Easy Shrimp Alfredo

Total Time

Prep/Total Time: 30 min.

Makes

4 servings

Updated: Sep. 14, 2023
Instead of buying a jar of sauce, make it from scratch for this easy shrimp Alfredo recipe. The garlic aroma will call your family to the table. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces uncooked fettuccine
  • 1/4 cup butter, cubed
  • 1-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 1 pound cooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh parsley
  • Lemon wedges, optional

Directions

  1. Cook fettuccine according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan or skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in cream. Bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
  2. Add the shrimp, cheese, garlic and pepper; cook and stir until heated through. Drain fettuccine; toss with shrimp mixture. Sprinkle with parsley; if desired, top with additional Parmesan cheese and serve with lemon wedges.
Easy Shrimp Alfredo Tips

How can you thicken or thin the Alfredo sauce?

This Alfredo sauce gets its creamy consistency from cooking the cream and cheese together. As the cream comes to a boil, the water content evaporates, leaving a thicker mixture. However, if you find this sauce is still too thin, try adding a roux. Roux is made by melting equal parts butter and flour in a saucepan, stirring constantly, for 2-3 minutes. Add the roux to the warm Alfredo sauce and whisk over medium heat until it's thickened. If you prefer your sauce thinner, simply add more heavy cream.

What are some variations of this shrimp Alfredo recipe?

Try folding in some fresh spinach at the end of cooking for added color and nutrition, or toss in a handful of fresh chopped basil for a flavor bump. Drained chopped tomatoes or sautéed mushrooms work well, too. For speed, this recipe calls for cooked shrimp, but you may also use thawed frozen shrimp (here's how to cook it). If you’re really in a pinch, throw a jar of store-bought Alfredo sauce in the pan rather than making your own.

What can I use instead of cream for this Alfredo sauce?

Heavy cream is the wonderfully fatty stuff—up to 40% fat, to be precise—that rises to the top of fresh milk. Heavy cream lends a velvety texture to anything it touches. Luckily, there are plenty of things to substitute for this ingredient if needed. In this recipe, add an additional 2 Tbsp. butter to help increase the fat content.

How do you store shrimp Alfredo?

This shrimp Alfredo lasts 3-4 days in the refrigerator in a well-sealed container. Here’s our guide to how long leftovers actually last.

—Maggie Knoebel, Taste of Home Associate Recipe Editor/Tester

Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 788 calories, 51g fat (31g saturated fat), 317mg cholesterol, 573mg sodium, 45g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 38g protein.