Shrimp Asparagus Pasta with Bacon
Tender pasta, shrimp, bacon, and asparagus are tossed with garlic in a creamy sauce to make this irresistible pasta.
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 8 ounces bucatini, linguini, or thick spaghetti pasta
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
- ½ pound bacon cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 pound large shrimp peeled and deveined
- ½-1 pound asparagus ends trimmed, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ cup fresh Italian parsley chopped small
- 2 ounces shaved or shredded Parmesan cheese OPTIONAL
Instructions
Cook the Pasta
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. While the water is heating, slice the bacon. Cook the pasta, until it is tender and still a bit firm, about 9-12 minutes. Scoop out about a cup of the pasta cooking water and set aside before draining the pasta.
Steam the Asparagus
- While the pasta is cooking, place the asparagus pieces in a glass bowl with 2 tablespoons of water. Loosely cover with a plate or lid. Microwave for 3 minutes and test for doneness. Continue cooking, just a minute at a time, until tender crisp. Remove from the microwave and drain the water. Set aside uncovered.
Cook the Bacon and the Shrimp
- While the pasta is cooking, warm a large deep-sided Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and let it cook while stirring occasionally, for about 10-12 minutes, until it is done.
- While the bacon starts cooking, rinse the shrimp. Pat dry using paper towels. When the bacon is almost done cooking and has about 4 minutes left, add the shrimp to the pot with the bacon. Stir to combine and spread out across the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally until the shrimp is opaque and pink, just 3-4 mintues.
- Transfer the shrimp and bacon to a plate. Drain the grease from the pot or pot, leaving about a tablespoon of grease.
Finish the Recipe
- Place the pot back over medium heat and add the garlic. Cook for about 1 minute, until fragrant. Carefully pour ½ cup of the reserved pasta water into the hot pot. Use a flat metal spatula to scrape up the brown bits and deglaze the pan.
- Add the cream, salt, and pepper to the pot and stir to combine. Reduce the heat to medium and let it simmer for 1-2 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Add the pasta to the pot with the sauce. Stir to coat the pasta with sauce. Add the shrimp, bacon, asparagus, and parsley to the pot and stir to combine. Taste, and adjust the salt, if needed. Sprinkle with cheese, if desired, before serving.
Notes
Feel free to use your preferred method for steaming the asparagus.
Nutrition
Calories: 646kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 212mg | Sodium: 1452mg | Potassium: 652mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1835IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 134mg | Iron: 4mg