This low calorie carbonara pasta recipe is healthy and delicious. I’ll show you how to make a spaghetti carbonara recipe in a healthy new way without sacrificing flavor or serving size.
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- 4 ounces spaghetti
- 1 slice bacon
- 1 cup thinly sliced kale
- ⅓ cup frozen peas
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Low Calorie Carbonara Pasta
Healthy Carbonara Pasta Meal Prep and Storage
Meal Prep: I love to meal prep this healthy recipe! I make it ahead of time (often for dinner- then store the leftovers as meal prep dinners) and move to either individual meal prep containers, or family sized containers.
Storage: Will hold for 5 days in the fridge or 1 month in the freezer.
Reheating: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Low Calorie Carbonara Pasta
More Yummy Low Calorie Recipes:
Low Calorie Carbonara Pasta
Ingredients
- 4 ounces spaghetti
- 1 slice bacon
- 1 cup thinly sliced kale
- ⅓ cup frozen peas no need to thaw
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 large egg whisked
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente according to the package directions. Before draining, reserve about ½ cup of the pasta water. (Just scoop it out with a coffee mug; it doesn’t need to be precise and the mug’s handle makes it safer to dip.)
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat to your desired crispness. Crumble the bacon. Pour off all but 1 teaspoon of the bacon grease from the skillet. Return the bacon to the pan.
- Add the kale and peas and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often, until the kale wilts and the peas thaw and warm up. Add the garlic, then remove the skillet from the heat and let cool for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Now comes the tricky part: Add the hot pasta to the skillet, then add the beaten egg and very quickly mix together. If you’re not quick, you’ll get scrambled eggs and not sauce. If this happens, don’t fret . . . just mix very well and most of the lumps will dissolve. Add ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water and mix well. Add more pasta water if needed to thin out the sauce.
- Top with half the Parmesan and half the parsley. Toss to combine, then top with the remaining Parmesan and parsley and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
About the Author
Hi, my name is Audrey Johns and I am a 4 time best selling cookbook author! All 4 of my low calorie cookbooks are published by HarperCollins (the oldest publishing house in the US!) and have been featured on prominent TV shows like The Today Show, Rachael Ray and The Doctors. I am a low calorie and healthy recipe authority and my delicious recipes are tried and loved by thousands of readers.
After a one year 150 pound weight loss (and I’ve kept it off for 13 years!) I started sharing all of my low calorie recipes with the world. They are always all-natural and geared around weight loss and weight management. I have even made some of these recipes with my Biggest Loser pal Bob Harper! Check out my weight loss story, my best selling cookbooks, and my numerous TV appearances by clicking here.
More Weight Loss Recipes:
Lose Weight By Eating Cookbooks
Share this Low Calorie Pasta Recipe:
Article History:
- Originally written and published August 20, 2020 by Audrey Johns
- Updated on May 3, 2023 by Audrey Johns
Great question! One slice of bacon is 43 calories and one slice of turkey bacon is 30 calories, so if you use turkey bacon in place of real bacon it will lover the calories down to 405 calories per serving.
What would the calories be if turkey bacon is used instead?