BLT-Inspired Carbonara with Whole Wheat Elbows
BLT-Inspired Carbonara with Whole Wheat Elbows marries smoky bacon with bursts of sweet cherry tomato and tender spinach, all coated in a silky Parmesan-egg sauce. The whole wheat pasta brings a hearty bite that balances the richness, while black pepper adds gentle warmth. Serve for a cozy weeknight dinner or an unfussy weekend gathering when you want comfort with a fresh twist.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook20 mins
- Serves6
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in BLT-Inspired Carbonara with Whole Wheat Elbows, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 52 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 10 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 46 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 18
- Heart Health
- 69
- Metabolic
- 35
- Digestive
- 22
- Inflammatory
- 42
- Performance
- 34
- General Wellness
- 1
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp and the fat has rendered, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set it aside. Pour the bacon fat into a small bowl and set it aside, but do not wash the skillet.
- 2
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
- 3
In a bowl, combine the Parmesan cheese, eggs, egg yolk, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper.
- 4
Cook the elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain into a colander set over a large, heatproof bowl. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water and pour out the rest, keeping the now-heated bowl in place.
- 5
Return 1 teaspoon of the reserved bacon fat to the large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Cook for 30 seconds more, then add the tomatoes. Cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through but not falling apart, about 5 minutes. Stir in the spinach.
- 6
Add the cooked bacon, cooked tomato mixture, and cooked pasta to the heated bowl. Whisk 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking water into the egg mixture. Pour this over the pasta mixture in the bowl and toss for 3 minutes. If needed, thin the sauce by adding more reserved cooking water. Season with salt and pepper. Serve right away with additional Parmesan cheese.
- Calories 574.5 kcal High 29%
- Protein 35.38 g Good Source 71%
- Carbohydrate 57.51 g 21%
- Total Fat 23.56 g High 30%
- Saturated Fat 9.45 g High 47%
- Trans Fat 0.02 g High --
- Cholesterol 156.93 mg High 52%
- Sodium 1037.69 mg High 45%
- Dietary Fiber 4.69 g Moderate 17%
- Total Sugars 5.27 g --
- Added Sugars 0.05 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 255.38 mg Moderate 20%
- Iron 4.4 mg Good Source 24%
- Potassium 420.47 mg Low Source 9%
- Vitamin A 372.82 mcg Good Source 41%
- Vitamin C 9.96 mg Moderate 11%
- Vitamin D 0.51 mcg Low Source 3%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Eggs 🥚
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
About This Recipe
BLT Inspired Carbonara with Whole Wheat Elbows is made with 10 ingredients and serves 6. It takes about 35 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Cherry Tomato, Eggs, and Grated Parmesan Cheese. Each serving provides about 574.5 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is BLT-Inspired Carbonara with Whole Wheat Elbows made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Cherry Tomato, Eggs, Grated Parmesan Cheese, Macaroni. The full list of 10 is above.
- How long does it take to make BLT-Inspired Carbonara with Whole Wheat Elbows?
- About 35 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 20 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 574.5 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is BLT-Inspired Carbonara with Whole Wheat Elbows easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 10 ingredients and 6 steps.
- Is BLT-Inspired Carbonara with Whole Wheat Elbows healthy?
- BLT-Inspired Carbonara with Whole Wheat Elbows has an easyChef Pro health score of 39/100. Per serving, it provides 574.5 calories and 35.38 g of protein, or 71% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of iron and vitamin A. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 1037.69 mg (45% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 9.45 g (47% of the Daily Value). It contains Eggs, Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Tomatoes and Garlic, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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