Description
Silky, creamy, and loaded with flavor, this Olive Garden-Inspired Ravioli Carbonara is the ultimate comfort food. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s the perfect dish for a cozy dinner or when you’re craving something indulgent but still easy to make at home. With cheese ravioli smothered in a rich carbonara sauce and topped with crispy bacon, this recipe delivers restaurant-quality results with pantry-friendly ingredients. Whether you’re hunting for a quick dinner idea, a cozy weekend meal, or something to impress guests, this dish checks every box for flavor and simplicity. Quick dinner, creamy pasta, comfort food, ravioli recipe, easy recipe, Italian dinner ideas.
Ingredients
1 lb cheese ravioli (fresh or frozen)
6 slices bacon, chopped
1 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 egg yolks
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add ravioli and cook according to package directions. Drain and set aside with a drizzle of olive oil to prevent sticking.
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook chopped bacon until crispy. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and reserve 1-2 tablespoons of bacon fat.
3. Sauté minced garlic in the reserved bacon fat for 30–60 seconds, just until fragrant.
4. Lower the heat. Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer.
5. Whisk in egg yolks slowly, stirring constantly to prevent scrambling. Cook for 2–3 minutes to thicken the sauce.
6. Stir in Parmesan cheese until fully melted. Season with salt and pepper.
7. Gently toss the cooked ravioli into the sauce, coating them evenly.
8. Top with crispy bacon, extra Parmesan, black pepper, and chopped parsley. Serve immediately.
Notes
Temper egg yolks by mixing with a bit of hot cream before adding them to the skillet — this prevents scrambling.
Use freshly grated Parmesan for the best creamy consistency and bold flavor.
Don’t skip the bacon fat — it adds unmatched depth to the garlic and sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 640
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 880mg
- Fat: 40g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 180mg