Ravioli Carbonara

The nice thing about frozen ravioli is it can be served many ways. Our ravioli carbonara recipe keeps things super simple by starting with frozen ravioli, some bacon and a store-bought Alfredo sauce that magically transforms into a carbonara-style sauce when you mix in a few more ingredients. The entire dish is ready in 20 minutes, which allows for plenty of time to relax and enjoy this hearty dish, even after a busy day. Dig in!

Ingredients for Ravioli Carbonara 

• Frozen cheese ravioli: Premade ravioli means far less time preparing this dish compared with making ravioli from scratch.
• Bacon: The bacon and Alfredo sauce team up for a carbonara-style sauce that’s decadent and delish.
• Prepared Alfredo sauce: Alfredo sauce serves as the base for the carbonara sauce in this recipe.
• Milk: The milk mixes with the Alfredo sauce to make a creamy sauce.
• Dried basil: Basil adds flavor to the ravioli carbonara sauce.
• Pepper: Black pepper adds sharp flavor notes to this delicious dish.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the ravioli and bacon

Kristina Vänni for Taste of Home

Cook the ravioli according to the package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat until it’s crisp. Place the bacon on folded paper towels to absorb the grease. Drain the pan and reserve 2 teaspoons of bacon drippings.

Editor’s Tip: Here’s how to cook bacon so it comes out perfectly crisp every time.

Step 2: Make the sauce and finish the dish

Kristina Vänni for Taste of Home

Stir the Alfredo sauce, milk and basil into the bacon drippings, and heat the mixture through. Drain the ravioli and add it to the sauce, tossing to coat the pasta. Sprinkle the ravioli carbonara with bacon and pepper before serving.

Kristina Vänni for Taste of Home

Ravioli Carbonara Variations

• Use different ravioli: For a little variation, use ravioli with a different filling, or even try several ravioli varieties together. Spinach, beef or mushroom ravioli are particularly good with this carbonara sauce. For even more fun and more options, make your own ravioli following our homemade ravioli recipe.
• Add mushrooms: Add sliced mushrooms to the pan, and heat them for a couple minutes before adding the Alfredo sauce and milk. The mushrooms cook in bacon drippings for added flavor.
• Toss in some peas: Peas are a common component in many carbonara dishes, so why not throw some into this one? The peas add color and nutrients, as well as a textural variation. Add fresh peas to the Alfredo sauce mixture, where they’ll warm up a little without becoming too soft. Try this peas and pasta carbonara recipe for another version of the dish; it works just as well with fettucine as it does with ravioli.
• Add roasted garlic: Roasted garlic really brings out the flavors in this dish and makes it so scrumptious you just may have to have another serving.

How to Store Ravioli Carbonara

Store ravioli carbonara in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where it will keep for several days.

Can you freeze ravioli carbonara?

Ravioli carbonara is best enjoyed fresh, or within a few days. Freezing it isn’t recommended because the sauce may separate a bit and the texture of the ravioli may change.

Ravioli Carbonara Tips

Kristina Vänni for Taste of Home

Can I start with a homemade Alfredo sauce instead of one from a jar?

Absolutely! This ravioli carbonara recipe modifies an Alfredo sauce to make it taste like a carbonara sauce. Try making your own Alfredo by following the sauce portion of our homemade fettucine Alfredo recipe.

Can I make this dairy-free or even vegan?

Good news: With so many improvements in dairy-free and vegan foods, it’s easy to modify many recipes, including this one, to be completely vegan. Use vegan bacon in place of the meat-based bacon, then use plant-based Alfredo sauce and plant-based milk to make the carbonara sauce. Cook the vegan meat according to the package directions. Since most vegan meats don’t create drippings in the pan, feel free to add a splash of liquid smoke to the pan or the sauce for a smoky flavor.

Could I use a different meat in this carbonara ravioli?

The nice thing about carbonara pasta dishes is that there’s a little flexibility when it comes to meat choices. It’s typically made with bacon or pancetta, but in a pinch, cubed ham chunks slightly browned would taste great as well. Pork lardons are also an excellent choice.