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    Recipes » Main Course Recipes » Pasta

    Shrimp Carbonara

    Published: Feb 8, 2023 by Marissa Stevens · 10 Comments

    Quick Meals

    This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Shrimp Carbonara is an elegant main course that is sure to impress your guests, but easy enough to make anytime. It's a seafood lovers riff on the classic Italian pasta dish, made in just 30 minutes with 6 simple ingredients.

    Shrimp Carbonara served in a white bowl.

    Pasta dishes like this, that are at once simple and extraordinary, call for high-quality ingredients and careful attention to easy, but precise cooking techniques. Cook mindfully, splurge on the best ingredients you can afford, and you'll be rewarded for your efforts and expense with a restaurant quality dish every time.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients You Need to Make Shrimp Carbonara
    • Tried-and-True Carbonara Method
    • FAQ
    • More Delicious Italian Recipes to Try
    • How to make Shrimp Carbonara
    • Recipe Video
    • Shrimp Carbonara
    • 💬 Comments

    Ingredients You Need to Make Shrimp Carbonara

    Shrimp Carbonara Ingredients on a white marble board.
    • Eggs: large or extra large eggs
    • Pecorino Romano: or parmesan cheese
    • Olive Oil: good quality, extra-virgin olive oil
    • Pancetta: or guanciale or bacon
    • Shrimp: Ideally medium shrimp for the best flavor, but large shrimp work well too.
    • Bucatini: or spaghetti or other long, slender pasta
    • Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper

    Tried-and-True Carbonara Method

    The perfect carbonara is piping hot and coats the noodles like a velvet blanket. To keep the sauce from clumping or curdling, remember these 3 key steps.

    1. First, whisk the egg and cheese together. Let stand at room temp while you cook the pasta and pancetta.
    2. Before adding the egg mixture to the pasta, whisk in a little bit of hot pasta cooking water to temper the eggs and prevent them from curdling.
    3. Stir the pasta, shrimp, meat and sauce together quickly at the end and serve right away.
    Shrimp Carbonara served in a white bowl and photographed from the top..

    FAQ

    Do I have to use bucatini pasta?

    No, there are plenty of alternatives if you can't find bucatini pasta, such as: spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine. Use any long, slender pasta you like.

    What can I substitute for Pecorino Romano?

    Parmesan cheese is a good substitute. Choose a high quality version, ideally Parmigiano Reggiano or Grana Padano.

    What can I use instead of pancetta?

    Bacon will work just fine here, but it will add a layer of smoky flavor (pancetta is not smoked). And if you can find guanciale, it's the most traditional cured pork for this dish.

    Is there cream in carbonara?

    Cream isn't a component of traditional carbonara sauce. Eggs can take on a creamy texture, similar to the process of crafting a delicate aioli. When the eggs are tempered correctly they won’t scramble, but instead bind to the cheese and starchy pasta water creating a smooth, velvety textured sauce. 

    More Delicious Italian Recipes to Try

    • Broccoli Rabe and Sausage Pasta
    • Salmon Piccata (less than 30 minutes!)
    • Easy Shrimp Fra Diavolo
    • The Best Bolognese Sauce Recipe
    • Baked Italian Meatballs
    • Bucatini Carbonara
    • Browse All Italian Recipes

    How to make Shrimp Carbonara

    Whisk eggs and Pecorino Romano cheese together in a medium bowl and leave at room temperature.

    raw eggs and pecorino romano whisked together in a bowl.

    Cook the pancetta in sizzling olive oil, in a large, heavy pot over medium heat until the fat begins to render and the edges are starting to crisp. In the last few minutes, add shrimp and cook until just cooked through then remove from heat.

    browned pancetta in skillet.
    cooking shrimp with pancetta in skillet.

    Cook pasta until al dente (according to package directions). Scoop out 1 cup of cooking water, then drain and immediately add to shrimp and pancetta in pot; set over and stir until shrimp and pancetta are heated through, then remove from heat.

    Temper the egg mixture by whisking in a scant quarter cup of hot pasta water. Pour tempered egg mixture over pasta and shrimp mixture in a steady stream, stirring constantly. Keep stirring until well combined, adding more pasta water if you like. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve right away, garnished with more cheese.

    .boiling bucatini in a stainless steel saucepan
    stirring all shrimp carbonara ingredients together in a large saucepan.
    Shrimp Carbonara served in a white bowl and photographed from the top..

    Recipe Video

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    Shrimp Carbonara served in a white bowl and photographed from the top..

    Shrimp Carbonara

    Marissa Stevens
    Completing prep ahead of time and quick work in the last few steps are the keys to creamy, delectable carbonara.
    5 from 2 votes
    Save Recipe Saved! Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 16 mins
    Total Time 26 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 670 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 large eggs
    • 2 ounces grated Pecorino Romano plus more for serving
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 4 ounces diced pancetta or guanciale or bacon (recipe note),
    • 1 pound medium shrimp peeled and deveined
    • 12 ounces bucatini or spaghetti
    • salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Put a large pot of salted water on to boil.
    • In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs and Pecorino Romano; set aside.
    • Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium heat. Add pancetta; cook and stir until the fat begins to render and the edges are just starting to crisp, 5 to 6 minutes. Add shrimp; cook and stir until shrimp is just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat.
    • Meanwhile, cook bucatini according to package directions until al dente (firm to the bite). Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain pasta in a colander and transfer immediately to pancetta and shrimp in pot. Set pot over low heat; cook and stir 1-2 minutes, or until heated through. Remove from heat.
    • Whisk a scant quarter cup of hot pasta water into the egg and cheese mixture to temper eggs. Pour tempered egg mixture over pasta mixture in a steady stream, stirring constantly. Continue to stir until well combined, adding more pasta water as needed. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve immediately, garnished with more Pecorino Romano if desired.

    Notes

    1. Guanciale is traditional for this recipe, but can be challenging to find. Pancetta or bacon stand in nicely.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 670kcalCarbohydrates: 65gProtein: 47gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 356mgSodium: 551mgPotassium: 609mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 272IUCalcium: 264mgIron: 3mg
    Keyword comfort food, creamy, date night
    Tried this recipe?I'd love to see it! Tag me on Instagram at @pinchandswirl or leave me a comment and rating below.

    More Pasta

    • Mushroom Carbonara
    • Bucatini Carbonara
    • Garlic Butter Noodles
    • Shrimp Fra Diavolo

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Valentina says

      February 17, 2023 at 2:17 pm

      How delicious. I always love salty pancetta with shrimp. And needless to say, the pasta doesn't hurt. 😉 ~Valentina

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        February 19, 2023 at 10:12 am

        haha...thank you, Valentina!

        Reply
    2. Sally says

      February 15, 2023 at 7:25 am

      5 stars
      This was the perfect Valentine's Day dinner. Simple yet special, we loved it. The egg mixture made it so silky, yet not eggy tasting. Thanks so much for your great recipes, Marissa!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        February 19, 2023 at 10:10 am

        aww, Sally, you made my day. I'm honored that you made this to celebrate Valentine's Day! xo

        Reply
    3. chef mimi says

      February 10, 2023 at 6:11 am

      This could be my last meal. With wine. Just beautiful.

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        February 10, 2023 at 8:57 am

        aww, that's very sweet, Mimi! Thank you.

        Reply
    4. David @ Spiced says

      February 09, 2023 at 4:53 am

      5 stars
      Oh what a great idea to add shrimp to carbonara! I am always - and I mean always - craving carbonara, and I can totally see how the addition of shrimp would work well in this recipe. Excellent idea!!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        February 10, 2023 at 8:57 am

        Thanks so much, David!

        Reply
    5. angiesrecipes says

      February 08, 2023 at 6:05 am

      I love rich creamy cheesy Carbonara sauce. Have never thought of adding shrimps to it though. Definitely give it a try!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        February 10, 2023 at 8:58 am

        I hope you'll love it, Angie!

        Reply

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