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This easy shrimp Alfredo pasta recipe is the perfect fast weeknight dinner that’s tasty enough for company! Tender shrimp and fettuccine pasta are smothered in an amazing creamy garlic sauce.

Love Alfredo sauce? Try this Chicken Tortellini Alfredo or this 15 Minute Creamy Alfredo Gnocchi. Want this recipe but with chicken? Check out my Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo.

creamy shrimp alfredo pasta in a skillet

Why you’ll love it

It took me a few tries before I was confident in sharing this shrimp fettuccine Alfredo recipe. They were all minor tweaks to get that sauce just right. I am definitely happy with the finished product, and I hope you will be too! In this recipe, cooking shrimp for Alfredo is easy… they just cook right in the sauce.

Alfredo sauce (butter, cream, and parmesan) shouldn’t be complicated to make, but I find that achieving the right sauce thickness is what really matters. You don’t want it too thick… or too thin. I also added my not-so-secret ingredient to this shrimp Alfredo recipe to make the sauce silkier, thicker, and just a hint of tangy (which complements the shrimp). Can you guess what it is? It’s cream cheese!

Why use cream cheese?

  • I’m sure some people would argue that cream cheese doesn’t belong in Alfredo sauce, but I disagree. I’m all for variations on recipes if it makes sense and tastes good. I’ve seen plenty of recipes that use it and plenty that don’t. I find that using cream cheese in here allowed me to skip using a thickening agent like flour, which in my opinion makes the recipe a bit easier overall.
  • Make sure the cream cheese is softened before adding it to the sauce. Either take it out of the fridge well in advance of starting the recipe, or microwave it in 20-30 second intervals until it’s super soft. It won’t melt into the sauce as easily if you try adding it straight from the fridge.
shrimp fettuccine alfredo in a white bowl (close-up)

What you’ll need

  • Shrimp – I used frozen raw 31-40 count per pound size shrimp. You could use smaller or larger. If using smaller ones, take care not to overcook them.
  • Pasta – the classic is fettuccine
  • Butter – make sure it’s unsalted
  • Cream cheese – for added texture and tangy taste
  • Heavy cream – to make the sauce luxurious and silky
  • Chicken broth – for added flavor
  • Garlic – it makes everything better!
  • Parmesan – I suggest grating your own parmesan cheese. It makes a difference in the taste, and the pre-grated stuff doesn’t melt into the sauce as well.
ingredients for shrimp alfredo in prep bowls

Shrimp preparation tips

  • If the shrimp are frozen, place them in a colander and thaw them under cool running water.
  • Peel them (if they’re not already peeled). You can either take the tails off or leave them on depending on your preference.

How to make shrimp Alfredo

This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

making alfredo sauce in a skillet

Cook the pasta. Meanwhile, add the butter, cream cheese, heavy cream, chicken broth, and garlic to a skillet over medium heat. Cook it for 5 minutes. Stir in the parmesan cheese, and let it bubble for about a minute.

adding shrimp and pasta to a skillet to make fettuccine alfredo

Add the shrimp, and cook until they’re pink. Season with salt & pepper to taste, and toss with the drained pasta. Serve right away.

Tools for this recipe

Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!

Close-up of the best shrimp alfredo recipe!

Substitutions and variations

  • You can add more/less garlic depending on your preferences. I like quite a bit of garlic!
  • I don’t recommend subbing the cream/butter/etc. for something else unless you’re ok with experimenting a bit. I can’t say how it will turn out without testing it. Half-and-half or milk will make the sauce more watery. This is definitely a treat meal. 🙂

What to serve with shrimp Alfredo

Leftovers and storage

  • Store leftover shrimp Alfredo in an airtight container in the fridge, and eat it within a couple of days. It’s best fresh, though. I don’t recommend freezing it.
  • Reheat slowly over a low heat so that sauce doesn’t separate, and you might need to add a splash more cream.
shrimp alfredo pasta in two bowls

If you made this garlic shrimp Alfredo pasta recipe or have questions, let me know in the comments below! You can also find me on Instagram.

Close-up of the best shrimp alfredo recipe!
4.94 from 232 votes

Easy Shrimp Alfredo

This easy shrimp Alfredo pasta recipe is the perfect fast weeknight dinner that's tasty enough for company! Tender shrimp and fettuccine pasta are smothered in an amazing creamy garlic sauce.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients 

  • 1 pound uncooked (31-40/pound size) shrimp thawed & peeled, tails optional
  • 8 ounces uncooked fettuccine
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 4 ounces cream cheese (I used 1/2 block Philly) softened & cut into smaller pieces
  • 3/4 cup heavy/whipping cream
  • 1/4 cup chicken broth
  • 2 large cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions 

  • Prep your shrimp (if frozen, add them to a colander and run under cool water until thawed).
  • Start boiling a salted pot of water for the fettuccine. Cook it al dente according to package directions.
  • Meanwhile, add the butter, cream cheese, cream, chicken broth, and garlic to a skillet over medium heat. Once the butter has melted and the pan has heated up, you can use your spoon to help the cream cheese melt into the sauce. This will take a couple of minutes.
  • When the cream cheese has been incorporated into the sauce, let it gently bubble for 5 minutes until the sauce has reduced somewhat. You can give it the occasional stir. I grate the parmesan cheese while it's cooking.
  • Stir the parmesan into the sauce. Let it cook for about a minute.
  • Add the shrimp to the pan. Cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Season with salt & pepper as needed. Toss with the drained pasta and serve immediately.

Notes

  • You can microwave the cream cheese for 20-30 second intervals if you forget to take it out of the fridge in time for it to soften up.
  • If at any point the sauce gets too thick for your tastes, thin it out with a bit of the hot pasta water.
  • This pasta is also on page 49 of the Salt & Lavender: Everyday Essentials cookbook.

Nutrition

Calories: 724kcal, Carbohydrates: 47g, Protein: 41g, Fat: 42g, Saturated Fat: 24g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 10g, Trans Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 346mg, Sodium: 785mg, Potassium: 574mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 1463IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 375mg, Iron: 2mg

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

© Salt & Lavender Inc. Content and photographs are copyrighted. Sharing this blog post is much appreciated, but copying and pasting full recipes without authorization to social media is strictly prohibited.

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Hi! Iโ€™m Natasha.

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4.94 from 232 votes (13 ratings without comment)

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692 Comments

  1. Bart says:

    5 stars
    Awesome, and the only alferdo recipe that the butter doesnโ€™t separate when reheating!

    1. Natasha says:

      Yay!! Thanks, Bart!

  2. Sylvia says:

    5 stars
    I made the recipe as written, and it was SO GOOD (and easy)! We ate it with side salads made using your Easy Caesar Salad dressing recipe, and are still talking about the meal 24 hours later!

    This is definitely a keeper that I’ll be making again, and I plan on trying it with chicken sometime, too.

    1. Natasha says:

      That makes me so happy, Sylvia! Thanks for your review!

  3. Dan D says:

    5 stars
    LOVE the alternative choices, and it turned out GREAT, first try. I added a little finely chopped broccoli and Italian spice, and used the three- cheese Italian blend that I had on hand, as well as half a jar of Queso sauce that was on hand.

    1. Natasha says:

      Excellent!

  4. Saharai says:

    5 stars
    The cream cheese is a fantastic addition. This will be my go-to Alfredo recipe from now on.

    1. Natasha says:

      That’s what I like to hear!!

  5. Sandra Woods says:

    This recipe is a winner!!! My husband loved it, I will def. make again!

    1. Natasha says:

      Fantastic!! ๐Ÿ˜€

  6. whitney says:

    This recipe is also really good if you use a tablespoon of better than chicken boullion instead of chicken broth!

    1. Natasha says:

      Sounds good to me!

  7. Paulette Patterson says:

    I have made this recipe and it is much better than several other recipes I have tried. I did not have chicken broth so I used water and chicken flavor. Worked just great. I love it, problem is I eat way to much… l.o.l.

    1. Natasha says:

      Haha I love that!!

  8. Julie says:

    5 stars
    I added peas red pepper and asparagus and sautรฉed the garlic before the cream cheese and liquid.
    other than that followed the recipe and it was great.

    1. Natasha says:

      Love that!

  9. Kimberly Grant says:

    I love this recipe!!! Cooked it for the first time and it was sooo very good. Iโ€™m doing it again with shrimp, chicken, and broccoli!! Canโ€™t wait to taste it!!

    1. Natasha says:

      I’m so happy you enjoyed it!! Thanks for letting me know, Kimberly!

  10. K says:

    Where does the heavy whipping cream come in?

    1. Natasha says:

      Step 3