Carbonara Pasta Salad (aka Cold Carbonara!) - So Happy You Liked It (2024)

This Carbonara Pasta Salad is creamy, decadent, and so good! Bacon, peas, and red onion are combined with a creamy pecorino sauce and tossed with pasta.

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Carbonara Pasta Salad

If you’ve enjoyed a plate or carbonara pasta, you know that this classic dish is decadent. Bacon and egg yolks make up the majority of this uber luscious pasta dish. My pasta salad twist keeps things simple with mayonnaise (as all good pasta salads should), bacon, peas for pop, and red onion for punch. Read on to learn more about this delicious pasta salad!

Carbonara Pasta Salad (aka Cold Carbonara!) - So Happy You Liked It (1)

How To Make Carbonara Pasta Salad

In anticipation of getting some direct comments on this recipe, let me be the first to say that I am fully aware that this isn’t a traditional carbonara sauce. Carbonara uses eggs to create the luscious and velvety sauce that this indulgent dish is known for. In an effort to not overcomplicate an already casual dish (i.e. pasta salad), I’ve chosen to omit the eggs from the sauce, and rather use an egg-based ingredient that offers creamy richness: mayonnaise!

Pecorino Romano cheese is also a classic ingredient in Carbonara, and I took no shortcuts here. Pecorino cheese, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper are combined to make the creamy base for this tasty pasta salad.

Bacon is arguably the the key indicator of a bowl of carbonara, and this recipe doesn’t skimp: I include an entire pound of bacon in this dish! Peas and red onion offer pops of flavor that counter the richness of the other ingredients.

Carbonara Pasta Salad (aka Cold Carbonara!) - So Happy You Liked It (2)

Carbonara Pasta Salad (aka Cold Carbonara!) - So Happy You Liked It (3)

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Carbonara Pasta Salad (aka Cold Carbonara!) - So Happy You Liked It (6)

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Carbonara Pasta Salad

This Carbonara Pasta Salad is creamy, decadent, and so good! Bacon, peas, and red onion are combined with a creamy pecorino sauce and tossed with pasta.

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Bacon, Carbonara, Chickpeas, Pasta Salad, Red Onion

Servings: 12 servings

Ingredients

  • 16 oz orecchiette pasta, cooked
  • 1 lb bacon, cooked, grease drained and roughly chopped
  • 2 cups frozen peas, thawed
  • 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped

For the dressing:

  • 2 cups mayonnaise
  • 6 oz shredded pecorino cheese
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine all dressing ingredients and whisk completely to combine.

  • Add cooked pasta, cooked and chopped bacon, red onion, and peas. Toss completely to combine.

  • You can enjoy it immediately, or else this pasta salad can be stored up to 3 days in advance.

Carbonara Pasta Salad (aka Cold Carbonara!) - So Happy You Liked It (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between carbonara and Italian carbonara? ›

The Italian version doesn't use cream or ham. It is made with pancetta (pork belly meat that is salt cured, also referred to as Italian bacon), Parmigiano Reggiano or pecorino romano cheese, eggs, and black pepper—called the basics. The pork is fried in fat, usually olive oil.

What is carbonara supposed to taste like? ›

Does Pasta Carbonara taste like eggs? No, you do not have to worry about your Spaghetti Carbonara tasting like eggs! Although the sauce contains eggs, it also boasts an almost ridiculous amount of sharp, salty, tangy, and pungent Pecorino Romano cheese and rich, salty, savory pork.

Why do Italians eat carbonara? ›

'charcoal burner'), some people believe the dish was first made as a hearty meal for Italian charcoal workers. In parts of the United States, this etymology gave rise to the term coal miner's spaghetti. John F. Mariani writes that some people believe it was created as a tribute to the Carbonari ( lit.

Is cold carbonara good? ›

Carbonara Pasta Salad (aka Cold Carbonara!) This Carbonara Pasta Salad is creamy, decadent, and so good! Bacon, peas, and red onion are combined with a creamy pecorino sauce and tossed with pasta.

Is carbonara just alfredo sauce? ›

The difference between alfredo and carbonara is that carbonara contains an egg while alfredo sauce does not. Carbonara is usually thinner in consistency than alfredo sauce, using the egg to coat the noodles instead of relying on the cream.

What type of meat is best in carbonara? ›

Carbonara is traditionally made with guanciale, or cured pork jowl, though pancetta is often substituted, and both are fatty, salty and deeply savoury.

Are you eating raw eggs in carbonara? ›

Spaghetti alla carbonara is a traditional Italian dish, which the sauce made of raw egg yolks is heated using only the heat of cooked pasta.

Should carbonara be eaten immediately? ›

Every carbonara chef, from purist to apostate, agrees on one thing, though: it's a meal that should be eaten immediately—carbonara is at its best fresh off the heat.

Is carbonara egg white or yolk? ›

Ingredients
  1. 1 tbsp olive oil.
  2. 150g rindless unsmoked fatty pancetta or guanciale, finely chopped.
  3. 1 garlic clove, bashed.
  4. 200g spaghetti or fettuccine.
  5. 4 good quality egg yolks, (2 of them are optional)
  6. 50g parmesan, finely grated.
  7. a few drops of truffle oil (optional)
Apr 26, 2018

Should you put cream in carbonara? ›

Should carbonara have cream? Typically carbonara sauce is only made of eggs, bacon, parmesan, olive oil, seasoning, and sometimes, vegetables. As for cream, Italians will tell you that is a big no no.

What kind of cheese is good in carbonara? ›

Pecorino Romano and Parmigiano Reggiano – I like to use a combination of Pecorino Romano and Parmigiano Reggiano. While these two cheeses ARE similar, I strongly recommend you use BOTH (and not sub one for the other), as it adds a layer of complexity to the flavors.

Why am I craving carbonara? ›

Stress and Comfort Eating

High-carbohydrate foods, such as pasta, can increase serotonin production in the brain, temporarily elevating mood and providing a sense of relief. This reinforcement encourages us to seek out carbohydrates as a coping mechanism for stress.

What not to put in carbonara? ›

What not to put in Spaghetti Carbonara? Don't put garlic, cream, milk or butter. It is not needed. It is fine if you want to make a dish with those ingredients, but if you want to learn how to make this dish correctly, use only pecorino, eggs/egg yolks, black pepper, guanciale, and pasta water.

What is the golden rule of cooking a carbonara? ›

What is the golden rule of cooking a carbonara? The golden rule of cooking carbonara is to never cook the sauce over direct heat once the eggs are added.

What are the biggest carbonara mistakes? ›

15 Mistakes That Are Ruining Your Carbonara
  • Adding your eggs while the pasta is still on the heat. Anton27/Shutterstock. ...
  • Not coating your pasta completely. ...
  • Using bacon instead of guanciale. ...
  • Not whisking your eggs enough. ...
  • Using parmesan instead of pecorino. ...
  • Not grinding your own pepper. ...
  • Using cold eggs. ...
  • Adding extra ingredients.
Mar 5, 2023

What is Italian carbonara made of? ›

Carbonara is made with guanciale (cured pork), eggs, Pecorino Romano cheese, spaghetti pasta, and lots of black pepper. Italians don't add extra ingredients like cream, milk, garlic, or onions. Try this recipe if you want to make an authentic, creamy carbonara that comes straight from Italy, where I live.

Does Italians use cream in carbonara? ›

Blown. Taste.com.au Food Director, Amira Georgy, confirmed this, saying: “Traditionally, carbonara sauce contains no cream, just eggs and cheese. The eggs and cheese are added to the hot pasta and tossed together until a silky sauce forms.”

What's the difference between carbonara and British carbonara? ›

British Carbonara is a twist on the classic Italian pasta dish. This version replaces the traditional pancetta or bacon with British-style back bacon, giving it a unique flavor. The creamy sauce is made with eggs, Parmesan cheese, and a touch of cream.

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