Shrimp Alfredo
- By Amy Dong
- Updated Apr. 13, 2025
This Shrimp Alfredo recipe features a rich creamy sauce, perfectly cooked shrimp, and al dente fettuccine. It’s easy to make and results in a restaurant-worthy dish at a fraction of the cost!
In This Article
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Why This Recipe Stands Out
When it comes to comfort food, flavorful pasta recipes are at the top of our list. This recipe is a keeper for many reasons:
- Easy to Make: We love easy dinner recipes around here, and this shrimp alfredo is one of our favorites, a lot like our Lemon Pepper Shrimp.
- Delicious, Creamy Sauce: The combination of Parmesan and white cheddar cheese with sour cream results in a sauce that perfectly coats pasta, like our Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo with Broccoli.
- Perfectly Cooked Shrimp: By cooking the shrimp briefly in a hot skillet, we ensure that it’s perfectly tender and never rubbery, just like our Marinated Grilled Shrimp.
- Restaurant Worthy: This Alfredo tastes like it’s from your favorite restaurant but is budget-friendly.
Key Recipe Ingredients
- Jumbo Shrimp – Jumbo shrimp is succulent and pairs well with alfredo sauce.
- Garlic and Onions – When sautéed in olive oil, they release a wonderful aroma and flavor that forms the base of our alfredo sauce.
- Fettuccine – Its flat shape and robust texture make it the perfect pasta to hold up to the rich Alfredo sauce.
- Parmesan and Cheddar Cheese – We use freshly grated Parmesan and sharp white Cheddar cheese. Avoid pre-shredded packaged cheeses, as those often contain additives that prevent cheese from melting as smoothly.
- Half and Half – This adds richness to the alfredo sauce without making it too heavy. Alternatively, you can use heavy cream.
- Chicken Broth – This adds an extra layer of savory flavor while thinning out the sauce.
Substitutions And Variations
Here are some of our favorite variations and substitutions:
- Pasta: This recipe calls for fettuccine, but feel free to use any pasta you like. Penne, rigatoni, spaghetti, or linguine would all work well.
- Cheese: You can try mixing in other cheeses like Gruyere or Romano.
- Herbs and Garnish: Feel free to garnish with chives or fresh lemon slices.
Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
- Sauté onions and garlic in 2 TB olive oil. Add shrimp and cook until opaque. Set aside.
- Cook fettuccine in salted water until al dente. Drain, toss with 2 TB olive oil, cover, and set aside.
- Melt butter in the empty pasta pot. Whisk in flour and cook for 2 minutes.
- Slowly whisk in milk, half and half, and broth. Simmer over medium-low heat until smooth and thick, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in cheeses and sour cream until melted. Season with salt and pepper.
- Toss pasta with sauce, then add shrimp or serve on top. Garnish as desired.
For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.
How To Prep Ahead
Take a look at our best prep-ahead strategies for this recipe:
- Prep the Shrimp: The shrimp can be cleaned, deveined, and shelled up to 2 days in advance. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge until you’re ready to use it.
- Prep the Ingredients: Chop the onions, mince the garlic, and grate the Parmesan and cheddar cheeses ahead of time. Store them in separate airtight containers in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Make the Sauce: The Alfredo sauce can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for 2-3 days. When you’re ready to eat, whisk the sauce on the stovetop; add a bit more chicken broth to thin out if needed.
What To Serve With Shrimp Alfredo
Vegetables
- A side of Air Fryer Broccoli or Grilled Zucchini is a great way to add some extra veggies to your meal.
- A fresh, crunchy Caesar Salad is also a delicious way to balance out the creamy pasta.
- We also love serving this with a side of Easy Roasted Vegetables.
Bread
- Olive Garden Breadsticks are great for soaking up all that creamy sauce.
- Rosemary Garlic Bread is another tasty option—the garlic and herbs pair nicely with the pasta.
- If you’re in the mood for something extra cheesy, try Garlic Cheese Bread or Garlic Parmesan Knots.
Commonly Asked Questions
How do you know when shrimp is done cooking?
Shrimp are done as soon they turn opaque and pink. This should happen pretty quickly, within 2-3 minutes. Don’t cook any longer once they turn opaque.
How do I prevent the sauce from becoming grainy?
The key to preventing a grainy sauce is to add the milk, half and half, and chicken broth very slowly while whisking it constantly. Make sure to whisk the flour and butter mixture for at least 2 minutes until it’s smooth before adding the liquids. Grate your own cheese from a good block of cheese, rather than using pre-shredded packaged cheese.
How long does shrimp alfredo keep?
Shrimp alfredo can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make sure to store it in an airtight container to maintain its freshness.
Did you make this?
Please give us a rating and comment below. We love hearing from you!
Shrimp Alfredo
This Shrimp Alfredo recipe features a rich creamy sauce, perfectly cooked shrimp, and al dente fettuccine. It's easy to make and results in a restaurant-worthy dish at a fraction of the cost.
Ingredients
- 1 lb jumbo shrimp, drained, deveined, and shelled
- 8 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- ½ tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste
- ½ tsp fresh ground black pepper, plus more to taste
- 4 TB olive oil, divided
- 1 lb fettuccine, uncooked
- 6 TB salted butter
- ¼ cup flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 cup half and half
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 8 oz Parmesan cheese, wedge, freshly grated
- 8 oz sharp white cheddar cheese, block, freshly grated
- ½ cup sour cream
- freshly chopped basil, parsley, or shredded parmesan cheese (optional garnishes)
Instructions
- In a heavy large skillet over medium high heat, add 2 TB olive oil until hot. Add onions and stir until fragrant and browned, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and stir 1 minute.
- Add shrimp and stir until they turn opaque; this should happen pretty quickly. Immediately remove from stovetop, cover to keep warm, and set aside.
- Bring large heavy pot of well-salted water to boil. Add pasta and cook just until al dente, according to package instructions. Drain pasta, toss with 2 TB olive oil, cover to keep warm, and set aside.
- Over low heat, melt the butter in the now-empty pasta pot. Add flour and whisk mixture constantly for at least 2 minutes or until it’s smooth.
- Very slowly add the milk, half and half, and chicken broth. Turn heat to medium-low and continue to stir constantly until sauce is smooth and creamy, about 5 minutes. Take your time to ensure the sauce is not grainy; it should become thickened and smooth.
- Stir in Parmesan and white cheddar cheeses, continuing to stir until cheeses are melted. Stir in sour cream until mixture is smooth. Taste and add salt and pepper, if needed.
- Return cooked pasta to the pot and toss to coat. Gently stir in the shrimp, or serve shrimp on top of plated pasta. Garnish with chopped herbs of your choice. Sprinkle with extra parmesan cheese, if desired.
Notes
- It’s important to shred your own cheese from a good quality block of cheese; pre-packaged shredded cheese contains extra ingredients that prevent it from being smooth and creamy when melted.
- Shrimp is done the second it turns opaque. Immediately remove from heat source, as shrimp is most tender when just cooked. Take care not to overcook.
- I keep cooked pasta and shrimp warm by placing them in airtight containers while I make the sauce.
- Use whole milk for alfredo, as skim or lowfat milk can result in curdling.
- Be sure to cook sauce over low heat to prevent curdling and ensure a smooth, velvety sauce.
- You can use spaghetti, linguine, or other pasta in place of fettuccine.
- This recipe is part of our Fish and Seafood Recipes Collection.
- Serve this delicious seafood alfredo with Olive Garden Breadsticks or Garlic Parmesan Knots for a family-friendly meal.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 876kcal | Carbohydrates: 72g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 47g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 255mg | Sodium: 785mg | Potassium: 635mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1290IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 747mg | Iron: 2mg
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- Healthier Chicken Alfredo – This Healthy Chicken Alfredo is the best way to enjoy your comfort food favorite without sacrificing flavor.
- 10-Minute Garlic Shrimp – This 10-minute Garlic Shrimp recipe comes together fast and easy, making it a game-changer for busy weeknights.
- Shrimp Scampi Pasta – Shrimp Scampi Pasta is loaded with garlic, lemon, and basil with plenty of succulent shrimp. This recipe is easy, irresistible, and the perfect spring dinner.
- Shrimp Ceviche – Out of this world delicious salsa with an added flare of shrimp, and that’s what you’ll get with Shrimp Ceviche. Refreshing, sweet, and spicy – this one is going to be your new favorite.