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Patty Catalano
Patty CatalanoFood Editor at The Kitchn
The only subject that has ever held my attention has been food, because there’s no end to what you can taste, smell, learn, and cook. I patchworked my way to recipe development and food writing by earning degrees in Family & Consumer Sciences (you may have known it as Home Ec) and Food, Nutrition, and Culinary Science, and working anywhere that would take me: university food services, local bakeries, and the set of Good Eats on Food Network. Early on, I asked my mom how she knew what a cookbook recipe (with no pictures) would look and taste like. While my mom was there to teach me, I realized that not everyone has someone to turn to for trusted cooking guidance. I try every day to be that person for The Kitchn’s readers by sharing smart recipes they can feel proud to serve. Recipe development is the most fun job I can imagine, but it also comes with a lot of dirty dishes and hours spent in the grocery store. I’ve found that I actually really love grocery shopping — especially at Costco and Aldi — and it brings me such joy to share my finds with The Kitchn readers.
updated Sep 5, 2019
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How to make the easiest, most delicious homemade shrimp Alfredo with fettuccine any night of the week.
Serves4Prep15 minutesCook30 minutesJump to Recipe
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Shrimp Alfredo is a practical weeknight meal masquerading as fancy restaurant fare. Grocery stores are in on it too, sending the message that you need a bottled sauce to make this dish a success at home. But what you really need are just a few ingredients from your pantry, fridge, and freezer.
The key to serving restaurant-quality shrimp Alfredo is making sure all elements of the dish — the pasta, Alfredo sauce, and shrimp — finish cooking at the same time. Thankfully, no part of the dish is difficult to make; all that’s required is a bit of planning. This is how to make the most delicious homemade shrimp Alfredo with fettuccine any night of the week.
The Path to Perfect Shrimp Alfredo
Boiling the water for fettuccine is the most time-consuming part of shrimp Alfredo, so step away from the crustaceans and bring a large pot of water to a boil first. While the water heats, dry and season the shrimp, measure the ingredients for the Alfredo sauce, and have them standing by. Add the fettuccine to the boiling water, then turn your attention to the shrimp, and finish with the Alfredo sauce.
The Best Way to Choose and Cook Shrimp
Unless you live by the sea, your best bet for high-quality shrimp is found in the freezer aisle. There’s no set standard for labeling shrimp by size (one brand’s medium is another’s large), so look for a range of numbers on the package that indicate the number of shrimp per pound. The more shrimp per pound, the smaller the shrimp. For shrimp Alfredo, we’re looking for shrimp tangled within every swirl of fettuccine. Look for 17 to 21 shrimp per pound —they may be labeled either medium or large. Restaurants love to serve shrimp with tails on, even when served atop fettuccine Alfredo, but I find it awkward to disentangle the shrimp and discard the shells. Instead, choose raw frozen shrimp that’s already peeled and deveined.
Skillet-seared shrimp is the fastest way to put this creamy pasta dish on the table. Use a large, wide-bottomed skillet to fit all of the shrimp in a single layer. Look for the shrimp to curl and turn from a silvery-gray hue to opaque and pink. Pile the shrimp onto a plate, and use the same skillet to make the Alfredo sauce.
Finishing and Serving Shrimp Alfredo Pasta
Classic Alfredo sauce is a balanced emulsion of grated Parmesan, butter, and starchy pasta water, but on weeknights I need a foolproof method for my favorite pasta sauce. Heavy cream gives the sauce its velvety smoothness; you can substitute half-and-half in a pinch, but the sauce won’t have the same body. Whisk handfuls of grated Parmesan into garlic-infused butter and cream, then toss with just-drained al dente fettuccine and seared shrimp. I bring the skillet to the table and serve straight from the pan.
Read more: How To Make the Best, Easiest Homemade Alfredo Sauce
Credit: Joe Lingeman/Kitchn; Food Stylist: CC Buckley/Kitchn
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This is how to make the most delicious homemade shrimp alfredo with fettuccine any night of the week.
Shrimp Alfredo
How to make the easiest, most delicious homemade shrimp Alfredo with fettuccine any night of the week.
Prep time 15 minutes
Cook time 30 minutes
Serves 4
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
For the shrimp and pasta:
- 12 ounces
dried fettuccine pasta
- 1 pound
(17 to 21 per pound) peeled and devined raw shrimp, thawed if frozen
- 1/2 teaspoon
kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon
freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon
unsalted butter
For the sauce:
- 4 tablespoons
(1/2 stick) unsalted butter
- 2 cloves
garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups
heavy cream or half-and-half
- 2 1/2 ounces
Parmesan cheese (2/3 cup finely grated or heaping 3/4 cup store-bought grated)
- 1/2 teaspoon
kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon
freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon
freshly ground black pepper
Chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves, for serving
Equipment
Measuring cups and spoons
Knife and cutting board
Large pot
Colander
Paper towels
Plate
Large stainless steel skillet
Whisk
Microplane or fine cheese grater
Wooden spoon
Instructions
Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fettuccine and cook until al dente, about 12 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta, but do not rinse.
Cook the shrimp. Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels and season with the salt and pepper. Melt the 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then swirl the pan to coat the bottom with the butter. Add the shrimp in an even layer and cook, until pink and opaque throughout, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer the shrimp to a plate, but do not clean the skillet.
Make the Alfredo sauce. Melt the 4 tablespoons butter in the skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Whisk in the heavy cream or half-and-half until combined and simmering, 3 to 4 minutes. Whisk in the Parmesan cheese, salt, nutmeg, pepper, and 2 tablespoons of the reserved pasta water. Cook, whisking occasionally, until the sauce thickens to coat the back of a spoon, 3 to 4 minutes.
Toss the drained pasta in sauce and top with shrimp. Add the drained pasta to the sauce and toss to coat. Return the shrimp to the pan and toss to combine. Serve garnished with parsley.
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