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Pumpkin Carbonara

Creamy, cozy pumpkin carbonara with crispy bacon and parmesan. A fall-inspired twist on a classic pasta that’s rich, comforting, and easy to make.
Print Recipe
Prep Time:10 minutes
Cook Time:15 minutes
Total Time:25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 12 oz box spaghetti, bucatini, or rigatoni
  • 4 oz pancetta or bacon, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup pumpkin purée
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano
  • 1-2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
  • salt & black pepper to taste
  • fresh sage or thyme for garnish

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
  • In a large skillet, sauté pancetta or bacon over medium heat until crispy. If the pan is dry, add a splash of olive oil. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant. Remove from heat.
  • In a bowl, whisk together pumpkin purée, eggs, Parmesan, black pepper, and Optional red pepper flakes.
  • Add hot pasta to the skillet with pancetta or bacon. Slowly pour in the pumpkin mixture, tossing quickly so the eggs gently thicken into a creamy sauce (don’t scramble!). Add pasta water a little at a time until the sauce becomes silky and coats the noodles.
  • Season with more pepper, salt if needed, and additional cheese.
  • Top with crispy sage, extra Parmesan, or a drizzle of olive oil. Serve warm.

Notes

*Calories are approximate per serving
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: carbonara recipe, creamy pumpkin carbonara, fall pasta recipe, pasta recipe, pumpkin dinner recipe, pumpkin recipes, winter pasta recipe
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 475kcal
Author: dani
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