Zucchini noodles, or zoodles, are more than just an "alternative" to regular pasta – they're a culinary treat! With all the creamy textures and crispy bacon crunch of the Italian classic, this quick and satisfying keto recipe hits all the right notes.
June 6 2016 recipe by Anne Aobadia, photo by Naomi Sherman, nutritional review by Franziska Spritzler, RD, CDE in Recipes, Lunch, Meal
Zucchini noodles, or zoodles, are more than just an "alternative" to regular pasta – they're a culinary treat! With all the creamy textures and crispy bacon crunch of the Italian classic, this quick and satisfying keto recipe hits all the right notes.
USMetric
4 servingservings
Ingredients
- 1 cup 240 ml heavy whipping cream
- 11 oz. 300 g bacon or pancetta, diced
- salt and pepper
- 1¾ lbs 800 g zucchini, zoodles
- 4 4 egg yolkegg yolks
- 1 cup (2¾ oz.) 240 ml (80 g) shredded Parmesan cheese, save some for serving
This recipe has been added to the shopping list.
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Making low carb simple
Instructions
Zoodles
Use a spiralizer to create zucchini noodles (zoodles). If you don’t have a spiralizer, a potato peeler can be used instead to create slightly wider zoodles.
Fry the bacon in a large frying pan until crispy.
When done, set aside the whole pan and allow it to cool.
Pour heavy cream into a different saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Add a pinch of salt. Reduce the heat and gently boil until the cream has reduced by approximately one quarter.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the cream to cool, stir occasionally to prevent skin from forming.
In a separate bowl (while the cream is reducing), combine the egg yolks, cooked diced bacon, including the fat, and parmesan cheese.
Add the egg-bacon-parmesan cheese mixture to the slightly warm sauce, stirring continuously to ensure the egg mixture does not curdle or scramble. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Return the saucepan to medium-low heat to gently warm the sauce. Add the zoodles to the saucepan and warm through (1-2 minutes).
Bacon
Sauce
To serve
Divide the carbonara into portions. Top with a generous amount of freshly grated parmesan.
Vegetarian keto carbonara
You can easily turn this recipe into a vegetarian keto dish! Just skip the bacon and add some olive oil to your keto carbonara after combining the zoodles with the parmesan mixture.
Recommended special equipment
Spiralizer
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💬 Have you tried this recipe?
What did you think? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below!
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69 comments
- 1 comment removed
52
Miranda
August 22 2020
This recipe (updated version) was great, I did drain my zoodles for an hour and squeeze out any excess water which made it creamy and rich. I will definitely be making it again!
Reply: #53
Reply to comment #52 by Miranda
Kerry Merritt Team Diet Doctor
August 22 2020
This recipe (updated version) was great, I did drain my zoodles for an hour and squeeze out any excess water which made it creamy and rich. I will definitely be making it again!
Great! So glad to hear that!
54
Sam
September 7 2020
Too watery for my likely. Got the sauce consistency perfect, then the water from the courgettes just drowned the flavour and doubled the liquid content
Reply: #55
55
Reply to comment #54 by Sam
Crystal Pullen Team Diet Doctor
September 8 2020
Too watery for my likely. Got the sauce consistency perfect, then the water from the courgettes just drowned the flavour and doubled the liquid content
You may sautee the courgettes for a couple of minutes on their own before adding to sauce to cook off some of the moisture.
56
Collkabob
October 25 2020
I’m new to the keto diet and I made this tonight for dinner. I wasn’t impressed. Probably will not make this again. I’m not a big bacon person. And it’s hard to wrap my head around all the fat from the butter and bacon fat. I might try adding chicken instead of the bacon. I’m diabetic so watching my carb intake but now if I eat like this I have to be concerned that my heart will explode from all the fat.
Reply: #57
57
Reply to comment #56 by Collkabob
Kerry Merritt Team Diet Doctor
October 25 2020
I’m new to the keto diet and I made this tonight for dinner. I wasn’t impressed. Probably will not make this again. I’m not a big bacon person. And it’s hard to wrap my head around all the fat from the butter and bacon fat. I might try adding chicken instead of the bacon. I’m diabetic so watching my carb intake but now if I eat like this I have to be concerned that my heart will explode from all the fat.
You can certainly reduce the fat in the recipes if needed, but there's no need to fear fat. Here are a few articles that may be helpful for you!
https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/saturated-fat
https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/fat
https://www.dietdoctor.com/expert-panel-agrees-limits-to-saturated-fa...
https://www.dietdoctor.com/saturated-fat-goes-mainstream
https://www.dietdoctor.com/new-study-high-fat-food-is-good-for-diabetics58
Melody
December 14 2020
I was out of parmesan, so used cheddar and yum - bacon and cheddar what's not to love
Reply: #59
59
Reply to comment #58 by Melody
Crystal Pullen Team Diet Doctor
December 15 2020
I was out of parmesan, so used cheddar and yum - bacon and cheddar what's not to love
Way to use what you have, Melody!! So glad you loved it!
60
Michael Cullen
January 17 2021
Why does the headline say 7g of carbs but the video says 9g? Which one is right?
Reply: #61
61
Reply to comment #60 by Michael Cullen
Kerry Merritt Team Diet Doctor
January 17 2021
Why does the headline say 7g of carbs but the video says 9g? Which one is right?
Hi, Michael! Always go with the information on the website, as it's most up to date. You can see that this recipe was recently updated on January 3, 2021, so the carb count may have changed.
62
Sandra
February 17 2021
I am fasting at the moment so made this for my partner without even a taste or a lick the whole way through and my partner said it was absolutely delicious and licked the plate clean!! The instructions were so clear and everything worked extremely well. I have never made carbonara before so was fascinated with the process and very pleased with the result. Will have to make it again when not in fast so as to taste the yum!! Go, Go, Go DietDoctor - everything is so successful!
Reply: #63
63
Reply to comment #62 by Sandra
Crystal Pullen Team Diet Doctor
February 17 2021
I am fasting at the moment so made this for my partner without even a taste or a lick the whole way through and my partner said it was absolutely delicious and licked the plate clean!! The instructions were so clear and everything worked extremely well. I have never made carbonara before so was fascinated with the process and very pleased with the result. Will have to make it again when not in fast so as to taste the yum!! Go, Go, Go DietDoctor - everything is so successful!
Awesome!! Let us know how much you enjoy it when you're able to try it.
64
Christine
February 27 2021
This is hands down the best carbonara alternative I’ve ever eaten. SO GOOD AND SATISFYING.
Reply: #65
65
Reply to comment #64 by Christine
Kerry Merritt Team Diet Doctor
February 27 2021
This is hands down the best carbonara alternative I’ve ever eaten. SO GOOD AND SATISFYING.
Awesome! So glad you love it!
66
Sian
March 1 2021
This dish was very tasty, the only downfall was how watery it turned out.
Reply: #67
67
Reply to comment #66 by Sian
Charlotte Zwart Team Diet Doctor
March 1 2021
This dish was very tasty, the only downfall was how watery it turned out.
You may sautee the courgettes for a couple of minutes on their own before adding to sauce to cook off some of the moisture.
68
Beth
March 16 2021
I thought this was great! I sautéed the zucchini for a few minutes before adding the sauce to the pan and it turned out really well.
- 1 comment removed
70
Adia
June 16 2021
This is great! The key is to sweat your zucchini first! I also salt it and let it sit in a strainer for an hour or so before I use it. It takes all of the excess water out and your sauce doesn't get watered down! I will make this again!
71
Culinaria
June 30 2021
Super - es gelingt auch perfekt ohne Ei. Ich habe es genau nach Anleitung gemacht. Wichtig ist die Qualität der Zucchini; nur kleine nehmen. Danke für das tolle und gelingsichere Rezept.
72
Culinaria
June 30 2021
👍🏻😊
73
DEBORAH
July 6 2021
From a former zoodle hater: my son passed on the best tip for yummy noodles.....cut your zucchini into the type of strands you want, then salt them (as others have pointed out) 20 min before you plan to use them (20 min is plenty). Drop into a pan of unsalted simmering water for 5 seconds to warm them and rinse off the salt, drain well, and serve. No more mushy watery zoodles.
I am a convert now. They really don't need cooked any more than that, and you will have firm unmushy zoodles.
74
Rose
February 10 2022
I just realised there’s a comments section after making this amazing dish!. I didn’t know about the tips about salting and draining the zucchini, but just following the recipe it was fine, not watery at all. Loved this recipe and will definitely make it again. 💖
Reply: #75
75
Reply to comment #74 by Rose
Kerry Merritt Team Diet Doctor
February 10 2022
I just realised there’s a comments section after making this amazing dish!. I didn’t know about the tips about salting and draining the zucchini, but just following the recipe it was fine, not watery at all. Loved this recipe and will definitely make it again. 💖
Thanks, Rose! So glad you enjoyed it!
76
Oleeta
March 5 2023
Could you make this with coconut cream?
Reply: #77
77
Reply to comment #76 by Oleeta
Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
March 6 2023
Could you make this with coconut cream?
We have not tested this recipe with coconut cream. Coconut cream tends to have a strong coconut taste which may not go well with the rest of these ingredients.
78
Susan
March 12 2023
Having read the reviews of this recipe about spiralizing the zoodles early, I did so, I put them in a colander and sprinkled some salt over and left to drain, occasionally, squeezing them, the amount of water came off was alot. So when I added them to the pan it wasn't a runny mix. The end result was delicious. I will make again.
Reply: #79
79
Reply to comment #78 by Susan
Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
March 13 2023
Having read the reviews of this recipe about spiralizing the zoodles early, I did so, I put them in a colander and sprinkled some salt over and left to drain, occasionally, squeezing them, the amount of water came off was alot. So when I added them to the pan it wasn't a runny mix. The end result was delicious. I will make again.
Glad the tips in the reviews were helpful!
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