Description
Shrimp Asparagus Pasta is a light and flavorful dish featuring tender shrimp, crisp asparagus, and short pasta tossed in a garlicky, buttery sauce with bacon, lemon, and Parmesan. Garnished with toasted pine nuts and fresh parsley for a perfect weeknight dinner or special occasion meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz short pasta (cavatappi recommended)
- 4 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into chunks
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- ½ pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-2 inch pieces
- ½ pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 5 cloves garlic, finely minced
- Pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 large lemon, zest and juice
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
Garnish:
- Toasted pine nuts
- Chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside, reserving ½ cup pasta water.
- In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove bacon and set aside, leaving some fat in the skillet.
- Add 1 tablespoon butter to the skillet. Sauté asparagus until tender-crisp, about 3–4 minutes. Remove and set aside.
- Add remaining butter to the skillet. Season shrimp with salt and pepper, then sauté until pink and cooked through, about 2–3 minutes per side. Remove shrimp.
- Lower heat, add garlic (and red pepper flakes if using), and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Return pasta, asparagus, and shrimp to the skillet. Toss with lemon juice, zest, Parmesan, and reserved pasta water to create a light sauce.
- Sprinkle cooked bacon over the pasta and toss gently to combine.
- Serve immediately, garnished with toasted pine nuts and chopped parsley. Add extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
- Use fresh shrimp for best flavor; frozen shrimp can be thawed and patted dry.
- Short pasta like cavatappi, penne, or rotini holds the sauce well.
- Adjust lemon and red pepper flakes to taste for a bright and slightly spicy flavor.
- To toast pine nuts, place them in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2–3 minutes, stirring frequently to avoid burning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing + Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 180mg