Description
Craving something rich, creamy, and irresistibly indulgent? This Easy Olive Garden-Inspired Ravioli Carbonara is the ultimate comfort food made right at home! Featuring tender cheese ravioli tossed in a silky parmesan cream sauce with crispy bacon, this quick dinner idea is ready in under 30 minutes. Whether you’re looking for easy dinner ideas, a cozy date night recipe, or a restaurant-quality meal that doesn’t take all evening, this dish delivers every time. Perfect for busy weeknights or when you want an easy recipe that impresses.
Ingredients
1 package cheese ravioli
6 slices bacon, chopped
1 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1 egg yolk
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the cheese ravioli and cook according to the package instructions. Drain and reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water.
2. While ravioli cooks, heat a skillet over medium heat. Add chopped bacon and cook until crispy. Remove bacon and set aside, keeping 1 tablespoon bacon fat in the skillet.
3. Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
4. Reduce heat to low. Pour in heavy cream and stir, scraping up any browned bits. Simmer for 2-3 minutes.
5. In a separate bowl, whisk egg yolk with a few tablespoons of hot cream. Slowly whisk it back into the pan.
6. Add parmesan cheese and stir until melted and sauce is smooth. Add a bit of pasta water if sauce is too thick.
7. Gently toss in the ravioli and most of the bacon. Warm through for 1-2 minutes.
8. Plate the pasta, top with remaining bacon, cracked black pepper, parsley, and extra parmesan if desired. Serve hot.
Notes
Always temper your egg yolk to avoid scrambling it in the sauce.
Don’t skip reserving pasta water—it helps emulsify and loosen the sauce perfectly.
This dish is best served fresh, but leftovers can be revived gently with a splash of cream.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
Keywords: easy dinner, ravioli recipe, carbonara, creamy pasta, quick pasta, Olive Garden copycat