Description
This Olive Garden-Inspired Chicken and Shrimp Carbonara combines tender chicken, succulent shrimp, crispy bacon, and a creamy Parmesan sauce with perfectly cooked fettuccine pasta. A rich and satisfying Italian-American dish that’s easy to prepare on the stovetop and perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner or special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 ounces fettuccine pasta
Protein
- 1/2 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
Sauce & Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook the fettuccine pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water and then drain the rest.
- Cook Bacon: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crispy. Remove the bacon and set aside, leaving some of the rendered fat in the skillet.
- Cook Chicken: Add olive oil to the skillet with the bacon fat and cook the chicken pieces over medium heat until golden brown and cooked through, about 5 to 6 minutes.
- Cook Shrimp & Garlic: Add the shrimp to the skillet and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until pink and opaque. Stir in the minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Prepare Sauce: In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, grated Parmesan cheese, heavy cream, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
- Toss Pasta & Sauce Off Heat: Remove the skillet from the heat and add the drained pasta to the skillet. Toss to combine with the chicken, shrimp, and garlic.
- Add Egg Mixture: Slowly pour the egg mixture over the pasta while continuously tossing to ensure the eggs create a smooth, creamy sauce without scrambling.
- Adjust Sauce Consistency: Add a splash of the reserved pasta water as needed to thin the sauce to desired consistency.
- Finish & Garnish: Stir in the cooked bacon and garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- For best results, remove the skillet from direct heat before adding the egg mixture to prevent the sauce from curdling.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for a richer, smoother sauce.
- If desired, adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to control the heat level.
- Reserve some pasta water as it helps to loosen the sauce and bind it to the pasta perfectly.
