Description
Indulgent “cheesy shrimp, sausage & bacon pasta” promises a flavor explosion where savory proteins dance with creamy cheese. Each forkful delivers southern comfort and coastal charm you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1/2 pound (225g) smoked sausage, sliced
- 1/2 pound (225g) shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
Pasta and Aromatics:
- 8 ounces (225g) penne or rigatoni
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Cooking Ingredient:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Boil pasta in salted water at medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes until perfectly tender, then drain and reserve.
- Render bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until golden and crisp, about 5-6 minutes. Transfer crispy pieces to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving rendered fat in pan.
- Sear sausage slices in the same skillet until richly caramelized and cooked through, approximately 4-5 minutes. Remove and set aside with bacon.
- Sauté shrimp in the skillet for 2-3 minutes, turning once, until they transform from translucent to opaque pink with slight golden edges.
- Without cleaning the skillet, sauté diced onions and minced garlic for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and softened, absorbing the residual meat flavors.
- Pour heavy cream into the skillet, bringing to a gentle simmer. Gradually whisk in cheddar and Parmesan cheeses until sauce becomes smooth and velvety.
- Season the sauce with dried thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper, adjusting flavors to personal preference.
- Combine cooked pasta, sausage, shrimp, and bacon into the creamy cheese sauce, gently tossing to ensure even coating and thorough heating.
- Plate immediately, optionally garnishing with fresh chopped parsley for a vibrant touch.
Notes
- Customize pasta shapes based on preference, with shorter tubes like rigatoni holding sauce better than long noodles.
- Drain bacon fat carefully, leaving just enough for extra flavor without making dish greasy.
- Pat shrimp dry before cooking to achieve perfect golden-brown exterior and prevent steaming.
- Consider using low-sodium sausage and bacon for healthier version without compromising taste.
- Use freshly grated cheese instead of pre-shredded for smoother, more luxurious sauce texture.
- Allow sauce to simmer gently to prevent breaking or separating, creating silky consistency.
- For gluten-free option, substitute regular pasta with chickpea or zucchini noodles.
- Balance rich ingredients by adding fresh lemon zest or squeeze of citrus for brightness.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 460 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg