Savor the Creamy Indulgence of Olive Garden Chicken And Shrimp Carbonara
Embark on a flavor journey with this Olive Garden Chicken And Shrimp Carbonara recipe, merging the velvety richness of Parmesan cream sauce with perfectly cooked pasta, tender chicken, and succulent shrimp for an unforgettable dining experience.
Whether it's a special family dinner or an elegant weekend gathering, this dish transports the authentic taste of the beloved Italian-American restaurant chain right to your dining table. Additionally, the preparation is surprisingly manageable for home cooks of all skill levels.
Ideal for a romantic evening or a festive celebration, this Olive Garden Chicken And Shrimp Carbonara recipe embodies the essence of comfort food elevated to restaurant quality. Ready to enhance your mealtime with a burst of creamy, savory goodness? Let's dive into this straightforward yet utterly impressive recipe.
Rich and Satisfying: Your New Go-To Olive Garden Chicken And Shrimp Carbonara Recipe
This Olive Garden Chicken And Shrimp Carbonara recipe not only recreates the classic restaurant favorite but also amplifies the flavor with perfectly seasoned proteins and a silky sauce that clings beautifully to every strand of pasta. Furthermore, this isn't just a meal; it's a culinary adventure into the art of Italian-inspired cooking, made approachable enough for any home chef to master.
Here's how you can achieve that perfect balance of creamy sauce, tender chicken, and succulent shrimp, complete with professional tips to ensure your Olive Garden Chicken And Shrimp Carbonara turns out wonderfully every time.
Serving Suggestions: Pair this Olive Garden Chicken And Shrimp Carbonara recipe with a crisp Caesar salad and warm garlic breadsticks for an authentic restaurant experience at home. Moreover, a glass of chilled Pinot Grigio complements the creamy flavors beautifully for an elevated dining experience.
Pro Tips for the Perfect Olive Garden Chicken And Shrimp Carbonara:
- Pasta Perfection: Cook your pasta just until al dente, as it will continue cooking slightly when combined with the hot carbonara sauce, ensuring your Olive Garden Chicken And Shrimp Carbonara maintains the ideal texture.
- Temperature Control: When adding the egg and cream mixture to create your carbonara sauce, lower the heat and stir constantly to prevent the eggs from scrambling, resulting in a silky-smooth sauce for your Olive Garden Chicken And Shrimp Carbonara.
- Protein Preparation: Season the chicken and shrimp well before cooking, and avoid overcrowding the pan to ensure proper browning and flavor development in your Olive Garden Chicken And Shrimp Carbonara.
- Bacon Technique: Cook the bacon until crispy but not burnt, as it provides essential flavor to the Olive Garden Chicken And Shrimp Carbonara and serves as the foundation for cooking the other ingredients.
- Finishing Touch: Reserve some pasta water before draining, then use it to adjust the consistency of your sauce if needed, creating the perfect Olive Garden Chicken And Shrimp Carbonara that's neither too thick nor too thin.
Olive Garden Chicken And Shrimp Carbonara Recipe:
- Preparation time: 15 minutes
- Cooking time: 25 minutes
- Servings: 4
- Equipment: Large skillet, pasta pot, mixing bowl, tongs
With this Olive Garden Chicken And Shrimp Carbonara recipe, your kitchen will transform into an Italian-inspired haven, echoing the comforting aromas of your favorite restaurant. In addition, the combination of flavors will have everyone asking for seconds and thirds!
Ingredients:
- 12 oz spaghetti or linguine pasta
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound), cut into bite-sized pieces
- ½ pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ¼ cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided
- ½ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional for heat)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Directions:
- Prepare the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes. Before draining, reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- Create the Egg Mixture: In a medium bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, eggs, and 1 cup of the grated Parmesan cheese until well combined. Season with a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper, then set aside to create the base for your Olive Garden Chicken And Shrimp Carbonara sauce.
- Cook the Bacon: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crispy, about 5-6 minutes. Subsequently, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate using a slotted spoon, leaving the bacon fat in the pan for extra flavor.
- Sear the Chicken: Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the bacon fat in the skillet. Season the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, then add to the skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until golden brown and cooked through, approximately 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken and set aside on a plate.
- Prepare the Shrimp: Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper, then cook for about 2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove the shrimp and place them with the chicken.
- Sauté Aromatics: In the same skillet, add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Combine Everything: Reduce the heat to low. Return the cooked chicken and shrimp to the skillet, along with the crispy bacon bits. Add the drained pasta and toss everything together to combine.
- Create the Creamy Sauce: With the heat still on low, slowly pour the egg and cream mixture into the skillet, tossing continuously with tongs to coat the pasta and prevent the eggs from scrambling. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to achieve your desired consistency.
- Finish and Serve: Continue tossing the pasta for about 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the pasta beautifully. Remove from heat and garnish with the remaining ¼ cup of Parmesan cheese and fresh chopped parsley.
Ready to Relish!
This Olive Garden Chicken And Shrimp Carbonara recipe offers a fabulous taste experience and brings the luxury of restaurant dining into the comfort of your home. The combination of crispy bacon, tender chicken, succulent shrimp, and silky carbonara sauce creates a symphony of flavors that will impress even the most discerning palates.
For an even more authentic experience, consider serving this dish alongside homemade focaccia bread or try your hand at making easy cheese garlic biscuits as a delicious accompaniment. If you're looking for another protein-packed pasta dish, you might enjoy trying chicken bacon ranch pasta or creamy cajun shrimp pasta for you
PrintOlive Garden Chicken And Shrimp Carbonara
With this Olive Garden Chicken And Shrimp Carbonara recipe, your kitchen will transform into an Italian-inspired haven, echoing the comforting aromas of your favorite restaurant. In addition, the combination of flavors will have everyone asking for seconds and thirds!
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
- 12 oz spaghetti or linguine pasta
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound), cut into bite-sized pieces
- ½ pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ¼ cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided
- ½ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional for heat)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Prepare the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes. Before draining, reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- Create the Egg Mixture: In a medium bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, eggs, and 1 cup of the grated Parmesan cheese until well combined. Season with a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper, then set aside to create the base for your Olive Garden Chicken And Shrimp Carbonara sauce.
- Cook the Bacon: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crispy, about 5-6 minutes. Subsequently, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate using a slotted spoon, leaving the bacon fat in the pan for extra flavor.
- Sear the Chicken: Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the bacon fat in the skillet. Season the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, then add to the skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until golden brown and cooked through, approximately 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken and set aside on a plate.
- Prepare the Shrimp: Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper, then cook for about 2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove the shrimp and place them with the chicken.
- Sauté Aromatics: In the same skillet, add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Combine Everything: Reduce the heat to low. Return the cooked chicken and shrimp to the skillet, along with the crispy bacon bits. Add the drained pasta and toss everything together to combine.
- Create the Creamy Sauce: With the heat still on low, slowly pour the egg and cream mixture into the skillet, tossing continuously with tongs to coat the pasta and prevent the eggs from scrambling. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to achieve your desired consistency.
- Finish and Serve: Continue tossing the pasta for about 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the pasta beautifully. Remove from heat and garnish with the remaining ¼ cup of Parmesan cheese and fresh chopped parsley.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes