What type of pasta is commonly used in chicken carbonara?

The type of pasta that is most commonly used in chicken carbonara is spaghetti. This choice is rooted in traditional Italian cooking, where spaghetti, with its long, thin shape, pairs perfectly with the creamy sauce and other ingredients typically found in carbonara, such as eggs, cheese (usually Pecorino Romano), and pancetta or bacon. The strands of spaghetti are ideal for allowing the sauce to cling to them, creating a harmonious balance of flavors in each bite.

While other types of pasta like penne, fettuccine, and macaroni could be used, they don't traditionally align with the classic preparation of carbonara. Penne, being tubular, might not hold the sauce in the same way, and fettuccine, although it may be used in variations, is typically associated with cream-based sauces rather than the egg and cheese-based sauce of carbonara. Macaroni is generally not associated with carbonara at all, as it is commonly used in different dishes like mac and cheese. Thus, spaghetti remains the quintessential choice for an authentic chicken carbonara experience.