Hello, food lovers — this shrimp fettuccine Alfredo is about to become one of your favorite weeknight or weekend meals. If you enjoy shrimp as much as we do, don’t miss our sautéed garlic shrimp and jerk shrimp pasta recipes for more inspired seafood pasta dishes.
This dish is creamy, comforting and elegant all at once — a gourmet-tasting bowl that’s surprisingly simple to prepare. It looks impressive on the table, yet comes together quickly.
Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo Shopping List :
Gather these ingredients and you’ll be ready to make a cozy, satisfying meal.
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- Butter
- Heavy cream
- Cream cheese
- Garlic
- Fettuccine pasta
- Parmesan cheese
- Bird’s eye chilies (or your preferred small hot chili)
- Thyme
- Garlic powder
- Shrimp
- Parsley
- Olive oil
- Salt and black pepper
Tips to make the perfect shrimp fettuccine alfredo :
- Don’t overcook the pasta. Fettuccine Alfredo is best served al dente — cook the noodles about one minute less than the package recommends since they’ll finish cooking in the pan with the sauce.
- Fresh shrimp deliver the best texture and flavor, though properly thawed frozen shrimp can work in a pinch.
- Reserve 2–3 tablespoons of the pasta cooking water and add it to the sauce for extra body and flavor if needed.
Fettuccine Alfredo was one of my childhood favorites — simple noodles and a rich, creamy sauce. It’s not a common dish in some places, so sharing it with friends and family makes it feel special. This version adds shrimp for a satisfying, celebratory dinner. It’s rich (hello heavy cream, butter and cream cheese), so consider pairing it with a light salad or steamed vegetables for balance.
Add your own twist to this Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo :
- Swap the shrimp for chicken to make a classic chicken fettuccine Alfredo.
- For a lighter version, skip any added wine and brighten the sauce with a splash of lemon juice.
- Make extra Alfredo sauce and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2–3 days to reheat with pasta later.
You may need…
A good grater makes a big difference for finely grated Parmesan. A quality microplane or box grater gives a light, fluffy texture to the cheese and is also handy for zesting citrus used in other recipes.
We love a bit of heat in this dish. Bird’s eye chilies from Thailand are a favorite because they offer concentrated heat and aromatic flavor, but use any small hot pepper you enjoy.
Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo Wine Pairing
A dry white wine complements the creaminess and seafood flavors well. Choose a crisp, mineral-driven white to balance the richness.
You will absolutely love this creamy Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo!
Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo
- Author: Alix and Hugo
- Total Time: 30 mins
- Yield: For 2
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup cream cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 6 ounces fettuccine
- 1 cup grated Parmesan
- 2 dried bird’s eye chilies, crushed (or to taste)
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 6–8 shrimp
- 3 tbsp parsley, chopped
- Olive oil
- Salt and black pepper
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine butter, heavy cream, cream cheese and minced garlic. Heat gently and simmer for about 3 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
- Remove the pan from heat and let the garlic infuse in the warm cream mixture for 10 minutes.
- Cook the fettuccine for about one minute less than the package directions so it remains al dente when finished in the pan.
- While the pasta cooks, reheat the cream and garlic mixture over low heat until warm.
- Stir in the grated Parmesan as the mixture melts, creating a smooth sauce.
- Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a separate frying pan over medium heat.
- Add the crushed chilies, thyme and garlic powder to the pan and sauté for about 1 minute to release their aroma.
- Add the shrimp with a pinch of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper. Cook the shrimp for 2–3 minutes until just opaque.
- Stir in the chopped parsley and cook for another minute.
- Pour the warm Parmesan cream sauce into the shrimp pan and mix thoroughly.
- Stir the sauce for a minute to combine flavors and thicken slightly.
- Add the drained fettuccine and toss for 1–2 minutes until the pasta is fully coated and warmed through. Adjust seasoning to taste and add a splash of reserved pasta water if you need to loosen the sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Cuisine: US
If you love this shrimp fettuccine alfredo, you will love these other pasta recipes!
- Three Mushroom Pasta
- Roasted Eggplant Lasagna
- Spaghetti alle Vongole
- Tomato Feta Tortellini Salad
- Salmon Zucchini Lasagna
- Cajun Chicken and Shrimp Pasta
- Bucatini Cacio e Pepe