This homemade creamy Chicken Carbonara Recipe is the ultimate pasta recipe. Chicken and shrimp smothered in a homemade carbonara sauce. This one-pan meal is perfect for busy evenings and ready in just 30 minutes.
You can’t go wrong with a one-pan meal, especially when pasta is involved. The hearty and our simple Cajun Chicken Pastaare just as wonderful.
what is chicken carbonara?
Classic carbonara is made with eggs, cream and Parmesan. We put a little twist on the traditional recipe and you’d never know, it tastes just as wonderful!
This recipe is inspired by Olive Garden’s Chicken and Shrimp Carbonara. The homemade version is so much better and for a fraction of the price. The juicy chicken with shrimp and bacon make for a wonderful combination with the pasta and rich carbonara sauce.
how to make chicken carbonara-
- Cook pasta according to package instruction and set aside.
- In a large skillet, sauté the bacon. Remove from skillet and reserve 1 Tbsp grease.
- In the same skillet, cook the shrimp 3-4 minutes, flipping halfway, until shrimp is opaque and pink. Remove shrimp and add to the bacon. TIP: Be sure to remove the tail and devein shrimp before cooking.
- In a bowl, combine the ingredients for the chicken coating. Cut chicken breasts in half and dredge in the coating.
- Sauté the chicken on both sides until crispy and fully cooked. Remove chicken from skillet.
- In the same skillet, sauté the onions with garlic and diced tomatoes. Stir in the half and half, broth and parmesan cheese. Stirring frequently, cook until sauce thickens.
- Cut the chicken into cubes or slice in strands. Add the chicken, bacon, and shrimp to the sauce. Stir and cook until reheated.
- Serve the chicken and shrimp carbonara over pasta, or, add the pasta to the skillet and stir until all is combined.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS-
What kind of pasta can I use for carbonara?
Though we used spaghetti in this carbonara recipe, you can use your favorite pasta. You can use fettuccine, angel hair, penne pasta, and rigatoni!
How do I store carbonara?
Store the leftover carbonara in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
How to reheat chicken pasta carbonara?
To reheat the carbonara, just add to a skillet and cook until reheated, stirring frequently. You may need to add a few tablespoons of half and half if the sauce is too thick.
This surprisingly easy carbonara is so quick to make. Not only is great for a quick dinner, but it’s also the perfect meal to make for a special occasion or if you are entertaining guests.
OTHER 30-MINUTE MEALS:
- Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo– With the best homemade sauce.
- Chicken Wrap– Good for lunch or dinner.
- Spaghetti and Meatballs– A favorite classic.
- Lemon Chicken– So good with mushrooms and green beans.
Chicken Carbonara Recipe
Author: Valentina
4.80 from 15 votes
Chicken and Shrimp Carbonara Recipe. Sauteed chicken and shrimp smothered in the most delicious homemade carbonara sauce served with pasta. An easy 30-minute meal.
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 10 oz pasta
- 1 1/2 lb chicken breasts boneless skinless, halved (about 2 breasts)
- 8 oz bacon, chopped & cooked
- 1/2 lb raw shrimp
- 2 Tbsp reserved bacon grease, divided
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided
carbonara sauce-
- 1/2 large onion, finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup tomatoes, cubed
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 1/2 cups half & half
- 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
chicken coating-
- 3 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp ground paprika
US Customary – Metric
Instructions
Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and cover to keep warm.
Cut and cook the bacon, reserve 2 Tbsp of the bacon grease.
In a skillet, cook the raw shrimp with 1 Tbsp butter until fully cooked. Remove from skillet.
In a small bowl combine all the ingredients for the chicken coating.
Cut the chicken breast in half. Fully dredge the 4 chicken fillets in the chicken coating.
In the same skillet, fry the chicken fillets with 1 Tbsp bacon grease and 1 Tbsp butter until fully cooked. Remove chicken from skillet. Cut chicken into cubes or strips.
In the same skillet, saute the finely chopped onion with 1 Tbsp grease and 1 Tbsp butter.
Once the onion is tender add the minced garlic and cubed tomatoes. Cook for an additional 2 minutes.
Add the chicken broth, half and half, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper (to taste) to the skillet.
Cook the sauce until the sauce thickens.
Add the shrimp, bacon and chicken back to the carbonara sauce.
Serve over pasta or mix the cooked pasta into the sauce. If serving over pasta, be sure pasta is reheated.
Enjoy!
Nutrition
641.07kcal Calories47.97g Carbs38.74g Protein31.85g Fat11.62g Saturated Fat188.38mg Cholesterol968.14mg Sodium670.28mg Potassium1.96g Fiber8.91g Sugar421.4IU Vitamin A6.83mg Vitamin C168.71mg Calcium2.18mg Iron
- Full Nutrition Label
Nutrition Facts
Chicken Carbonara Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 641.07Calories from Fat 287
% Daily Value*
Fat 31.85g49%
Saturated Fat 11.62g73%
Cholesterol 188.38mg63%
Sodium 968.14mg42%
Potassium 670.28mg19%
Carbohydrates 47.97g16%
Fiber 1.96g8%
Sugar 8.91g10%
Protein 38.74g77%
Vitamin A 421.4IU8%
Vitamin C 6.83mg8%
Calcium 168.71mg17%
Iron 2.18mg12%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
(The nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
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Leave a comment
35 comments
- Maria
Very good
- Reply
- Valentina’s Corner
Maria, So glad you enjoyed the chicken carbonara recipe. 🙂
- Reply
- Sue
Can leftovers be frozen.
- Reply
- Valentina’s Corner
I do not recommend freezing leftovers of the carbonara.
- Reply
- Dawn
I can’t wait to try it! Sounds yummy!
Just wanted to point out that step 3, in the main post says: “Remove chicken and add to the bacon”. Should say shrimp, not chicken.- Reply
- Valentina’s Corner
Thanks for catching that, Dawn. I hope you enjoyed the carbonara.
- Reply
- Brianna
Love that you can print recipes with a specific serving size. Will be making this for dinner tonight.
- Reply
- Valentina’s Corner
You are so welcome, Brianna. I hope you enjoyed the chicken carbonara.
- Reply
- Sharon K
Ok..,this is NOT a 30 min recipe. Maybe after you have cooked the bacon, chopped the onion, garlic, tomatoes…made the coating and dredged the chicken and cooked the chicken and sliced the chicken….maybe then…after you’ve cooked the pasta….maybe then. It is a good recipe and it tasted great….but it is NOT 30 mins!
- Reply
- Valentina’s Corner
Sharon, thanks so much for the feedback. SO glad you enjoyed the carbonara.
- Reply
- Chuck
Sharon – with all do respect- this is a 10 – 15 minute recipe with resting. As an experienced cook that knows how to time everything- If you are familiar with chicken / pasta / basic frying this is easily a 15 minute recipe: and best at 15 minutes . If you let the seafood rest to long it become Very in appealing .
Which reminds me – to the OP – always do your seafood last . As for the recipe – great job! Love it . Exactly how we do it in a 3 star commercial kitchen . Just always make sure that your chicken is cooked and add the seafood last!
- Reply
- Chuck
4 stars!
- Valentina’s Corner
Wonderful, thank you.
- Valentina’s Corner
Thank you for the wonderful feedback, Chuck. I appreciate your input on the Carbonara as an experienced chef.
- Katherine
I have to agree with Sharon here. There is no way this is a 30 minute recipe for an average home cook. SORRY Chuck we can’t all be 3 star restaurant chefs and whip this up in 15 minutes. Most of us are here from Pinterest I’m sure, which is another great bullet point as I’m sure three star chefs aren’t perusing Pinterest looking for recipes. This took me well over an hour, my feet are killing me from standing and working on this for so long. Food was yummy, but I don’t know that it’s something I need to make again. ALSO the recipes on this site make it basically unusable. Will not be returning.
- Reply
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