• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • ALL RECIPES
  • Dinner
  • Dessert
  • Pumpkin Recipes
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
Self Proclaimed Foodie
menu icon
go to homepage
  • RECIPES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT ME
  • SUBSCRIBE
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • RECIPES
    • ABOUT
    • CONTACT ME
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Pasta

    Ham and Pea Pasta Carbonara

    Published: July 19, 2020 · Updated: December 5, 2020 · By: Krissy · 29 Comments
    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    pasta carbonara with ham and pea recipe

    Ham and Pea Pasta Carbonara combines spaghetti and parmesan with an incredibly rich and creamy egg based sauce to create a savory meal.

    To achieve the perfect carbonara sauce, you just need to follow a few easy steps. This recipe elevates ham and peas into a decadent pasta dinner!

    Ham and Pea Pasta Carbonara recipe

    Why this recipe works:

    If you love delicious pasta recipes for dinner, this one is not only unique but it's super delicious!

    • Who wouldn't love the combination of flavorful smokey ham, vibrant green peas, tender pasta, and a rich and creamy parmesan sauce?
    • This is a fantastic recipe to use up leftover holiday ham.
    • You control how thick and creamy the sauce is. There's a trick to getting the perfect consistency!

    Ingredients needed:

    • spaghetti
    • butter and olive oil
    • yellow onion
    • cooked ham
    • steamed peas
    • garlic
    • whole eggs
    • parmesan cheese 
    • heavy cream
    Ham steak and peas

    Here's how to make it:

    Before you start cooking, make sure you have all of your ingredients chopped, measured, and prepped. The goal is to have the pasta finish cooking around the same time that the ham and pea mixture has finished cooking.

    1. In a large saute pan, you will saute the onion in butter and then add the ham, peas, and garlic.
    2. Meanwhile, you'll prepare your sauce by mixing together the eggs, paremsan, and heavy cream.
    3. Cook the spaghetti in a large pot of boiling water. Prior to draining it, be sure to grab a measuring cup of the pasta water. This is used to thin the sauce later on.
    4. Once the pasta is cooked and drained, the hot ham and pea mixture is added.
    5. The sauce is poured over the piping hot ingredients and stirred to combine. 
    6. Once everything is combined, add small amounts of the reserved pasta water until you reach the desired thickness. Give it a taste and add salt and pepper, if desired.
    process photos of how to make Ham and Pea Pasta Carbonara

    Cooking tips:

    • Freshly grated parmesan always melts better than pre-shredded. Either will work for this recipe, but finely grated cheese from a block is best.
    • For the best carbonara, the trick is to transfer the hot pasta directly out of the pot of salted boiling water and into the sauce, away from additional direct heat to avoid curdling the egg. This can be done either in the pasta pot or in a dish.
    • Although any kind of pasta can be used, spaghetti is really your best choice because it has a sufficiently large ratio of surface area to volume. This means that the cylindrical shape of each spaghetti noodle will maximize it's contact with the sauce, thus ensuring the sauce gets properly cooked.
    • To avoid having the egg scramble, never add the egg in carbonara sauce over direct heat. You use the heat from the freshly cooked pasta to heat and cook the sauce. You can also avoid curdling by setting your eggs out at room temperature a few hours before using them. That will decrease the temperature delta between your eggs and the hot pasta.
    • Leftover pasta carbonara can be reheated, but you must do it gently. My recommendation for reheating would be to either heat on the stove, covered, over very low heat. The alternative would be to heat in the microwave at a low power, say 30-50%, and to stir it often to ensure it gets heated evenly. 
    Pasta with carbonara sauce

    Other great pasta recipes:

    If you are craving pasta with a decadent cream sauce, you might also enjoy these favorites.

    • Homemade Alfredo Sauce Recipe
    • Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo
    • Fettuccine Alfredo
    • Cajun Chicken Alfredo Pasta
    • Cajun Shrimp Pasta
    • Asparagus Mushroom Fettuccine Alfredo
    • Broccoli Carbonara
    scooping homemade Pasta Carbonara with Ham and Pea out of pot

    Ham and Pea Pasta Carbonara

    If you're looking for a rich and satisfying pasta dinner, this Ham and Pea Pasta Carbonara will quickly become a family favorite!
    4.80 from 30 votes
    Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!

    CLICK TO PLAY RECIPE VIDEO

    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Scale: 6 servings
    Recipe Created By: Krissy Allori

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound spaghetti
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 medium yellow onion (diced)
    • 8 ounces ham (thinly sliced)
    • 10 ounces peas (steamed)
    • 1-2 cloves garlic (minced)
    • 3 eggs
    • 1 cup parmesan (grated)
    • ¾ cup heavy cream
    • salt and pepper (as desired)

    Instructions

    • Ensure all ingredients are chopped/measured/prepared before you start cooking. The goal is to time the recipe so that the pasta has finished cooking at the same time the ham, pea, and onion mixture is done.
    • Cook pasta in large pot of boiling water.
    • Heat butter and oil in large saute pan and cook onion over medium high heat until golden brown, about five minutes. Add ham, peas, and garlic and cook long enough to heat through.
    • Meanwhile in a separate bowl, combine eggs, parmesan and heavy cream. Whisk to combine.
    • Prior to drain pasta, add about ½ cup of the cooking water to a measuring cup in case it is needed to thin the sauce later on.
    • Drain hot pasta and return to pot. Add hot ham and pea mixture. With the heat off, add the egg mixture to the hot ingredients and stir very well to combine. The hot ingredients will cook the egg enough to turn it into a wonderful sauce without scrambling the egg. Season with salt and pepper, as desired.

    Notes

    • Freshly grated parmesan always melts better than pre-shredded. Either will work for this recipe, but finely grated cheese from a block is best.
    • For the best carbonara, the trick is to transfer the hot pasta directly out of the pot of salted boiling water and into the sauce, away from additional direct heat to avoid curdling the egg. This can be done either in the pasta pot or in a dish.
    • Although any kind of pasta can be used, spaghetti is really your best choice because it has a sufficiently large ratio of surface area to volume. This means that the cylindrical shape of each spaghetti noodle will maximize it's contact with the sauce, thus ensuring the sauce gets properly cooked.
    • To avoid having the egg scramble, never add the egg in carbonara sauce over direct heat. You use the heat from the freshly cooked pasta to heat and cook the sauce. You can also avoid curdling by setting your eggs out at room temperature a few hours before using them. That will decrease the temperature delta between your eggs and the hot pasta.
    • Leftover pasta carbonara can be reheated, but you must do it gently. My recommendation for reheating would be to either heat on the stove, covered, over very low heat. The alternative would be to heat in the microwave at a low power, say 30-50%, and to stir it often to ensure it gets heated evenly. 

    NUTRITION INFORMATION

    Calories: 655kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 162mg | Sodium: 782mg | Potassium: 486mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1105IU | Vitamin C: 20.6mg | Calcium: 264mg | Iron: 2.6mg
    SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTERSign up to have my recipes emailed to you. Free!

    This recipe was originally published in September 2019 and has been updated with helpful information, ingredient and process photos, as well as recipe tips. Don't worry - the recipe hasn't changed!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Patsy

      December 26, 2022 at 2:43 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely delicious! Even my husband liked it. Had to leave the cheese out if his portion and add to mine after plating. Still delicious!

      Reply
    2. Rachel A Ahmed

      June 16, 2022 at 3:21 pm

      I was able to throw this together so quickly, and had everything on hand! My daughter works late, so it's a great recipe for her to heat up when she gets home! On top of that, my husband loved it! Thanks!!

      Reply
    3. P. Dicicco

      April 13, 2022 at 4:03 pm

      5 stars
      This was delicious! I made this recipe with gluten free pasta but did not rinse it. It came out perfect. I will definitely make again.

      Reply
    4. Brittinie

      March 15, 2022 at 4:31 pm

      5 stars
      This was a hit in our house. Yummy

      Reply
    5. Bellsma

      March 07, 2022 at 4:35 pm

      Trying this now. Looks and smells so good but I am a little worried the egg isn’t cooked enough

      Reply
      • Krissy

        March 10, 2022 at 7:13 am

        I always struggle with that as well, however we make our own mayonnaise that has completely raw egg. You can consume raw egg and the egg itself isn't harmful, however anything on the outside of the egg is what can make people sick. The egg does cook in this recipe, however. Not to the point where it solidifies though.

        Reply
    6. Julia

      November 30, 2020 at 4:28 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious! My family of four devoured the pasta. Didn't change a thing other than add a little bit of red pepper flakes on top just for a little heat. Thank you for the reminder to prep everything before cooking, Everything came together easily.

      Reply
    7. Dee Dee

      August 01, 2020 at 2:52 pm

      I made this except instead of pasta I made zucchini spirals from fresh zucchini and it was fantastic. My family went crazy for it. I sautéed the homemade zucchini spirals for about 5 mins in longer in a frying pan with some olive oil. Delish. Thanks for the great summer recipe.

      Reply
    8. Megan

      January 13, 2020 at 8:10 pm

      5 stars
      I recommend using smoked chicken. You can buy a ready smoked chicken breast or indeed a whole chicken from the supermarket. I've been making it for years, goes down a treat with kids and is a quick and easy meal!!

      Reply
    9. Nan

      April 24, 2019 at 4:28 am

      5 stars
      Wonderful and flavorful-and fast by prepping ingredients ahead of cooking. We used what was on hand in the fridge by substituting whole milk for cream, leek for onion, tender asparagus tips for peas. Not saucy but creamy. *This recipe can easily be reduced to 1/3 for a single, very large serving!

      Reply
      • Krissy

        April 25, 2019 at 5:26 am

        I have a ton of leeks in the garden. I'll have to try this!

        Reply
    10. David

      December 27, 2018 at 9:57 am

      4 stars
      What happens to the raw eggs in the sauce? are they "scrambled" in the pasta mix, or are they eaten just as is? Just wondering because in your video it just looked like the sauce was just poured right in. Just Wondering!

      Reply
      • Krissy

        January 07, 2019 at 4:13 pm

        Hi David, When you combine the sauce with the eggs with the hot pasta, it slightly cooks it without any scrambling. I don't quite know how to explain it. It's not as uncooked as a raw egg, but it's not so cooked that it's like a hard boiled egg. It's just creamy and delicious.

        Reply
    11. Steven_reuro

      December 21, 2018 at 9:51 pm

      Drain the pasta and transfer to the saucepan with the onion mixture and toss well. Immediately stir in the egg and cheese mixture until well combined. Serve immediately.
      And Happy New Year!

      Reply
    12. Heidi

      August 23, 2018 at 5:46 pm

      5 stars
      Made this for dinner tonight and it was a huge hit with the family. The instructions were great and this came together quickly. My 13 year old daughter enjoyed helping me get all the ingredients ready.

      Reply
    13. Debby

      June 16, 2018 at 8:55 am

      Uthis reminds me of a recipe I have from long ago called Straw and Hay or something like that. It was my kids favorite!

      Reply
    14. Darrell

      April 26, 2018 at 4:29 pm

      5 stars
      Can I use half and half in place of heavy
      Cream?

      Reply
      • Krissy

        May 01, 2018 at 1:23 pm

        Yes... the sauce just might be thinner, but it'll work.

        Reply
    15. Carolyn

      December 28, 2017 at 9:47 am

      My husband doesn't like the taste of Parmesan cheese, is there another cheese I could use?

      Reply
      • Krissy

        December 30, 2017 at 6:37 am

        Do you like asiago? I think you could definitely substitute with a different cheese that you like, it just might impact how creamy it is (even in a better way). If you try something, will you let me know?

        Reply
    16. Emma Bolls

      June 13, 2017 at 12:18 pm

      3 stars
      I just love Spaghetti Carbonara. Lots of garlic is a must!
      Its so easy to make and if you don’t hesitate on using real ingredients, there no better dish!
      I usually eat it at least once every two weeks.
      If its a weekend i usually treat myself with som good red wine to it. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
    17. Gretchen

      May 28, 2017 at 8:54 pm

      This recipe looks absolutely delicious and I can't wait to try! One dumb question from a novice cook though... if I were to use a different kind of pasta, like penne or farfalle, would I need to adjust the recipe at all? Thanks for any advice!

      Reply
      • Krissy

        September 18, 2017 at 2:16 pm

        nope

        Reply
    18. Leah

      February 16, 2017 at 9:00 am

      5 stars
      I made it exactly as stated, it turned out amazing. I've shared with many many people already! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Krissy

        February 26, 2017 at 8:26 am

        Thanks for the comment! Glad you enjoyed it. -Krissy

        Reply
    19. Shania

      November 06, 2016 at 2:59 pm

      This looks delicious I will be trying it tonight 🙂

      Reply
      • Aiden

        December 11, 2018 at 10:04 am

        Then do us all a favor and don't comment until you have made it.

        Reply
        • maria fahey

          March 23, 2019 at 10:12 am

          ????

          Reply
        • Stacey

          April 24, 2019 at 7:38 pm

          II made this exactly as directed and it was a huge hit! My family loves traditional pasta carbonara so I used leftover ham from Easter. Served with tossed salad and warm crusty French bread. Delicious!

          Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Krissy

    A close up of a woman

    I love to create the BEST versions of your favorite recipes. If you love to cook, love to eat, or just have a deep appreciation for good food, you're in the right place! Stick around... I have hundreds of recipes for you to make. more about me...

    SUBSCRIBE to my newsletter

    Valentine's Favorites

    • Absolutely Perfect Filet Mignon
    • Chocolate Covered Strawberries
    • Broiled Lobster Tail
    • Heart Beet Pancakes
    online publications that have featured self proclaimed foodie

    Most Popular Recipes

    • Salmon Patties (Salmon Cakes)
    • Granny's Monkey Bread Recipe
    • Perfect Prime Rib Roast
    • Cajun Shrimp Pasta
    • Country Sausage Gravy
    • Absolutely Perfect Filet Mignon
    • Best Homemade Alfredo Sauce {Easy 4 Ingredient Recipe + Video}
    • Granny's Classic Meatloaf Recipe

    Footer

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    Contact

    Privacy Policy

    Nutrition Disclaimer

    Check Out Ten Acre Baker

    Meet Krissy

    Social

    Pinterest

    Facebook

    Instagram

    You Tube

    Sign Up for free emails

    Recipes

    • Dinner
    • Dessert
    • Breakfast
    • Drinks
    • Appetizers

    Self Proclaimed Foodie is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

    COPYRIGHT © 2022 SELF PROCLAIMED FOODIE®