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Bacon Shells and Cheese

May 19, 2021 by [email protected] 4 Comments

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Bacon shells and cheese are the perfect dinner when you’re looking for comfort food but short on time.

This easy pasta dish is full of summer vegetables, crispy bacon, pasta, and a creamy cheese sauce.

a side shot of a dish with pasta shells and cheese with bacon and a spoon in it.
Jump to:
  • What beer pairs well with this shells and cheese recipe?
  • Pasta is perfect for entertaining
  • Ingredients
  • How to make bacon shells and cheese step-by-step
  • Tips & Variations
  • More pasta recipes
  • Bacon Shells and Cheese

What beer pairs well with this shells and cheese recipe?

The beer: Fat Tire from New Belgium Brewing.

This is an amber ale is a great beer for the warmer weather. It has slightly fruity notes, so it pairs well with salty bacon.

long side shot of a dish of bacon shells and cheese with a spoon in it. a few craft beers and cloth napkin are placed around it.

Pasta is perfect for entertaining

Do you have special dishes you pull out when people are coming over?

This dish is perfect to make when you are planning on having company over. Pair with a salad and garlic bread. It also goes great with these simple stuffed mushrooms.

overhead shot of a pan of bacon shells and cheese with vegetables. a wooden spoon is in the pan too.

When I say that this pasta comes together quickly, I’m not exaggerating.

Ingredients

This pasta with bacon has-

  • Shell pasta, you can use small or medium size
  • Crispy bacon
  • Vegatables like zucchini, onions, and tomatoes
  • A creamy alfredo sauce made with butter, milk, parmesan cheese thickened with flour and seasoned with black pepper

How to make bacon shells and cheese step-by-step

Start your pasta to boil and your diced bacon to cook according to package directions, they take approximately the same amount of time.

Once your pasta has cooked drain and set aside.

While they are both cooking chop your vegetables.

Once the bacon has cooked remove it from the pan and reserve 1 tsp. of the bacon grease.  Not too much but enough to keep the flavor. 

collage image of three steps for chopping bacon, draining it, and adding butter to a pan for alfredo sauce.

In the same pan, melt 1 Tbs. butter in the bottom, then add onions and zucchini.  Soften for around 3 minutes.  Over the top of the vegetables sprinkle the flour and stir. 

collage of four steps for making bacon shells and cheese.

Add tomatoes.  Sautee quickly.  Pour in milk.

Bring to a simmer and add Parmesan cheese, shredded Italian cheese blend, garlic powder, and pepper.  Let thicken, which should take about 2-3 minutes.

collage of three images for making bacon shells and cheese pasta.

Put your pasta and bacon back into the pan.

Transfer to a beautiful serving bowl, garnish with more cheese & basil.

Tips & Variations

  • While I like to use shell macaroni in this dish, you can use any type of pasta.
  • Want to omit the bacon? Make sure to add 1 tablespoon of butter when sauteeing the vegetables.
  • This would go wonderfully with a side bread, like this recipe for Rosemary Focaccia Bread from Love & Lemons

More pasta recipes

  • Cajun Chicken Pasta
  • Shrimp Spaghetti
  • Zesty Cheesy Chicken and Spaghetti

And here you are…..

collage image of an overhead shot of bacon shells and cheese in a pan with a cloth napkin next to it. descriptive text overlayed on top.

From our home in the Bottom Left of the Mitten to yours ~ Enjoy!

a side shot of a dish with pasta shells and cheese with bacon and a spoon in it.

Bacon Shells and Cheese

Bacon shells and cheese is a hearty pasta dish with a creamy parmesan sauce, salty bites of bacon, pasta, and vegetables.
5 from 5 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: easy meals
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Equipment

  • large sautee pan
  • baking dish

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces small shell pasta cooked to package directions
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 12 ounces bacon cooked to package directions, reserve 1 tsp oil after cooked
  • 1/2 cup shredded Italian cheese blend more for garnish if desired
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 small zucchini diced
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 1 small Roma tomato diced
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

  • Start your pasta to boil and your diced bacon to cook according to package directions, they take approximately the same amount of time.
    8 ounces small shell pasta, 12 ounces bacon
  • Dice vegetables.
    2 small zucchini, 1 small onion, 1 small Roma tomato
  • Once your pasta has cooked drain and set aside. When bacon is cooked remove it from the pan and reserve 1 teaspoon of the bacon grease in the pan.
  • In the same pan, melt 1 Tbs. butter in the bottom, then add onions and zucchini. Soften for around 3 minutes. Over the top of the vegetables sprinkle the flour and stir.
    1 tablespoon butter, 2 tablespoons flour
  • Add tomatoes. Sautee quickly. Pour in milk.
    1 cup milk
  • Bring to a simmer and add the Parmesan cheese, shredded Italian cheese blend, garlic powder, and pepper. Let thicken, which should take about 2-3 minutes.
    1/2 cup shredded Italian cheese blend, 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Put your pasta and bacon back into the pan.
  • Garnish with more cheese & basil.

Notes

Tips for making this recipe:

  • Don’t have pasta hells? You can use pretty much any other pasta as a substitute.
  • If you decide to leave out the bacon, use an additional teaspoon of butter to sautee the vegetables.
Tried this recipe?Mention @mittenmommy or tag #mittenmovienight!

Originally published in September of 2016. Updated post in May of 2021. 

*Affiliate links are included in this post. Please read my Discloser Policy.

Last Updated on March 20, 2022 by [email protected]

Filed Under: Ale Recipe Pairings, Mitten Meals Tagged With: amber ale

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Linda

    March 21, 2019 at 12:11 am

    With a small gathering this weekend, I now know what to make. And adding beer to my shopping list, too!

    Reply
    • [email protected]

      March 24, 2019 at 4:49 pm

      Sounds great Linda! Thank you.

      Reply
    • Cyndee

      May 25, 2021 at 9:06 pm

      So I’m excited to make this because my garden has a plethora of zucchini and tomatoes right now. However, seeing as there are several types of Italian cheeses, I wanted to inquire as to which one you meant? Some are much more viscous than others.

      Reply
      • [email protected]

        May 26, 2021 at 8:57 am

        I use an Italian cheese blend that includes mozzarella, provolone, Romano, Asiago, and Parmesan cheese. I hope you enjoy it!

        Reply

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