Chicken Carbonara takes the classic flavors of spaghetti carbonara and subs in chicken for the pasta. My Carbonara Recipe makes a delicious low carb dinner that is ready in about 30 minutes.

Chicken Carbonara Recipe – Low Carb, Keto, Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, THM S

Carbonara is one of my favorite flavors of sauce. Rich and creamy with parmesan and pancetta. Could anything be better?

Before switching to a low carb and Trim Healthy Mama eating plan spaghetti carbonara was a go-to when eating out at Italian restaurants. Since then I’ve really missed that dish. I’ve thought for a while about how to incorporate that delicious sauce and serving it on chicken instead of pasta was a home run.

What is chicken carbonara?

Chicken carbonara is just the classic Italian dish spaghetti carbonara made with chicken instead of pasta. The base flavors are Parmesan, bacon, onions, garlic, and cream. Serving this as a chicken entree makes this a naturally low carb and keto dinner.

How to Make Carbonara

To make the carbonara you cook the bacon and then cook the chicken in some of the bacon fat. After the chicken is cooked you remove it from the pan and make the sauce but cooking down onions and garlic and then adding cream and broth.

Can I use chicken breast instead of thighs?

Yes, you can sub in cut up chicken breasts instead of the thighs.

Does this Carbonara recipe have a raw egg?

Classically carbonara sauce does have a raw egg. But it’s not really raw. The heat from the pasta cooks the egg just enough that the sauce is rich and creamy. I included instructions for making this dish with and without an egg.

Can I sub in another vegetable for the spinach?

Absolutely. You can use spaghetti squash, zucchini noodles, broccoli, cauliflower, or almost any non-starchy vegetable of your choice. These flavors go well with just about anything.

What should I serve with Chicken Carbonara?

This can be a one-pot main dish or you can serve it with a side salad and keto breadsticks.

Other Low Carb Chicken Dishes

Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs with Lemon & Garlic

Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore Recipe

Crock Pot Mediterranean Chicken Recipe

Garlic Chicken One Pot with Broccolini and Zucchini

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5 from 3 votes

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Chicken Carbonara

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

25 mins

Total Time

35 mins

 

Chicken Carbonara takes the classic flavors of spaghetti carbonara and subs in chicken for the pasta. It makes a delicious low carb dinner that is ready in about 30 minutes.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Italian American

Keyword: chicken carbonara

Servings: 6

Calories: 414 kcal

Author: Taryn

Ingredients

• 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs (cut into bite-sized pieces)
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• salt and pepper to taste
• 6 slices cooked bacon (crumbled)
• 1 tbsp bacon grease
• ½ cup onion chopped
• 2 tsp minced garlic
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 beaten egg (optional)
• ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tbsp fresh chopped basil
• 2-3 cups fresh spinach

Instructions

1. Cook the bacon until crispy and then crumble into pieces.
2. Place 1 tbsp of the bacon grease in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
3. Add the chicken to the skillet and sprinkle with the garlic powder as well as salt and pepper to taste. Continue to saute the chicken until it is completely cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
4. In the same skillet, at the ½ cup of chopped onion and saute for a few minutes until they start to become tender.
5. Add in the minced garlic, and saute for another 30 seconds.

6. Whisk in the heavy whipping cream and the chicken broth, scraping the bits off the bottom of the skillet. 

7. OPTIONAL: Put the beaten egg in a small bowl. Slowly stream the sauce into the egg while whisking it vigorously. Once half of the sauce has been incorporated slowly add the egg mixture back to the skillet while whisking.

8. Mix in the parmesan cheese, chopped basil and Italian seasoning.
9. Toss in the crumbled bacon, and 2-3 cups of fresh spinach. Cook until the spinach has begun to wilt.
10. Add the chicken back into the skillet, and toss to coat in the sauce. Sprinkle in additional salt and pepper to taste.
11. Simmer the mixture for 3-5 minutes longer, and serve.

Nutrition Facts

Chicken Carbonara

Amount Per Serving

Calories 414 Calories from Fat 243

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 27g 42%

Saturated Fat 13g 65%

Cholesterol 211mg 70%

Sodium 400mg 17%

Potassium 549mg 16%

Total Carbohydrates 4g 1%

Protein 36g 72%

Vitamin A 32%

Vitamin C 5.2%

Calcium 12.5%

Iron 10%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.