Savory Sautéed Shrimp and Bacon Pesto Pasta Delight

Ingredients

- 12 ounces curly pasta
- 8 ounces thick-cut bacon, chopped
- 12 ounces large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/2 cup basil pesto
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced

Instructions

1. Prepare the Pasta:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Add the curly pasta and cook until al dente, approximately PT10M (10 minutes).
- Drain the pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water. Set aside.

2. Cook the Bacon:
- In a large sauté pan, cook the chopped thick-cut bacon over medium heat until crispy, about PT8M (8 minutes).
- Transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels, keeping the rendered bacon fat in the pan.

3. Sauté the Shrimp:
- In the same pan, add the shrimp to the bacon fat and season with a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Sauté until the shrimp are pink and cooked through, around PT4M (4 minutes). Remove the shrimp and set aside.

4. Combine Ingredients:
- Reduce the heat to low and return the pasta to the sauté pan.
- Add the basil pesto and reserved pasta water gradually, stirring to coat the pasta evenly.

5. Add Bacon and Shrimp:
- Stir in the cooked bacon and shrimp.
- Toss until everything is well combined and heated through, about PT3M (3 minutes).

6. Finish and Serve:
- Add lemon zest and juice to the pasta, mixing thoroughly to brighten the flavors.
- Adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve immediately, topped with grated parmesan cheese.

Total Time

PT30M
30 minutes

Type of Dish

Dinner

Keywords

Shrimp pasta, Bacon, Pesto sauce, Sautéed shrimp, Dinner recipe, Quick pasta dish, Basil pesto, Gourmet dinner, Seafood, Italian inspired

Recipe Yield

Feeds 4 adults

Calories

Total: 2050 calories

#PastaNight #ShrimpLovers #BaconEverything #PestoMagic #DinnerIn30Minutes