Quick Spiralized Squash Carbonara with Pancetta! Delicious spiralized squash noodles, pan fried garlic and pancetta, and a creamy pasta carbonara sauce all tossed together. This low carb veggie pasta dish is super easy to make with a spiralizer. A light pasta carbonara comfort food dish that’s naturally gluten free.Â
Pssst…. I have a secret. Or rather a confession. I might have totally made this spiralized squash carbonara because I was totally craving a “pasta” to go with that homemade paleo bread (and butter). Not to mention, I am secretly obsessed with my spiralizer and spiralizing ALL THE THINGS! Can you tell? Don’t answer that. Just be glad this spiralized squash carbonara with Pancetta is super easy, low carb, and naturally gluten free. In other words, you can EAT the WHOLE SERVING PLATE full and not get that gluten hang over. Although you might get the squash belly hangover. A belly truly FULL of squash. All those squash lovers out there will get this.
Okay, now for the story. Cause yes, I always have a story, right? Spiralized squash deserves a story and I think you’ll like it. Tom Cruise is involved. Haha, now you’re listening, right?
So when I was first out of college, I roomed with one of my best friends in a small duplex. We would get in these cooking modes and have dinner parties or go all Martha-eque with homemade sauces and jams. Which reminds me, I really need to share the banana butter recipe we made! Gah, so good. Anyway, one of the recipes we got hooked on making was Pasta Carbonara. Yes, this was pre gluten free days. And yes, this carbonara was perfect with our red wine.
We found the recipe in Oprah magazine, way back in 2006. It just happened to be an O Magazine issue with all her favorite celebrity recipes. I think you know where I’m going with this, right? Guess who’s Pasta Carbonara recipe it was? Yup –> Tom Cruise’s. This was pre jumping on the couch and Katie Holmes days, which means he was totally normal to us. Haha! That being said, pasta Carbonara has been one of my FAVORITE family meal/dinner party recipes to make for over 10 YEARS ya’ll! It brings back so many good memories.
Now let’s fast forward those 10 years and combine pasta carbonara with my love for spirlized squash, zucchini, and potatoes. My love for all things bacon or in this case, pancetta. And let’s combine that love with my other love (and way of life) –> GLUTEN FREE RECIPES.
What do you get?
BAM! Carbonara without the carbs!! Veggie packed, protein packed, and OH SO tasty! But let’s not bring Tom Cruise back int he picture. He just might my make this spiralized pasta recipe “mission impossible.” CORNY… PUN… TOTALLY… INTENDED.
Alright folks. I do have one request before I share this quick recipe. You must (pretty please) try this spiralized squash Carbonara with my homemade paleo bread. It will be rock your grain free socks off! It totally tastes like you’re eating a big bowl of REAL pasta with homemade bread. COMFORT FOOD made HEALTHY! Spiralzing yellow squash (or even julienne style) is such a great pasta alternative. It comes out really thick and al dente, just like grain pasta, yet only takes a few seconds to cook.
Spiralized Squash Carbonara with Pancetta
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 3 1x
Description
Spiralized Squash Carbonara with Pancetta {Low Carb, Quick}
Ingredients
- 3 medium yellow squash (summer squash)
- 2 garlic cloves (minced)
- ½ to 1 tablespoon butter or oil
- ½ cup diced onion (white or purple)
- 4 ounces of diced pancetta (or diced turkey bacon if you can’t eat pork)
- 1 egg
- ¼ tsp or more of sea salt and black pepper each (to taste)
- ½ cup shredded parmesan (divided)
- fresh parsley
- additional garlic powder or garlic salt for topping (optional)
Instructions
- First wash and spiralize or thinly slice your yellow squash. Set aside. Mince your garlic and make sure your onion is peeled and chopped.
- In a small pot, bring water to a boil. Place squash in boiling water for just a minute until a little cooked but not fully cooked. Remove quickly and strain. Place spiralized squash in bowl and dry it off with a towel to remove access water. Add a dash of salt if you want to remove more water.
- If you prefer more al dente pasta, then skip the boiling step.
- In a large frying pan, add you butter or oil, onion and pancetta. Sauté all together for about 3-5 minutes until crispy. Then add in your garlic for a few additional minutes to cook with the crispy pancetta. Reserve some of the fat once it’s cooked. Probably 1 or 2 tbsps.
- While that’s cooking, mix you egg, dash of sea salt, and ¼ cup parmesan cheese in a small bowl.
- Whisk together.
- Toss you pasta in with the pancetta, quickly coat pasta with pancetta, fat, and garlic then remove from heat and slowly add in your egg and cheese mix. Continue to quickly work the egg and cheese mixture together off the heat. You don’t want egg to scramble, just cook with the heat of the spiralized squash and pancetta.
- Optional step As the pasta cools, slowly mix in the reserve pancetta/garlic fat to make more creamy. There will be extra sauce/water left in pan.
- Garnish with parsley, black pepper, and the rest of your shredded parmesan cheese. Add garlic salt or powder if desired.
- Serve and enjoy! .
Notes
Add in 1 tablespoon of the reserved fat if you are doubling the recipe. This is optional because the squash is already pretty high in water content. You don’t want it to be too runny. So adjust accordingly.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
Favorite Kitchen tools to help you make this Spiralized Squash Carbonara!
Yep, another reason I love this dish; it literally cooks in less than 30 minutes. Just sauté a few ingredients, quick boil the spiralized squash, whisk the egg and parmesan, then toss and go! Kinda like fried rice meets pasta. Haha. Love it! I was also pleasantly surprised at how many serving we got out of just 3 yellow squash. Never underestimate the power of vegetables friends!
Hi! Made this a few days ago, but with veggie bacon, it was quite a hit! We might use a bit less cheese next time, but the recipe is a keeper! And any excuse to watch the spiralizer is a good one!
Wonderful! So glad! Yes, some people love the extra cheese, and some don’t. haha. Glad you likes it Mary!
Okay– I just wasn’t going down past the “more you might like” posts. Your comment box is plenty noticeable 🙂
Good to know! I just put the “more you might like” posts up to be bigger. Maybe that’s bad? LOL!
YUM!! need this in my life! and I love your tom Cruise story 😉
haha right? so funny!
This mouth of mine wants IN ON THIS ASAP! 😛 Yum!!!!! I’ve got some grass-fed beef bacon WAITING to be cooked!
girl… know you’re talkin! Eat up. Will the man like it too?
He lovesssssss himself some bacon (who doesn’t) so…. mAYBE IF I PUT ENOUGH? lol! He is soooo picky, beyond belief, it’s sooooo hard to get him to like anything! haha!
I freaking LOVE spaghetti squash!! It’s SO GOOD. Love how you plated everything Lindsay!
Anything with pasta shaped deliciousness and cheese and carbonara sauce is a real favorite for me. I’ve been so procrastinating on getting a spiralizer, but it definitely feels like I’m missing out.
It’s amazing how God made veggies with such natural beauty….
God did good! as always! hehe. And yes, get one! you will love
Your recipes are always amazing. Another fabulous dish.
you are too good to me. thanks friend
OMG. Yesssssss! This is my all-time favorite Italian dish. How can you go wrong with eggs and bacon?! Please move in with me. I’ll kick my baby sister out so you can have the guest room.
Yes, kick sister out. I want in!
I think that Tom Cruise would approve of your tweaks to his original recipe! 🙂
Haha yes, he better!
CORNY PUN totally loved! And Gah – this carbonara sounds cruisalicious – yup, I used to be a huge fan – “used to be” being the key words! Now looking forward to that banana butter recipe girrl!
I’ll make the banana butter just for you!!
One of these days you’re seriously going to convince me to buy a spiralizer. I’ve never spiralled anything, but I’m definitely more than familiar with the squash belly 😉
yes, or just come visit. <3
I am head oveer heals in love with my spiralizer! It’s seriously the best thing ever! Dave won’t go near it since he was in charge of spiralizing veggies for our healthy cooking company. He would spiralize 50-60 zucchini a night. I feel bad for him everytime I pull it out to make zoodles! This might change his mind though, he loves panchetta!!
Between you and Laura, I’m gonna have to buy a spiralizer. This looks amazing, meat and all. 🙂
you will be even more hooked on VEGGIES!
Ohhh Tom Cruise pre-crazy days–what a guy. LOVE this recipe and love that you made it with squash!
haha i know right? what happened to him? at least we know he can cook
Yum! Pancetta I haven’t had in forever and if Tom Cruise is involved then sign me up! Hope you’re recovering well from the surgery.
Oh my this is like my dream, seriously! And with that bread, holy wow 🙂
I hope you are feeling ok… been thinking about you a lot!
I don’t care for yellow squash. I’ve tried, oh how I’ve tried! I also don’t like kobocha squash.
I don’t even know if I can be considered a HLB any more ;D
haha well i don’t like froyo so i am not an HLB either. we even each other out