This Shrimp and Sausage Pasta Bake is creamy, cheesy, and LOADED with flavor. Perfectly seasoned shrimp, smoky sausage, and gooey cheese all baked to perfection! 💯👨🍳 Trust me, this one’s a crowd-pleaser.
Shrimp and Sausage Pasta Bake
Servings: 6
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American / Cajun-Inspired
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Ingredients
- 1 lb shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- 1 smoked sausage (sliced into bite-sized pieces)
- 1 lb pasta (penne or rigatoni works great)
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt (for pasta water)
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 tsp Tony’s seasoning
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic parmesan seasoning
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (plus extra for topping)
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 cups fresh spinach
For the Shrimp Marinade
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp Old Bay seasoning
- ½ tsp Tony’s seasoning
For the Sausage
- Red pepper flakes (to taste)
- Italian seasoning (to taste)
Instructions
Prep the Meats:
Slice sausage into small pieces. Season lightly with red pepper flakes and Italian seasoning.
In a bowl, season shrimp with garlic powder, pepper, smoked paprika, Old Bay, and Tony’s seasoning. Mix well and set aside.
Cook the Sausage and Shrimp:
In a large skillet (no oil needed), cook sausage until browned and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
In the same skillet, cook shrimp for about 5 minutes, until pink and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
Boil the Pasta:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add bay leaf and pasta. Cook according to package instructions (approx. 12 minutes). Drain and discard the bay leaf.
Make the Cream Sauce:
In a large pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté briefly.
Pour in the heavy cream, then season with Tony’s seasoning, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic parmesan seasoning.
Stir in mozzarella and parmesan cheese until melted and sauce is thickened.
Combine and Bake:
Add spinach to the sauce, stirring until wilted.
Stir in the pasta, half of the sausage, and half of the shrimp. Mix well.
Pour everything into a greased baking dish. Top with remaining sausage, shrimp, and more mozzarella cheese.
Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
Serve & Enjoy:
Let cool for a few minutes, then serve hot!
