Name: Spaghetti Squash Carbonara (No Egg)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 50 min
Ingredients: 1 spaghetti squash; 6 slices of bacon (cut into 1/2-inch pieces); 1 small onion (thinly sliced); 1/2 cup of heavy cream (or half and half); 1/2 cup of grated Pecorino Romano; fresh black pepper

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With only six ingredients, carbonara is a creamy, decadent sauce that’s super easy to make. Pair with spaghetti squash for a delicious and healthy grain free noodle substitute that’s a perfect meal for a crisp autumn day.

Recently, my dear friend Patty gave me her recipe for an egg-free carbonara paired with zucchini noodles (zoodles). Zoodles are a fantastic healthy substitute for the spaghetti in the classic Italian dish.

But I happened to have a spaghetti squash ripening on my kitchen counter, and I thought it would give the recipe a fun autumn twist to use that instead.

Have you ever tried spaghetti squash? It gets its name because after it’s cooked, the inside turns into beautiful, pasta-like strands. Watch this video to see how to cut and prepare it.

The spaghetti squash was absolutely delicious tossed with bacon, onions, fresh black pepper, and Pecorino Romano in the creamy carbonara sauce.

As I noted above, this isn’t the traditional carbonara sauce that’s made with a raw egg (the egg usually cooks when stirred into hot spaghetti).

If using a raw egg concerns you or you have an egg allergy or you love bacon and cream, this egg-free carbonara is for you. It’s really, really scrumptious.

Pairing this sauce with spaghetti squash will make you a fan for life.

Ready to make this new recipe? Let’s go.

Ingredients

spaghetti squash
bacon
a small onion
heavy cream or half and half
Pecorino Romano cheese
fresh black pepper

Instructions

First, cut your squash, scoop out the seeds and strings, brush with extra-virgin olive oil, and place in a baking dish flesh side down. Roast it for about forty-five minutes. Then take it out of the oven and set aside while you make your sauce.

To make the easy sauce, cook your bacon in a large skillet. Transfer to a paper towel-lined dish to blot the grease.

Don’t drain the pan you used to make the bacon. Add your sliced onions to that pan. Let them sauté in the bacon fat for about five minutes until they’re translucent.

Yum. You’re going to love the smoky flavor the bacon adds to the dish.

By now, your squash should be cool enough to handle. Scrape the spaghetti-like strands from the shell and stir them in the pan with the onions. Then cut your bacon into half-inch pieces and add them back in, stir until combined and cooked through.

Meanwhile, mix your cream and grated cheese in a sauce pitcher.

Divide the veggie and bacon mixture into individual bowls. Season with fresh ground pepper. Then top each with your cheese sauce. Serve warm with extra grated cheese on the side for those who would like to add more cheese.

Pro tips and recipe notes

Pecorino Romano is a sharp tangy cheese. You could substitute parmigiano reggiano. It’s nuttier and a bit milder but works well in this recipe.
I recommend aged cheese that you grate yourself. Just give it a quick spin in the food processor. The pre-grated type contains preservatives meant to keep it from clumping. It doesn’t melt quite as well.
My friend’s recipe included half and half for the sauce. I had heavy cream in my fridge so I went with that. You can use either one. It’s up to you.
You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Buon appetito! This works as a main dish or a side dish. I’m thinking it would make a wonderful side dish for the holidays.

I love that my friend shared this recipe with me. The fun is making something really awesome and then giving the recipe away. Go ahead and bring the joy of this new recipe into a friend’s day too.

More recipes with Italian sauces

15 Minute Wild Cod Piccata – Piccata is a light and lemony sauce with a sprinkling of lovely green capers. Though usually served over chicken or veal, I think it’s time to update that tradition as it’s absolutely amazing over fish too.

Zoodles With Basil And Pistachio Pesto – Here’s my zoodles twist on the classic Pesto alla Genovese pasta dish: zucchini noodles with pesto.

Zoodles Bolognese – In Bologna, where it originated, three different kinds of ground meat – usually beef, lamb, and veal – are browned beforehand while sautéing vegetables and herbs. Then, they’re all mixed together with pureed tomatoes in a pot that simmers for hours on the stove. This is my super-fast version of Bolognese sauce using just ground beef served over zucchini noodles.

Italian Red Gravy – This is a traditional sauce that’s simmered with lots of fried meat just like Grandma used to make.

Gluten Free Chicken Scarpariello – This is my quick and easy recipe that my father-in-law served years ago in his fancy Italian restaurant.

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