How to Make Shrimp Alfredo Recipe

This 30-minute Shrimp Alfredo uses my readers’ favorite Alfredo sauce, which they rave is: “Super easy, quick,” and “phenomenal, absolutely gourmet restaurant worthy!” The luxurious Alfredo sauce is studded with juicy, seasoned shrimp for a restaurant-quality pasta dinner at home!

serving shrimp alfredo pasta recipe in a pasta bowl garnished with parsley


 

Why this Shrimp Alfredo Works

Most Alfredo sauces are made with only 3 ingredients, which means they lack both flavor and texture. This recipe includes spices, cream cheese, and milk to make it ultra-creamy without feeling as heavy—AKA more delicious! Here’s why you’ll love it: 

Perfectly seasoned shrimp with tips for cooking until juicy. Unlike many recipes that barely season the shrimp!
•Extra creamy and saucy—no dry pasta here!
•Don’t worry, more sauce doesn’t mean more calories. A blend of heavy cream plus milk thickened with cornstarch keeps it rich and creamy without feeling overly heavy.
Flavorful Alfredo, seasoned with plenty of fresh garlic and Italian herbs, delivers rich, savory depth that’s crave-worthy.

shrimp alfredo recipe in a skillet showing how creamy the pasta is
ingredient icon

Shrimp Alfredo Recipe Ingredients

Let’s take a closer look at some key ingredients you’ll need to make this recipe (measurements in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):

  • Large shrimp: Look for 21–26 count, raw, peeled, and deveined shrimp. Their size is ideal for juiciness. You can use fresh or thawed frozen.
  • Parmesan cheese: Use a wedge of Parmigiano-Reggiano and grate it yourself—pre-shredded or powdered versions don’t melt as smoothly and lack complexity. Parmigiano-Reggiano is the traditional Italian version, aged for at least 2 years, while most domestic Parmesan is younger and milder in flavor.
  • Milk + cornstarch: This combination helps slightly stretch the sauce without adding more cream, while keeping it velvety.
  • Cream cheese is optional, but it adds body to the Alfredo sauce, making it smoother and creamier. Highly recommend!
  • Garlic: Fresh garlic is sautéed gently in butter to build the flavor foundation. I recommend my favorite garlic press to prep it in seconds. There are also less expensive versions like this one on Amazon.
top view of shrimp alfredo ingredients: fettuccine, shrimp, heavy cream, milk, cream cheese, garlic, butter

How to MAke Shrimp Alfredo

Let’s take a closer look at how to make this recipe with step-by-step photos (full recipe in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):

  • Step 1: Season and Cook Shrimp. Pat the shrimp dry, then toss with the seasonings. Cook in sizzling oil just until opaque, about 1 ½ minutes per side; transfer to a plate using a slotted spatula.
showing how to make shrimp alfredo by seasoning the shrimp then searing in a skillet until opaque
  • Step 2: Sauté GarlicSauté the garlic in melted butter for 30 seconds.
  • Step 3: Add Ingredients. Whisk in the heavy cream, milk/cornstarch, cream cheese, and all seasonings. Cook until melted and smooth.
  • Step 4: Add Parmesan. Add the grated Parmesan cheese a handful at a time in 3-4 batches, whisking between each addition until smooth.
  • Step 5: Simmer. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer and cook for 3-5 minutes, or until it thickens and the Parmesan is completely melted.
a collage showing how to make shrimp alfredo by sautéing the garlic in butter in a large skillet
  • Step 6: Add Pasta and Shrimp. Add the fettuccine and toss to combine. Either top the pasta with the shrimp or toss the shrimp with the pasta.
showing how to make shrimp alfredo by tossing the pasta with the Alfredo sauce
  • Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired, and additional grated Parmigiano Reggiano.
top view of shrimp alfredo with juicy seasoned shrimp on top of fettuccine

Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo TIPS

  • Use a large enough pan. Make sure your skillet has plenty of room for the pasta so it can be tossed easily. A 3.5-quart braiser or this large stainless steel pan works great (pictured).
  • Preheat your stainless steel pan fully before adding oil. Let the pan heat for about 3 minutes so it’s evenly hot—this helps prevent sticking and ensures the oil creates a smooth, nonstick-like surface for better searing and a silkier sauce base. This is how you get color on shrimp without overcooking.
  • Don’t overcook the shrimp. They cook very quickly and are done as soon as they turn pink and opaque—overcooking will make them rubbery.
  • Don’t over-thicken the sauce. The sauce will continue to thicken once the pasta is added, so keep it slightly looser than you think you need.
  • Use reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce. Save a cupful before draining the pasta—its starch helps thin the Alfredo while keeping it silky, glossy, and perfectly emulsified rather than watery.
up close of shrimp fettuccine alfredo recipe showing cajun shrimp

Fettuccine Alfredo and Shrimp variations

  • Lemon Shrimp Alfredo: Add fresh lemon zest and a squeeze of lemon juice to cut through the richness.
  • Spinach Shrimp Alfredo: Stir in fresh spinach at the end so it wilts into the creamy sauce.
  • Mushroom Shrimp Alfredo: Sauté mushrooms until golden and stir them in at the end for an earthy, umami depth.
  • Chicken + Shrimp Alfredo: Combine both proteins for a hearty surf-and-turf twist. Go as simple as rotisserie chicken, or I recommend my blackened chicken recipe.
  • Broccoli Shrimp Alfredo: Add steamed or roasted broccoli, like my Roasted Shrimp Alfredo Recipe.
  • Sun-Dried Tomato Shrimp Alfredo: Stir in chopped sun-dried tomatoes for a sweet, tangy contrast to the creamy sauce.

What to serve with Shrimp Alfredo Pasta Recipe

This shrimp Alfredo pasta is delightful with a garden salad and garlic bread, but we also love serving it with:

Breadsticks
Roasted Parmesan Broccoli or Roasted Asparagus
Sautéed Brussels Sprouts
Caesar Salad or Mediterranean Salad
Berry Salad

easy fettuccine alfredo and shrimp in a plate showing how creamy it is

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top view of shrimp alfredo with juicy seasoned shrimp on top of fettuccine

Shrimp Alfredo Recipe

This 30-minute Shrimp Alfredo uses my readers’ favorite Alfredo sauce, which they rave is: “Super easy, quick,” and “phenomenal, absolutely gourmet restaurant worthy!” The luxurious Alfredo sauce is studded with juicy, seasoned shrimp for a restaurant-quality pasta dinner at home!
Servings: 6 servings
Total Time: 30 minutes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes

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Ingredients

SHRIMP

  • 1 pound large (21-26 ct) shrimp, raw, peeled and deveined
  • 1/4 tsp EACH onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, pepper
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil

ALFREDO

  • 1 pound fettuccine
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4-6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 1/2 cups milk (2 percent milk or whole milk)
  • 1 TBSP + 1 tsp cornstarch
  • 2 ounces cream cheese, very soft (optional for even thicker, creamier)
  • 1 tsp EACH dried basil, dried parsley
  • 1/2 tsp EACH onion powder, dried oregano, salt, pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 1/2 packed cups (4 oz.) FRESHLY grated Parmesan cheese (Parmigiano Reggiano is best) (grated on micro-planer)

Instructions

Shrimp and Pasta

  • Cook Pasta: Cook fettuccine al dente in salted water according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water and set aside. Drain the pasta and toss it with a drizzle of olive oil if not adding it to the Alfredo immediately (this prevents it from clumping).
  • Season Shrimp: Whisk the shrimp seasonings in a medium bowl. Pat the shrimp dry, then toss with the seasonings. Set aside for 5 minutes. 
  • Heat Pan: Heat a large stainless-steel saucepan or a 3.5-qt braiser (large enough to toss the pasta) over medium-high heat. If using a stainless steel pan, heat for a full three minutes (prevents sticking). Then, add the oil and swirl to coat.
  • Sear Shrimp: Working in batches if needed, add the shrimp in a single layer and cook just until opaque, about 1 ½ minutes per side; transfer to a plate using a slotted spatula. You can remove the tails once they're cool enough to handle, if desired.

Alfredo

  • Sauté Garlic:
  • Add Ingredients: Whisk in the heavy cream, milk/cornstarch, cream cheese, and all seasonings. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until melted and smooth.
  • Add Parmesan: Add the grated Parmesan cheese a handful at a time in 3-4 batches, whisking between each addition until smooth.
  • Simmer: Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer and cook for 3-5 minutes, or until it thickens and the Parmesan is completely melted. Keep in mind it will continue to thicken once it cools slightly and when you add the pasta.
  • Add Pasta and Shrimp: Add the fettuccine and toss to combine (if you're not serving immediately, hold off on adding the pasta). If at any time the Alfredo sauce gets too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it. Either top the pasta with the shrimp or toss the shrimp with the pasta.
  • Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired, and additional grated Parmigiano Reggiano. Season with freshly cracked salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!

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