Cheesy Shrimp Sausage Bacon (Print Format)
Rich pasta tossed with shrimp, sausage, bacon and a blend of melted cheeses for a hearty flavorful meal.
# Ingredients:
→ Pasta
01 -
8 oz rotini or preferred dry pasta
→ Dairy
02 -
2 cups heavy cream
03 -
4.2 oz cream cheese
04 -
7 oz freshly grated cheese blend (Gruyère, aged white cheddar, smoked Gouda, mild cheddar)
→ Seafood
05 -
10–12 raw peeled and deveined shrimp
06 -
1 tsp seafood seasoning
→ Meat
07 -
1 smoked sausage link, cut into 0.5-inch pieces
08 -
5 slices cooked and chopped bacon
→ Seasonings and Aromatics
09 -
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
10 -
3 cloves garlic, minced
11 -
1 tsp garlic powder
12 -
0.5 tsp onion powder
13 -
0.25 tsp ground black pepper
14 -
0.25 tsp salt
→ Fats and Oils
15 -
2 tbsp unsalted butter
16 -
2 tbsp olive oil
→ Herbs
17 -
Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
# Steps:
01 -
Pat shrimp dry and season with seafood seasoning. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then sauté shrimp 2–3 minutes per side until opaque and curled. Transfer shrimp to a bowl and set aside.
02 -
In the same skillet, brown sausage pieces on all sides until caramelized and edges are crisp. Remove and set aside with shrimp.
03 -
Cook bacon in a separate pan until crisp. Drain on paper towels and chop into bite-sized pieces.
04 -
Cook pasta in salted boiling water until just al dente, approximately one minute less than package instructions. Drain well and reserve.
05 -
In the skillet used for proteins, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for about one minute until fragrant, avoiding browning. Stir in cream cheese and heavy cream until smooth and glossy.
06 -
Add garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper to the sauce. Keep heat low to blend flavors gently.
07 -
Gradually add grated cheese blend a handful at a time, stirring continuously after each addition until the sauce is smooth and velvety. Remove from heat promptly to preserve sauce texture.
08 -
Toss cooked pasta in warm cheese sauce to coat thoroughly.
09 -
Gently fold in reserved shrimp, sausage, and chopped bacon to maintain juiciness and bacon crispness.
10 -
Transfer to serving dish, garnish with fresh parsley and optional extra grated cheese. Serve immediately to enjoy the gooey texture.
# Tips:
01 -
Grating cheese fresh ensures smooth melting and prevents clumping. Pat shrimp dry before searing to achieve better browning. Remove sauce from heat immediately after adding cheese to avoid graininess.
02 -
Store leftovers in an airtight container refrigerated up to three days. Reheat gently with a splash of milk to restore creaminess. Not recommended for freezing due to dairy separation.