Description
This Creamy Tortellini Carbonara is a luscious and comforting Italian-inspired dish featuring tender cheese tortellini wrapped in a rich, creamy sauce made with crispy bacon, garlic, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and egg yolks. Ready in just 25 minutes, it’s a perfect quick dinner option that delivers indulgent flavors with a silky texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients
- 18 ounces refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup pasta cooking water, reserved
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the Tortellini: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the cheese tortellini and cook according to package directions until tender. Before draining, reserve about 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the tortellini well.
- Cook the Bacon: While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped bacon and cook until crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon and set it aside, leaving a small amount of bacon grease in the pan.
- Sauté the Garlic: To the hot skillet with the bacon grease, add the minced garlic. Cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant but not browned.
- Add Heavy Cream: Reduce heat to low and pour in the heavy cream, stirring to combine with the garlic-infused bacon grease, creating the base of the sauce.
- Prepare the Egg and Cheese Mixture: In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, grated Parmesan cheese, and black pepper until smooth.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the drained tortellini to the skillet with the cream sauce. Remove the skillet from heat to prevent scrambling the eggs.
- Incorporate the Egg Mixture: Quickly pour the egg and Parmesan mixture into the skillet, tossing continuously and gently to create a creamy, silky sauce without scrambling the eggs.
- Adjust Sauce Consistency: If the sauce is too thick, gradually add the reserved pasta cooking water a little at a time, stirring smoothly to loosen the sauce to desired consistency.
- Add Bacon and Season: Stir the cooked crispy bacon back into the pasta. Taste and add salt if necessary to enhance the flavor.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the top for color and freshness, then serve immediately while warm and creamy.
Notes
- Remove the pan from heat before adding the egg mixture to prevent scrambling the eggs and maintain a creamy sauce.
- Pancetta can be used instead of bacon for a more authentic carbonara flavor.
- For extra cheesiness, sprinkle additional grated Parmesan over the top before serving.
- Be sure not to overheat the sauce once the egg mixture is added to avoid curdling.
