Creamy Lemon Orzo Carbonara
Orzo carbonara: craft this creamy, zesty lemon butter pasta with crispy bacon in under 30 minutes. A perfect weeknight meal for the whole family.
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 2 tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 pound dry orzo pasta
- salt and black pepper
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Drain onto a paper towel. If desired, remove some of the bacon fat.
- To the skillet, add the butter, lemon zest, thyme, and chopped garlic. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the orzo and toast for 2 minutes. Add 3 cups water and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes, until the orzo is al dente and most of the liquid has evaporated.
- Whisk together the eggs and parmesan in a bowl until well combined.
- Remove the orzo from the heat. Immediately add the egg/cheese mixture, tossing quickly and continuously (to ensure the eggs do not scramble) until the eggs thicken and create a creamy sauce. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve the carbonara with grated parmesan and the cooked bacon. Enjoy immediately!
Notes
Nutrition information is an estimate, calculated automatically. Values vary with brands, substitutions and portion sizes.