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20 Minute Lemon Butter Orzo Carbonara. This is the simplest way to make carbonara pasta. You need just one skillet and about 20 to 30 minutes. The orzo is toasted in lemon butter, garlic, and thyme, then cooked and tossed with eggs and parmesan to create that classic creamy carbonara sauce. It’s so delicious, and the bacon on top really finishes it off just wonderfully. A little extra parmesan and butter is all you need.
This recipe is so simple and perfect for anyone who really enjoys a delicious bowl of pasta for dinner. Carbonara is a pretty classic Italian pasta, usually made with bacon, eggs, lots of parmesan cheese, and a longer cut of pasta.
The secret to a great carbonara is the sauce. It consists of raw eggs and grated parmesan cheese. The eggs are tossed with the steaming pasta. As the tossing process takes place, the heat from the steaming pasta cooks the eggs, creating the silkiest, cheesiest pasta.
Ingredients
- Bacon
- Salted butter
- Lemon
- Fresh thyme leaves
- Garlic
- Dry orzo pasta
- Fresh baby spinach
- Salt and black pepper
- Large eggs
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil
- Other fresh herbs you have on hand, such as fresh dill
If you’re unfamiliar with this method, it might sound like a funny way to make pasta, but it really is so delicious. The sauce is rich and creamy!
My variation on this classic pasta is made simply in one skillet with orzo pasta, butter, fresh lemon, and thyme. I love this dish because it comes together so quickly and with minimal ingredients – yet it’s still so good!
It’s also great because I sometimes struggle with my pasta not being hot enough to fully cook the eggs in the sauce. This one-skillet method makes things easy and ensures the most perfect, silky, creamy sauce!
Here are the details
Step 1: cook the bacon
Bacon is essential to a yummy carbonara pasta. Use a thick-cut bacon and give it a nice chopping before cooking.
Be sure to cook the bacon in a skillet that will be large enough also to cook the pasta.
Once the bacon is crispy, remove it from the skillet and set aside for topping.
Step 2: cook the orzo
Now, in that same skillet, add a couple of slices of butter. Add the lemon slices, then the garlic and thyme. Mix in the orzo and let the orzo cook in the lemon butter for a couple of minutes until it’s lightly toasted.
Now mix in a few cups of water, plus the spinach. Let the orzo cook until it’s just al dente. Do not drain the pasta.
Step 3: mix the eggs with the Parmesan
While the orzo is cooking, whisk the eggs together with the parmesan cheese. I usually season with black peppers and chili flakes, too.
Step 4: mix the eggs into the pasta
Remove the skillet of orzo from the heat. There should be some liquid left in the skillet. Working quickly, stir in the egg mixture. Continue to stir continuously until the eggs create a creamy cheese sauce.
This step is really important. Be sure to toss really the orzo for a good minute until the sauce thickens. You’ll then have perfect orzo carbonara.
I love to finish the carbonara with fresh basil, salt, and pepper. Once you plate the carbonara, top with the reserved bacon. Then add a little drizzle of melted butter + freshly grated parmesan cheese. If you don’t have parmesan cheese on hand, pecorino romano or mozzarella would work as well.
Top this however you like! It’s great served alongside grilled or roasted chicken breast or steak…or even prosciutto. For healthy vegetables on the side, you could incorporate roasted asparagus, broccoli, bell peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, red onions, tomatoes, or peas. As you can probably tell, this dish is so versatile! Be sure to include a big salad to complete the meal. So yummy!
Looking for other easy weeknight dinners? Here are some favorites.
One Skillet Lemon Butter Dijon Chicken and Orzo with Feta Sauce
Easy Greek Sheet Pan Chicken Souvlaki and Potatoes
Browned Garlic Butter Creamed Corn Cheese Ravioli
One Skillet Cheesy Broccoli Cheddar Orzo Bake
Lastly, if you make this 20 Minute Lemon Butter Orzo Carbonara, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Lemon Butter Orzo Carbonara
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 514 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 2 tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature
- 1 lemon, sliced
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 pound dry orzo pasta
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach
- salt and black pepper
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
Instructions
- 1. 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. 2. To the skillet, add the butter, lemon slices, thyme, garlic, and orzo. Cook until the orzo is toasted, 2 minutes. Add 3 cups water and the spinach. Season with salt and pepper. Cook 5 minutes, until the orzo is al dente and most of the liquid has evaporated, but not all of it. 3. Whisk together the eggs and parmesan in a bowl.4. Remove the orzo from the heat. Add the egg/cheese mixture, tossing quickly (to ensure the eggs do not scramble) until the eggs thicken and create a sauce. Add the basil and season with salt and pepper.5. Serve the carbonara with grated parmesan and bacon. Drizzle a bit of olive oil or melted butter over top. Enjoy!
This post was originally published on April 1, 2024
My son said this was the best thing he has ever tasted and wants to eat it every day for the rest of his life. Thank you!
Hi Jennifer,
Awesome! Love to hear you enjoyed this recipe, thanks a bunch for giving it a try! xx
Not sure what I missed but my orzo did not cook within 5 minutes and the bag said 14 minutes. So I had to keep adding water and cooking it after all the ingredients were inside.
Hi Samantha,
Thanks so much for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback. I would try turning your heat down a bit next time so you don’t have to keep adding water and just let it cook as needed. I hope this helps! xxT
I wonder if adding chicken stock in place of water might be more flavourful?
Sure, that would be delicious!
I’m about to make this for dinner but disappointed to see that in the description it recommends THICK CUT bacon. At the grocery store I simply went directly to the recipe which doesn’t specify this. As I’ve said before on this site, it could benefit from a good proofreader.
Hi Patti,
The recipe will be just fine with regular cut bacon:) I hope it turns out well for you! xx
Really tasty very quick to make. Orzo took a little longer but definitely worth it . My family absolutely loved it another great recipe to add to the collection. Thank you.
Hey Rachel,
Happy Sunday! Thanks a lot for trying this recipe and your comment, I’m so glad it was enjoyed! xxx
Delicious!!! I love carbonara, so was delighted to see this recipe. I tried it out on my husband and a couple of friends last night, and everyone loved it!
Hey Nancy,
Fantastic! So glad to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks a lot for making it and your comment! Xx
I made this delicious dish! The flavor came out perfect added sun-dried tomatoes and sub pork bacon for GODSHALL Turkey bacon absolutely 💯 😋
Hey Sophia,
Happy Monday!! So glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks a bunch for making it! xT
You didn’t put in the baby spinach. And it’s not in the picture, either. Neither is the basil.
I have made so many of your recipes, and I think this may be one of my absolute favorites. I’ve already made it twice. So delicious and easy!
Hey Jen,
Awesome! Thanks so much for trying this recipe and your feedback, so glad it turned out well! Xx
This was good, but as a number of people have said, it took more than 5 minutes and 3 cups of water to cook the orzo (for me, 10 minutes and 3.5 cups), so not sure what brand of orzo recommends only 5 minutes. I also got a mild allergic reaction right after eating it, maybe from the eggs not really being cooked? Anyway, the flavor was good and I might make it again, but with a few modifications!
Hi Helen,
Thanks for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback, sorry to hear the orzo took longer to cook than expected. I think that could be the variations in pans and how high or low the heat is on the stove top. Glad the flavors were enjoyed! xx
Big hit at our house – I needed to cook the orzo longer than the recipe said to get it al dente (which required me to add more water) but we will absolutely be making this again!
Hey Lydia,
Wonderful! I love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a lot for giving it a try! Xx
I love most of the HBH recipes but this one isn’t my favorite. The orzo took a very long time to cook and took more water than 3 cups to cook it. Overall I found the recipe to not have a lot of flavor… mostly disappointing. We’ll go back to the chicken, sundried tomato and spinach with orzo — which we absolutely love!
Hi Brooke,
Thanks so much for giving this dish a try and sharing your feedback, so sorry to hear it was not enjoyed! xx
Made this for a side to Santa Maria Tri-Tip for our wine club. Flavor is a wonderful; love the combination of the lemon with the butter, thyme, basil and spinach. And, bacon always makes everything better! Don’t skip the step to brown the orzo a bit; brings in a toastiness which is wonderful; but, watch closely not to burn. Also: 1) I stepped up the servings to 10 on the website; but DO NOTE the water does not adjust along with the other ingredients as it is embedded in the recipe text. I found I needed even more water to get the orzo to cook fully even after adjusting proportionally; 2) Be mindful to get all the seeds of the lemons out while slicing and decide if you want to try to pull them out before serving or leave them in to be eaten. If the latter, which you can do as they do cook down, just be sure to slice very thinly; and, 3) This recipe is difficult to hold the texture/moisture level right if you are intending to serve later than right when it comes off of the stove. I found it was perfect when done; but, unfortunately dried up a bit while in a warm oven waiting for us to serve it. Overall, though 4 stars for great flavor and creativity.
Hey Jeff,
Thanks so much for making this dish, I’m so glad to hear it was enjoyed!! I appreciate you sharing your detailed notes, I’m sure this will be helpful for others! have a great day! xx
When my husband says half way through cooking something that he knows he’s going to love it – it’s a winner!
This was soooo good. Surprisingly light, thanks to the lemon, but so full of flavor.
We topped ours with seared scallops (being in the Pacific Northwest were big seafood fans) for some protein but otherwise I made as the recipe said. I would say, the orzo definitely takes a bit longer but knowing that going in I just kept it going in water a little longer than directed and once done I covered it in the pan while we made the scallops.
Thank you for yet another dish that will be on our weekly menu often!
Hey Kristen,
Happy Sunday!! Thanks a lot for giving this recipe a try, I’m so glad to hear it was a hit! Such a great idea to top with scallops, that sounds delish! xT