Tom Cruise Calls Himself ‘The King of Carbonara,’ and I Actually Think That’s Accurate.

Tom Cruise is a name synonymous with Hollywood stardom and cinematic excellence. From his timeless roles in Top Gun and Mission: Impossible to his breakthrough role in Risky Business, Tom Cruise’s name carries some weight. But it seems that Cruise isn’t only the king of the box office, he’s also the self-proclaimed “King of Carbonara.” As soon as I heard that, I knew his recipe for Spaghetti Carbonara was a must make.

Renowned for his dedication to perfection in every endeavor, Cruise’s rendition of spaghetti carbonara takes the classic dish and adds a dash of the actor’s own creative flair. Armed with enthusiasm and curiosity, I jumped into action to give this simple dish a try. Here’s how it went.

Tom Cruise Spaghetti Carbonara Egg Prep

Courtesy of Choya Johnson

Ingredients for Tom Cruise’s Spaghetti Carbonara
For this recipe, you’ll need olive oil, spaghetti, thick-cut Italian bacon (aka pancetta), a medium onion, garlic, Parmesan cheese, eggs and salt and pepper.

Tom Cruise Spaghetti Carbonara Bacon Prep

Courtesy of Choya Johnson

How to Make Tom Cruise’s Spaghetti Carbonara

In a skillet, combine 1/2 inch olive oil, minced garlic, chopped onion, and Italian bacon cut into small pieces. Let the mixture simmer for approximately 30 minutes, keeping an eye on the skillet to make sure the garlic doesn’t burn.

Meanwhile, in a bowl, whisk the eggs with a generous amount of salt and freshly ground pepper.

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook both packages of spaghetti until they are al dente, then drain them and immediately add the egg mixture to the pasta. (The heat from the pasta will cook the eggs.) Stir the pasta with the egg mixture until thoroughly incorporated. Add the bacon mixture from the skillet and toss again. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.

Tom Cruise Spaghetti Carbonara

Courtesy of Choya Johnson

What I Thought About Tom Cruise’s Spaghetti Carbonara

Tom Cruise’s bold proclamation as the “King of Carbonara” actually seems pretty accurate. In my opinion, this dish is a masterpiece that rivals his blockbuster films.

While the classic carbonara features the essential elements of cured pork, spaghetti, cheese and a generous dash of black pepper, Cruise tweaks the formula by incorporating onions. This subtle addition introduces a delightful textural dimension and another layer of flavor.

I must admit that I was initially skeptical of the onion addition, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it expanded the pasta’s flavor profile without compromising its essence. This twist on the beloved classic is one that I’d be happy to make again.