Shrimp Carbonara
Last updated on January 8th, 2026
My husband loves carbonara, so I decided to make this Shrimp Carbonara for him! He didn’t know there was egg in it which I thought was super funny! This was so delicious! The flavor profile was amazing! You’ve got the juicy shrimp, the smoky bacon flavor, the creamy pasta! I mean what’s not to love?! It was pretty easy to make and only a little technical, which I liked because it challenged me a bit! This was my first time making carbonara and it definitely did not disappoint! This recipe also makes a ton, so you’ll have plenty of leftovers!
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What makes something a “carbonara?”
Basically, to classify something as a carbonara, you need just 5 ingredients! Egg, cheese, pasta, pepper, and pork! My version is definitely not an authentic Italian dish, but it stands out with modern flavor and flair!
What ingredients do I need to make this?
Shrimp
Fettuccini
Bacon
Parmesan Cheese
Spinach
Garlic
Eggs
Salt
Black Pepper
Optional garnishes:
Parmesan
Parsley
How do I make it?
Start cooking your pasta and be sure to reserve 1 cup starchy pasta water. Cook bacon in a large skillet on medium heat, until crispy. When bacon is cooked, remove from pan and set aside on a paper towel lined plate. Once cooled, crumble bacon.
Add shrimp to the same pan with bacon grease and cook on medium for a few minutes, adding in minced garlic in the last minute. When shrimp are pink and garlic is fragrant, remove pan from heat and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk eggs and parmesan cheese. Then, slowly pour in a small amount of your hot pasta water, whisking constantly, to temper the eggs. Drain Pasta.
Next, place skillet with shrimp and garlic back on medium-low heat and stir in remaining ingredients bedsides egg mixture and garnishes. Mix well to combine. Slowly pour in egg mixture and remaining pasta water, stirring constantly. Cook another couple of minutes, keep stirring, and remove from heat when you’ve reached desired consistency and spinach has wilted.
Garnish Shrimp Carbonara with fresh parmesan and parsley, if desired! Enjoy!
If you love shrimp, check out some more of my shrimp recipes!
Shrimp Carbonara
Ingredients
- 1 lb medium shrimp peeled and deveined
- 16 oz fettuccini cooked to package instructions, reserving 1 cup pasta water
- 8 oz bacon
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup parmesan cheese freshly shredded
- 1 cup spinach roughly chopped
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Optional garnishes:
- parmesan freshly shredded
- parsley minced
Instructions
- Start cooking your pasta and be sure to reserve 1 cup starchy pasta water
- Cook bacon in a large skillet on medium heat, 5-7 minutes. When bacon is cooked, remove from pan and set aside on a paper towel lined plate. Once cooled, crumble bacon
- Add shrimp to the same pan with bacon grease and cook on medium 2-3 minutes, adding in minced garlic in the last minute. When shrimp are pink and garlic is fragrant, remove pan from heat and set aside
- In a medium bowl, whisk eggs and parmesan cheese. Then, slowly pour in a small amount of your hot pasta water, whisking constantly, to temper the eggs.
- Drain pasta. Now, place skillet with shrimp and garlic back on medium-low heat and stir in remaining ingredients bedsides egg mixture, combine well.
- Slowly pour in egg mixture and remaining pasta water, stirring constantly.
- Cook another 2-3 minutes, keep stirring, and remove from heat when you’ve reached desired consistency and spinach has wilted.
- Garnish Shrimp Carbonara with fresh parmesan and parsley, if desired!
Nutrition
Please be aware that nutritional values are approximate and intended as a helpful guide
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This looks so good!!
Thank you so much!