  Whether a stay-at-home mom, a part-time worker (like me) or a full-time worker, not to mention a full-time mom, someone is always hungry.

Right now.

As moms we cannot just snap our fingers and make dinner appear, but we can do a little planning and make some simple, kid-friendly meals…that adults enjoy too.  I’m not a huge fan of serving chicken nuggets and tator tots more than once a month, so I try and make meals that both the kids and my husband and I will like.  Fresh ingredients, easy preparation (sometimes even the day before) and minimal clean-up.  Who doesn’t love that?

Most kids like pasta.  In fact most everyone likes pasta.  Not being your typical red sauce (although that is my favorite), this dish gives a twist on traditional spaghetti.  My kids gobbled it up and equally made a huge mess eating it, but oh well, they liked it.  In the end that is really all that counts.

With only 7 ingredients, not counting water and pepper, most of these ingredients are already in your pantry or freezer.  Even better?  It takes around 15 minutes to make.  Most of us can find 15 minutes.  A winner in my book.

Smoky Spaghetti Carbonara

1/2 lb. bacon, pancetta or ham (finely cubed)
1 small onion, diced
1 1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 c. milk
2 eggs
1 lb. spaghetti
splash of hot sauce
pepper

In a large skillet, cook the meat (bacon, pancetta or ham) over medium-high heat until crisp, about 5 minutes.  Drain on paper towel-lined plate.  Take the skillet off the heat, but do  not drain the fat.  Add onions to this skillet and cook until softened.

In a small bowl whisk together cheese, milk, eggs, hot sauce and black pepper, set aside.  Meanwhile in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to directions, drain and reserve 1 cup of cooking water (in case you need to thin out the sauce later).

Once pasta is cooked (but still hot), add all ingredients back into the skillet or hot pot – pasta, meat, onion and small bowl with cheese/egg mixture.  Toss everything together to combine.  The heat from the pasta will thicken into a creamy sauce.  If too thick, add a little of the pasta water.  Garnish with fresh parsley, and serve hot.

Enjoy!

Ally Billhorn, Wilton, Iowa, is an avid cook, baker and food writer.  She has hosted her food blog, Ally’s Sweet & Savory Eats {www.sweetandsavoryfood.com} since December of 2009.  She has been featured in the Wilton-Durant Advocate and is a regular contributor to Taste of Home magazine, where she is a Field Editor.  Ally works part-time as a Marketing & Communications Coordinator for the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce & Industry.  She enjoys spending time with her husband, Sheridan, son Drake (2.5) and daughter Taylor (16 months).  When not cooking, she is running frantic keeping up with the kids, reading, organizing or gathering her girlfriends for impromptu wine or margarita sessions.  You can follow Ally’s blog on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.