Description
This Olive Garden-Inspired Ravioli Carbonara recipe is a creamy, comforting twist on a classic. Filled with cheese-stuffed ravioli, crispy bacon, and a rich Parmesan cream sauce, this dish is perfect for a restaurant-quality dinner at home.
Ingredients
18 oz cheese ravioli
6 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
1. Cook chopped bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crispy. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving 1 tablespoon of fat in the skillet.
2. Add butter to the skillet and sauté garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant.
3. Pour in heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Reduce for 3 minutes.
4. Whisk in Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and melted.
5. Meanwhile, cook ravioli in salted boiling water according to package instructions.
6. Transfer cooked ravioli directly into the sauce using a slotted spoon.
7. Add most of the crispy bacon (reserve some for garnish) and parsley. Toss gently to coat.
8. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot, topped with remaining bacon and extra Parmesan.
Notes
Use freshly grated Parmesan for the smoothest sauce—pre-shredded cheese won’t melt as evenly.
Keep heat at medium-low when combining cream and cheese to prevent curdling.
Save a bit of pasta water to adjust sauce consistency if it thickens too much.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 860 mg
- Fat: 41 g
- Saturated Fat: 21 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg