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Authentic Chicken and Shrimp Carbonara 🍤🍗🔥

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This Chicken and Shrimp Carbonara is a decadent, creamy pasta dish featuring juicy shrimp, tender chicken, crispy bacon, and a rich Parmesan sauce. It’s easy to make in one pan and perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions!

Ingredients

Scale

For the Carbonara Sauce:

  • 3 large egg yolks

  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

  • ½ tsp black pepper

  • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)

For the Pasta & Protein:

  • 12 oz spaghetti or fettuccine

  • 2 tbsp olive oil

  • 4 slices bacon or pancetta, diced

  • 2 chicken breasts, diced

  • 12 large shrimp, peeled & deveined

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 small shallot, finely chopped

  • ½ cup reserved pasta water

  • Fresh parsley & extra Parmesan for garnish

Instructions

1️⃣ Cook the Pasta & Prep the Sauce

  1. Boil salted water in a large pot and cook pasta 1 minute less than al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water before draining.
  2. In a bowl, whisk together egg yolks, Parmesan cheese, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Set aside.

🔥 Pro Tip: Adding pasta water to the sauce later will make it silky and smooth!

2️⃣ Cook the Bacon & Chicken

  1. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook diced bacon until crispy (about 4 minutes). Remove and set aside.
  2. In the same skillet, add chicken pieces and cook until golden brown (5-6 minutes). Remove and set aside.

🔥 Pro Tip: Cooking in bacon fat adds extra flavor to the chicken!

3️⃣ Sauté the Shrimp & Aromatics

  1. Add shrimp to the skillet and cook for 2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove and set aside.
  2. Lower the heat to medium-low, add garlic and shallots, and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.

🔥 Pro Tip: Don’t overcook shrimp—they should be just pink and tender!

4️⃣ Combine Everything in the Pan

  1. Return the pasta to the skillet over LOW heat.
  2. Quickly toss in the chicken, shrimp, and crispy bacon.
  3. Pour in the egg-Parmesan mixture and immediately toss with tongs.
  4. Add reserved pasta water, little by little, to create a creamy sauce.

🔥 Pro Tip: Keep the heat LOW to prevent the eggs from scrambling—gentle heat is key!

5️⃣ Garnish & Serve

  1. Top with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan.
  2. Serve immediately with garlic bread or a fresh side salad.

🔥 Pro Tip: For extra richness, drizzle a little truffle oil before serving!

Notes

This creamy, protein-packed pasta dish is rich, indulgent, and surprisingly easy to make! Whether you love classic carbonara or want a surf-and-turf twist, it’s a must-try comfort food favorite.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://spaceofrecipes.com/chicken-and-shrimp-carbonara/