This shrimp fettuccine alfredo is as classic a pasta dish as it gets. Full of plump shrimp, freshly grated parmesan, and creamy sauce, it comes together in a short 30 minutes and rivals any Italian restaurant.
Shrimp fettuccine alfredo is rich and light all at the same time. It’s the perfect summertime pasta. What’s better is that it is loved by kids and adults alike, much like our easy shrimp linguine. Talk about a crowd-pleaser.
While shrimp fettuccine alfredo is delicious, it’s typically expensive when you order it at a restaurant. But despite its decadent taste, it’s quite simple to make. Save yourself money by learning how to make it at home whenever a craving hits.
With just a few wholesome ingredients, it comes together super quickly and is perfect for a busy weeknight pasta fix. For this recipe, you will use our five-minute alfredo sauce. It’s so nutty and creamy, you’ll think an Italian grandma spent hours in the kitchen making it.
How to Make Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo
Making shrimp fettuccine alfredo from scratch is easier than it sounds. With just a couple of quick steps, you’ll have fresh pasta on the table in no time.
- Cook the fettuccine al dente: In a large pot of boiling water, cook the fettuccine until it’s al dente. Drain and set aside. Save a bit of your pasta water in case you need it to thin out your sauce.
- Saute the shrimp: Preheat a skillet or deep cast iron pot with butter. Saute shrimp until they turn pink and opaque. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Make the sauce: In the same pan, add butter, heavy cream, garlic, and parmesan cheese. Bring to a simmer.
- Toss together and serve: Add pasta and shrimp into the sauce. Remove from heat, garnish with parsley, and serve right away.
What does “al dente” mean? If you’ve ever heard the phrase “al dente” thrown around and been confused about its meaning, you’re not alone. In Italian, al dente translates to “to the tooth”. It means cooking the pasta to the point where it still has a bite to it, versus over boiling it until it’s soggy.
Tips for Delicious Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo
Below, find a handful of tips for making the most delicious shrimp fettuccine alfredo.
- Choose the right shrimp. Large, raw fresh shrimp with the tail on are preferred. They are the juiciest and most flavorful. Feel free to cook them with the shell on or off.
- Thaw shrimp if using frozen. If you’re using frozen shrimp, make sure to adequately thaw them by running cold water over them in a colander. Never saute frozen shrimp, as they hold a ton of moisture and will turn soggy.
- Cook pasta until “al dente” and toss with olive oil. Cook pasta just until it turns al dente. To prevent it from sticking while you prepare your sauce, toss it in a bit of olive oil.
- Drain shrimp. As you are cooking the shrimp, it will produce liquid. Drain it periodically to create a golden crust.
- Cook sauce over low heat. Cook your alfredo sauce over low heat to prevent it from burning and separating.
- Use freshly grated parmesan. Opt for high-quality parmesan that comes in a block and grate it yourself. Pre-shredded parmesan cheese is much drier and has less flavor.
- Account for the fact that the sauce will thicken. If the alfredo sauce seems too runny, give it a few minutes to thicken as it cooks.
- Use pasta water to fix extra-thick sauce. Save a bit of your pasta water in case your alfredo comes out too thick. Add a touch of the starchy water to thin it out to your desired consistency.
- Serve immediately. Serve the pasta straight away. If it sits too long, the cheese will harden.
Serving Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo
Although shrimp fettuccine alfredo is a meal in and of itself, there are a couple of side dishes that pair perfectly with it. Whip up a homemade caesar salad and a fresh baguette to sop up all the sauce. You could also serve a copycat Olive Garden soup as an appetizer. Some of our favorites include one-pot Zuppa Toscana or meatball kale soup.
Storing Leftover Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo
Refrigerating your leftovers is the best option. When stored in an airtight container, they will stay fresh for up to 3 days. Avoid freezing shrimp fettuccine alfredo (and any dish that contains a creamy sauce). Once reheated, the cream will likely curdle and become inedible.
Reheating Tip: Reheat shrimp fettuccine alfredo in the microwave with a bit of freshly grated parmesan cheese for best results.
FAQ
Can I use store-bought fettuccine alfredo sauce?
You can use store-bought fettuccine alfredo sauce instead of making your own from scratch. If it tastes a bit bland, spruce it up with salt, pepper, and some chili flakes.
How do I thicken alfredo sauce?
Alfredo sauce will thicken naturally as it sits at room temperature. Simply allow it to rest at room temperature for a couple of minutes before serving. If it’s still too thin, add a bit of cornstarch to thicken it up.
How do I know when shrimp is cooked?
Shrimp is cooked when the flesh turns from gray to pink and opaque. Remove it from heat immediately once it turns to prevent overcooking.
Can I add vegetables to shrimp alfredo?
You can add a variety of vegetables to shrimp fettuccine alfredo. Broccoli, green peas, kale, shallots, and spinach are great options.
More Shrimp Recipes
- Shrimp Lo Mein – Savory Asian-style noodles
- 15 Minute Air Fryer Shrimp – Quick shrimp for tacos or salads
- Crispy Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp – Sweet and salty shrimp
- Crazy Easy Shrimp Tempura – Japanese-style breaded and fried shrimp
Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 oz fettuccine pasta
- 1 lb raw shrimp
- 1/2 tbsp salt
- 6 tbsp Unsalted Butter
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 1/2 cups parmesan cheese
- 4 garlic cloves pressed
- 1 tbsp parsley garnish
Instructions
- Cook fettuccine until al dente (follow package instructions for best results). Set pasta aside and save about 1/2 a cup of the pasta water in case you need it to thin your sauce.
- Preheat the skillet with 2 tbsp of butter. Season shrimp with salt and cook until they turn pink and form a crust on the outside. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- To the same pan, add the rest of the butter, heavy cream, garlic, and parmesan cheese. Bring it to a light simmer over low-heat.
- Add in fettuccine and toss.
- Add in shrimp and lightly toss. Remove from heat. If the sauce thickens more than you like, add a little bit of that pasta water to thin it out. If it's too thin, let it sit at room temperature for a couple of minutes until it thickens.
This dish was amazing! Tonight I am trying it but with blackened chicken and lots of veggies!
Hi Niknak, thank you for taking the time to leave feedback. I am thrilled that the recipe was a success! Enjoy!!
Tried this for the first time because I couldn’t find my usual Alfredo sauce recipe. My hubby likes the shrimp but that is all.
Hi Barbara, I am sorry that this recipe was not a hit. I appreciate your honest feedback.
I am a new mom and I’m so tired to chicken. This is the best thing I discovered
Danielle, lol, love the tired of chicken comment. 🙂 Glad you found this recipe. We also have a ton of beef recipes.
Excellent recipe! We can't stop talking about how good it came out in just a matter of minutes! The alfredo sauce clings to the pasta. So glad I discovered this recipe! (I changed some proportions: I used 8 oz fettuccine, a total of 4 Tbsp butter, 1 1/3c heavy cream & 1c parmesan. I used 1lb raw shrimp and 1Tbsp parsley.)
Hi Tara! I am thrilled that you love this recipe as much as we do! Thank you for sharing your process with me! Enjoy!
this recipe was the bomb...easy to make and tastes excellent!!
Hi Jordan, I am delighted to hear that you love this recipe! Thank you for your feedback! Enjoy!
Looking to make it ! We're going to make 32 oz of pasta , so is that 2.5x all the ingredients? Just want to make sure bc that's a lot of butter then lol thanks
Hey Rach, yes, you would beed to make about 2.5X the portion. It is a very creamy pasta dish, will be loaded with butter and creamy white sauce. Enjoy
Tastes great, VERY filling!
I appreciate the simplicity of this recipe, and it really did taste great. If I make this again however, I'm gonna cut the parmesan cheese at least by half. The sauce was great when it first came out of the pan, but once it started to cool it congealed and became very gooey-gluey. And when I wanted to enjoy leftovers a couple nights later, I had to heat them for several minutes just so I could scoop some out of the container. I know the recipe says to add some of the pasta water to the sauce to thin it, but I'm thinking it'd be better to reduce cheese than add water. Instead of 1.5 cups of parmesan, I think 3/4 cup would do the job just fine.
Hey there Pat, I appreciate you taking the time to let me know how this recipe turned out for you. I am delighted to hear you loved it! Thank you for sharing. Enjoy!
I made this and it turned out so good! Tasted as good or better than Olive Garden.
Hi Serena, I agree that it even tastes a little better than Olive Gardens. Thank you for the feedback. Enjoy!
Second time making. So, so good. My family loves it!!
Hello Donna- I'm so glad you all are enjoying it!
I want to double the recipe — is 1 1/2 cup turn in 24 tbsp?
Hello, Love. I'm assuming you are asking about the 1 1/2 cups of parmesan cheese? If so, yes 1 1/2 cups would be 24 tbsp. Although measuring by cup vs spoon would be way easier and faster so that is definitely what I recommend 🙂 Enjoy!
This meal is fabulous! Cooked it today for dinner and it turned out soooo good, me and my husband ate it all :)) Very easy to cook, I just put garlic at the end, as a Russian girl I like fresh taste of garlic. Thank you Natasha!
Olga, I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thank you for taking the time to comment your feedback!
Hi! I just made these and they are absolutely delicious!!!
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thank you for taking the time to comment your feedback!
I love how easy and quick this was to make. It really made all the fresh ingredients shine. Delicious!
Yes, it makes for the best dinner. Glad you enjoyed it!!
Oh wow! My daughter and I are going to love this recipe. Perfect for our lunch tomorrow! Excited to try this!
Enjoy 🙂
The shrimp works so perfectly in this alfredo. We all love this one!
So glad you enjoyed the recipe, thank you for taking the time to comment!
Your Recipe turned out perfect, but I did add a few tablespoons of grated mozzarella cheese a 1 cup of steamed broccoli. My family loved it and ask when will it be served again..:-) I'll continue to watch out for more of your recipes.... Bless you with your cooking skills..
Thank you, Rosemary! So glad your family is enjoying this recipe.