Creamy Shrimp Alfredo Recipe

This Shrimp Alfredo recipe is packed with tender shrimp in a rich, creamy and cheesy Parmesan sauce. This restaurant quality Shrimp Alfredo Pasta is impressive, easy to make and one of our favorite shrimp pasta recipes!

Fettuccine Alfredo is one of the most delicious and easy pasta recipes. Creamy homemade Alfredo Sauce made with garlic and Parmesan cheese is topped with tender buttery shrimp elevating a simple pasta dish into a decadent meal perfect for serving on weeknights or on special occasions.

Shrimp Alfredo Recipe Ingredients

• Shrimp – Fresh or frozen and thawed out. I use large shrimp, peeled, deveined and with the tails off.
• Butter – To make Alfredo sauce, I prefer using unsalted butter so I have better control of the salt level. If you only have salted butter at home use it.
• Garlic – Fresh garlic is best however, you can use granulated garlic as well. Substitute the fresh garlic with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder.
• Heavy Cream – You can use Half and Half or whole milk if you prefer but, heavy creams makes the creamiest, richest, most decadent Alfredo sauce.
• Grated Nutmeg – All you need is a pinch! Nutmeg adds wonderful flavor to any cream based sauce. Freshly grated nutmeg is best but I must admit, I always reach for the “grated in a jar” one just for convenience. If you don’t have nutmeg at home, skip it!
• Parmesan Cheese – Nothing compares to freshly grated Parmesan cheese however, if you are short on time or would like to make this Alfredo recipe a bit more budget friendly, you can get pre-shredded Parmesan or grated Parmesan cheese (no judgment here! I have done it several times). Keep in mind that grated Parmesan (the one sold in a plastic container with a green lid) tends to make the sauce a bit grainy.
• Parsley or Basil – Fresh parsley or basil makes this creamy shrimp pasta pop! It adds freshness to this rich and creamy dish.
• Pasta – When it comes to pasta Alfredo, fettuccine seems to be the most classic noodle to use. However, you can use linguine or any short shape pasta like penne, fusilli or farfalle.

How To Make Shrimp Alfredo Pasta

• COOK THE PASTA: Bring salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package directions. Cook the pasta until al dente and then drain, reserving some of the cooking water.
• COOK THE SHRIMP: While the pasta is cooking, season the shrimp with salt and pepper to taste. Melt some of the butter in a large skillet over medium heat and cook the shrimp for about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove the shrimp from the skillet and set aside. 
• MAKE THE ALFREDO SAUCE: In the same skillet, melt the remaining  butter and cook the garlic until it becomes aromatic. Whisk in the heavy cream and the nutmeg and simmer for a few minutes. The sauce will thicken a bit. Turn the heat to low and add the Parmesan cheese stirring constantly until the cheese melts. Season with salt and pepper to taste and return the shrimp to the skillet.
• TOSS THE SHRIMP ALFREDO WITH THE PASTA: Toss in the pasta until the pasta is well coated. Top with the fresh parsley or basil and some extra Parmesan cheese, if desired. Serve immediately!

The Best Alfredo Pasta From Scratch

Traditional Alfredo sauce is made with a handful of simple ingredients. Butter, cream, Parmesan cheese, nutmeg, ground black pepper and garlic. Reserving the cooking pasta water is a must. The starchy pasta water creates an emulsion that helps make the creamy sauce smooth, velvety and absolutely perfect.

Another way to make fettuccine Alfredo, is by making the sauce with a roux made from butter and flour. Although, this is not the classic method, the sauce is a bit more stable and easier to reheat.

Serve This Creamy Alfredo Pasta with Shrimp with some of these side dishes:

• Oven Roasted Carrots
• Sauteed Green Beans
• Sauteed Mushrooms

Take a Look at These Other Easy Shrimp Recipes:

• Cajun Shrimp Pasta
• Shrimp Ceviche
• Grilled Shrimp Skewers
• Shrimp Pad Thai
• Tom Yum Soup (Thai Hot and Sour Soup)
• Mojo Shrimp Kabobs

Follow me on social media for more recipe ideas & inspiration! Pinterest Facebook Instagram My Newsletter

Print

5 from 4 votes

Creamy Shrimp Alfredo Recipe

Kathy McDaniel

This Shrimp Alfredo recipe is packed with tender shrimp in a rich, creamy and cheesy Parmesan sauce. This restaurant quality Shrimp Alfredo Pasta is impressive, easy to make and one of our favorite shrimp pasta recipes!

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: 15 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

• 12 ounces fettuccine or any pasta of your choice12 ounces fettuccine or any pasta of your choice
• 1 pound large shrimp peeled and deveined, tails on or off1 pound large shrimp peeled and deveined, tails on or off
• Salt and black pepper to tasteSalt and black pepper to taste
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter divided6 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
• 2 garlic cloves minced2 garlic cloves minced
• 2 cups heavy cream2 cups heavy cream
• A pinch of freshly grated nutmegA pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese plus more for garnish – optional1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese plus more for garnish – optional
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley or chopped basil.1 tablespoon chopped parsley or chopped basil.

Instructions

• Cook the pasta in salted water according to package directions.
• Rinse and pat dry the shrimp. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the shrimp to the pan and cook for about 1-2 minutes per side or until the shrimp turns pink. Remove the shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
• Lower the heat to medium-low and add the remaining butter to the skillet. When the butter is melted, add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute scraping the bottom of the skillet to release any brown bits. You want the garlic to become aromatic but not to brown .
• Whisk in the heavy cream and add the nutmeg. Simmer for 4-5 minutes or until just thickened.
• Turn the heat to low and whisk in the Parmesan cheese, stirring continuously, until the cheese has melted. Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
• Drain the pasta reserving about 3/4 cup of the cooking liquid.
• Add the shrimp and the pasta to the skillet and toss well. You want to toss the pasta for 1 to 2 minutes so it has time to absorb the sauce. If the pasta gets a bit dry, add some of the reserved cooking pasta liquid.
• Sprinkle with parsley or basil and serve immediately topped with some extra Parmesan cheese (optional).

Video

Chef’s Tips

• Shrimp cooks very quickly. It only takes about 2 minutes of cooking time per side.
• If your Alfredo sauce looks a bit thin, don’t worry. When tossing the pasta with the sauce, the pasta will release some of its starch, making the sauce a bit thicker.
• If your shrimp pasta Alfredo is too thick, add some cooking pasta water and toss to combine.

Nutrition

Calories: 1154kcal (58%)Carbohydrates: 69g (23%)Protein: 51g (102%)Fat: 75g (115%)Saturated Fat: 45g (281%)Cholesterol: 527mg (176%)Sodium: 1508mg (66%)Potassium: 417mg (12%)Fiber: 3g (13%)Sugar: 3g (3%)Vitamin A: 2683IU (54%)Vitamin C: 7mg (8%)Calcium: 683mg (68%)Iron: 4mg (22%)

* Please note that all nutrition information are just estimates. Values will vary among brands, so we encourage you to calculate these on your own for most accurate results.

Course:Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine:Italian

Keyword:Shrimp Alfredo, shrimp Alfredo Recipe

Did you make this?I love seeing what you’ve made! Tag me on Instagram at @LemonBlossomsBlog and don’t forget to leave a comment & rating below!