Elevate your dinner tonight with our chicken and shrimp carbonara, a truly irresistible dish that combines the richness of chicken, the succulence of shrimp, and a creamy carbonara sauce.
Prep Time10 minutesmins
Cook Time30 minutesmins
Total Time40 minutesmins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Chicken And Shrimp Carbonara Recipe
Servings: 6
Calories: 629kcal
Ingredients
½poundspaghetti noodles,cooked to al dente in salted water according to package directions (reserve 1 cup of the pasta water after cooking as you will use ½ -1 cup when making the sauce)
4large egg yolks,room temperature
1cupheavy cream
1cupfreshly grated parmesan cheese
½poundthick cut smoked bacon,diced into ½ -¾ inch size pieces (5 to 6 strips)
1poundchicken tenderloin strips
½poundraw shrimp(deveined, shells and tails removed)
2tablespoonsolive oil
1 ½teaspoonsItalian seasoning blend
½teaspoonsalt
¼teaspoonblack pepper
1largered bell pepper(stem, seeds and veins removed, cut into ¼ thick strips)
½cupdiced yellow onion
1tablespoonminced garlic
1tablespoonchopped fresh parsley,garnish
Instructions
Cook the spaghetti pasta to al dente according to package directions (approximately 9-11 minutes in salted boiling water). Once the spaghetti noodles are done cooking, reserve 1 cup of the cooking water, drain the pasta and set aside.
To a medium bowl add the egg yolks, heavy cream, grated parmesan cheese. Whisk to combine. While whisking constantly, slowly add ½ cup of the warm pasta water. You want to gently temper, or warm, the egg yolks to avoid having them scramble when added to the skillet. Set aside.
To a large, 12 inch, skillet over medium heat, add the diced bacon. Cook the bacon for 15-18 minutes or until the fat renders and the bacon pieces are crispy. Be sure to stir the bacon often to ensure it does not burn. Using a slotted spoon, remove the crispy bacon pieces from the skillet and place them onto a paper towel lined plate. Set the crispy bacon pieces aside and drain all but two tablespoons of the bacon grease from the skillet.
To a large bowl add the chicken tenderloin strips, raw shrimp, olive oil, italian seasoning blend, salt and black pepper. Toss to combine and coat the chicken and shrimp with the seasonings.
Turn the heat to the skillet up to medium-high then add the seasoned chicken tender strips to the hot skillet. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side or until golden brown and the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F. Remove the browned chicken from the skillet and place onto a plate.
Add the shrimp to the skillet and cook for 1-2 minutes per side or until lightly golden on the outside and cooked all the way through. Remove the cooked shrimp from the skillet and add them to the plate with the cooked chicken.
Add the red bell pepper strips, diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook for 3-4 minutes or just until the vegetables become crisp-tender and the garlic is fragrant. Remove the red bell peppers from the skillet, leaving the onions and garlic to continue cooking. Place onto a plate and set aside.
Turn the heat to the skillet down to medium-low and slowly pour in the egg mixture while whisking constantly. Cook the sauce for 2-3 minutes, while whisking constantly, until the sauce bubbles and thickens. The sauce should thicken enough to coat the back of a spoon without running off.
Add the red bell pepper strips and cooked spaghetti noodles back to the sauce. Toss to coat the spaghetti in the carbonara sauce.
Return the crispy bacon pieces to the skillet and toss them with the spaghetti and sauce.
Top the carbonara coated spaghetti with the cooked chicken strips and shrimp.
Garnish with a light sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley and serve.
Notes
Be mindful not to overcook the pasta. Cook it until it's just al dente, as it will continue to cook slightly when combined with the sauce later.
Keep a close eye on the bacon while cooking it in the skillet. It can go from crispy to burnt quickly, so stir it continuously and adjust the heat as needed.
When you add the cream and chicken broth to the skillet, maintain a gentle simmer. Avoid boiling the cream, as it may curdle.