Creamy Shrimp Alfredo Recipe: Tips for Making Shrimp Alfredo

Shrimp alfredo consists of egg noodles and sautéed or poached whole shrimp tossed together in a creamy sauce. The popular dish is a variation of modern fettuccine alfredo, an Italian pasta dish that Alfredo di Lelio invented in the early twentieth century—the famed dish began as fresh pasta tossed with Parmesan cheese and butter. The silky, simple coating for the noodles has since evolved to include heavy cream, and in some cases, cream cheese.

Shrimp alfredo pasta highlights a few key elements: Perfectly cooked shrimp, snappy al dente noodles, and a velvety homemade alfredo sauce. Here’s what to know about the finer points of this recipe:

1. 1. Defrost the frozen shrimp in the refrigerator: It takes a little planning ahead, but allow yourself time to defrost the shrimp properly. Place the frozen shrimp in a strainer set over a shallow bowl and set it in the fridge. If you’re short on time, seal the frozen shrimp in a freezer bag, and submerge it in cool water. Avoid rinsing or soaking, which results in waterlogged, flavorless shrimp.
   
2. 2. Choosing the pasta: Fettuccine pasta is the classic choice for alfredo sauce because the sauce can easily cling to its long, flat ribbons. However, you can make shrimp alfredo with whichever style of pasta you prefer, be it cheese-stuffed tortellini or penne. Egg-based noodles are the best option since their density allows them to hold up to the sauce’s richness. Flour- and water-based noodles, like linguine, tend to be too delicate for the heavy cream sauce.
3. 3. Add chicken to boost protein: Shrimp and chicken alfredo is a protein-packed variation of the creamy pasta dish. Grill or sauté the chicken separately from the other components, then lay it across the top of the pasta. If chicken is not your protein of choice, double down on the seafood by adding scallops to the dish.
4. 4. Sautéing vs. poaching: Depending on what you prefer, either sauté the shrimp separately with a few cloves of minced garlic—as you might for tacos—before adding them to the pasta. Alternatively, you can cook the shrimp in the sauce for a more delicate texture and flavor.
5. 5. Experiment with spices: Some fettuccine alfredo purists swear by freshly grated nutmeg, but the addition of shrimp makes it easier to try out bolder flavor profiles. Toss the shrimp with Cajun seasoning before sautéing, or simply sizzle them in garlic and red pepper flakes to make garlic shrimp fettuccine alfredo.