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    Creamy Pasta with Shrimp, Bacon, Spinach, Garlic, and Tomatoes

    Published: May 12, 2017 / 21 Comments

    85.7K shares
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    Recipe Print

    Looking for an easy shrimp recipe?  Then, try this Creamy Pasta with Shrimp, Bacon, Spinach, Garlic, and Tomatoes!

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    This is one of the best ways to cook shrimp - by smothering it in a creamy Parmesan sauce with lots of veggies and bacon, and red pepper flakes!  Try this easy shrimp pasta sometime soon, and I am sure you will like it!

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    It's very easy to overcook shrimp, which makes it tough and rubbery, which is why I love this shrimp pasta recipe as the cream sauce helps keep shrimp tender and moist and prevents it from getting dry and overcooked. The sauce, made with bacon, spinach, garlic and tomatoes, is so delicious, you will have to restrain yourself.

    gluten free pasta with bacon, spinach and tomatoes, best seafood pasta recipes, easy seafood pasta

    Enjoy the Creamy Pasta with Shrimp, Bacon, Spinach, Garlic, and Tomatoes, and don't forget to top your pasta dish, once it's ready, with extra Parmesan cheese (preferably, freshly grated).

    4.76 from 33 votes

    Creamy Pasta with Shrimp, Bacon, Spinach, Garlic, and Tomatoes

    Delicious Shrimp Pasta with the homemade creamy sauce with Bacon, Spinach, Garlic, and Tomatoes.  If you love seafood pasta, you'll love this recipe!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 50 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American, Italian
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories per serving 887 kcal
    Author: Julia

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 pound shrimp , uncooked, peeled, deveined
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (thyme, oregano, basil - combined)
    • 4 tomatoes , chopped in large cubes
    • 5 garlic cloves , minced
    • 8 strips bacon , COOKED, DRAINED OF FAT, AND CHOPPED
    • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes crushed
    • 1 cup half and half
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 cup Parmesan cheese , freshly shredded
    • 6 oz spinach fresh
    • 10 oz penne pasta (for gluten-free version, use gluten-free brown-rice penne)
    • ½ cup Parmesan cheese , shredded, for serving

    Instructions 

    • In a large skillet, on high heat, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil until hot. Add shrimp and cook on one side on high heat for 1 minute. While it cooks, sprinkle the uncooked side of shrimp with salt, paprika and Italian seasoning. Flip the shrimp over, and cook on the other side for 1 minute on high heat. Reduce heat to medium, flip shrimp over again a couple of times, making sure all shrimp is covered in spices and until the shrimp turns pink in color, for a couple of minutes. Remove shrimp from the pan and keep shrimp warm.
    • To the same pan (but without shrimp), add chopped tomatoes, garlic, half the bacon (already cooked and drained of fat), crushed red pepper flakes. Mix everything, and cook for about 1 minute, stirring everything on medium heat.
    • Add half and half and bring to boil. Add another ¼ teaspoon salt, stir. Only after half and half starts boiling, add Parmesan cheese (freshly shredded) and start stirring. Once the cheese start melting, immediately reduce heat to medium and stir, while simmering, until the cheese completely melts and the sauce becomes creamy, which should take 1 minute (at most 2 minutes). Then, reduce heat to low, add fresh spinach, cover with the lid and let the sauce sit, simmering on very low heat, for about 1 minute. Remove the lid, stir the sauce, the spinach should start to wilt, keep stirring on low heat, until the spinach wilts, for another minute.
    • In the mean time bring a large pot of water to boil, add pasta and cook it according to instructions. Drain the past.
    • Add cooked pasta to the skillet with the sauce, stir everything. Add cooked shrimp and remaining half of bacon (cooked and drained of fat) to the skillet. Season with more salt and red pepper flakes if necessary. To serve, top the pasta with grated Parmesan cheese.

    Notes

    WHAT IS HALF AND HALF? Half and half is the US milk product that combines half milk half heavy cream (whipping cream) to form a lighter cream.   Make 1 cup of half and half by combining ½ cup milk and ½ cup heavy or whipping cream.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Information
    Creamy Pasta with Shrimp, Bacon, Spinach, Garlic, and Tomatoes
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    887
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    44
    g
    68
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    17
    g
    106
    %
    Cholesterol
     
    362
    mg
    121
    %
    Sodium
     
    2135
    mg
    93
    %
    Potassium
     
    1004
    mg
    29
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    65
    g
    22
    %
    Fiber
     
    5
    g
    21
    %
    Sugar
     
    5
    g
    6
    %
    Protein
     
    55
    g
    110
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    5820
    IU
    116
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    35.1
    mg
    43
    %
    Calcium
     
    756
    mg
    76
    %
    Iron
     
    5.7
    mg
    32
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

    Tried this recipe?Be sure to leave a comment and provide a Star Rating below - I love your feedback and try to respond to every comment!

     

    Want another delicious creamy shrimp pasta? Check out this video for Shrimp Mozzarella Pasta:

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    Please share your comment and Star Rating in the comments section below.

    I appreciate your feedback!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Odessa Hunter

      March 02, 2021 at 5:46 pm

      I prepared the dish according to the directions, however, the half-and-half curdled with the cheese. Why would that happen? My husband and I ate it and the flavor was very good.

      Reply
    2. Yasmin Veronica Hobbs

      February 11, 2021 at 3:12 am

      Very easy and delicious

      Reply
    3. Meredith Mangan

      January 22, 2021 at 4:48 pm

      Are the nutritional values per serving or for the whole recipe? Looks delicious! Thanks!

      Reply
    4. Tasha

      January 01, 2021 at 9:09 pm

      Instead of half and half can you use heavy whipping cream?

      Reply
    5. Jamie

      December 04, 2020 at 2:59 pm

      Looks good! Can you make this in an instant pot?

      Reply
      • Julia

        December 04, 2020 at 8:44 pm

        Hi Jamie! Unfortunately, I haven't tried this in an instant pot.

        Reply
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