This pizza variety is a variation on the famous Italian pasta dish known as pasta carbonara. Pizza carbonara consists of a basic pizza dough covered with tomato sauce and topped with slices of salty pancetta, eggs, and cheese. Mozzarella and Grana Padano are the traditional cheese choices for this pizza variety, although Provolone or Pecorino Romano cheeses are also commonly used.

The pizza is usually drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with basil or parsley and black pepper, another essential trait of pasta carbonara. The eggs are typically raw and cooked directly onto the pizza, which requires skillful timing, but some versions call for boiled and sliced eggs, which are then arranged on top of the pizza.