Shrimp Alfredo

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Our easy Shrimp Alfredo recipe has juicy shrimp tossed in a rich, creamy homemade alfredo sauce. It's restaurant-quality and ready in just 30 minutes.

This 20-Minute Shrimp Alfredo Is a Family Favorite

I can't think of a better comfort food than this Shrimp Alfredo! It tastes like something you'd enjoy at a fancy Italian restaurant, but it comes together so quickly that I can make it on a regular Tuesday night. It's actually easier than most recipes–all you need is butter, cream and parmesan for the sauce.

Be sure to buy high quality parmesan cheese. Look for the “DOP” seal that shows it's authentic Parmigiano Reggiano so you know it was produced in Italy (and you can tell it's the good stuff!) Parmigiano Reggiano is the best choice for Alfredo because it emulsifies into a smooth, nutty sauce far better than generic versions of parm.

Check out more of my easy pasta recipes, like Crock Pot Baked Ziti, One Pan Skillet Lasagna, Roasted Red Pepper Pasta, and Swedish Meatballs!

How to make Shrimp Alfredo:

Cook pasta according to package instructions, drain and set aside. Grate parmesan cheese and set aside to come to room temperature. This will help it melt smoothly in the sauce.

Make Alfredo Sauce: Melt butter in a large pan then add garlic, stirring frequently for one minute then pour in cream, bringing to a simmer for 3-4 minutes, stirring often. Whisk in parmesan cheese over low until smooth then season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss in noodles.

Cook Shrimp: Season shrimp with salt and pepper then melt a tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add shrimp and cook until pink, about 2-3 minutes. Serve noodles with a scoop of shrimp on top then garnish with fresh parsley, if desired. Serve with crusty bread and a wedge salad.

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Shrimp Alfredo Pasta

Author: Lauren Allen

Learn how to make the best Shrimp Alfredo with juicy garlic butter shrimp and a silky homemade alfredo sauce, made from scratch in just 30 minutes! This simple yet elegant pasta dish rivals any Italian restaurant with its creamy parmesan sauce, tender fettuccine noodles, and perfectly seasoned shrimp.

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 20 minutes mins

Total: 30 minutes mins

Servings: 6

Equipment

• Pan
• Garlic Press

Ingredients 

US CustomaryMetric

 

0.5x1x2x?

Alfredo Sauce:

• ▢ 1/2 cup butter
• ▢ 4 cloves garlic, , finely minced
• ▢ 2 cups heavy cream
• ▢ 4 oz freshly grated parmesan cheese*, , (about 2 cups)
• ▢ salt and pepper, , to taste
• ▢ 1 lb fettuccine noodles, , (or favorite kind of pasta)

Shrimp:

• ▢ 1.5 lbs large shrimp, , thawed and peeled, tails optional
• ▢ 1 Tablespoon oil, , or butter
• ▢ fresh chopped parsley, , for garnish (optional)

Instructions 

• Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
• Grate parmesan cheese and set aside, to allow it to come to room temperature.
• Alfredo Sauce: Heat a large sauce pan over medium heat. Add butter and cook until melted. Add garlic, stirring frequently for 1 minute. Add cream and whisk to combine, bring to a simmer and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring often. Turn heat to low and add parmesan cheese, whisking until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add pasta and toss to coat.
• Season shrimp with salt and pepper. Melt 1 tablespoon butter or oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add shrimp and cook, stirring occasionally, until pink, about 2-3 minutes.
• Serve noodles with a few shrimp on top. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.

Notes

Parmesan Cheese: Look for the “DOP” seal that shows it's authentic Parmigiano Reggiano so you know it was produced in Italy (and you can tell it's the good stuff!). Avoid using pre-shredded parmesan as it won't melt as smoothly or taste as good as freshly grated. 

Healthier Alfredo Sauce: could use milk or half and half instead of cream. Add a cornstarch slurry, if needed, to thicken the sauce. Or use the sauce from our Skinny Chicken Alfredo recipe.

Seafood Alfredo: Add Seared Scallops to make this a heavenly seafood alfredo!

Chicken and Shrimp Alfredo: Cook some chicken in a hot oiled skillet, before cooking the shrimp.

Cajun Shrimp Alfredo: Season shrimp with cajun seasoning before cooking. Add ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper to alfredo sauce (or more, if you want it spicy).

Nutrition

Calories: 879kcal, Carbohydrates: 60g, Protein: 34g, Fat: 56g, Saturated Fat: 32g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 15g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 353mg, Sodium: 1132mg, Potassium: 435mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 2054IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 315mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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I originally shared this recipe September 2021. Updated August 2024 and January 2026.