Creamy Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo (Printer-friendly)

Tender shrimp and fettuccine in rich, velvety homemade Alfredo sauce. Ready in 40 minutes.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz fettuccine pasta

→ Seafood

02 - 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined

→ Alfredo Sauce

03 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
06 - 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
07 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
08 - 1/4 tsp sea salt
09 - Pinch of nutmeg

→ Other

10 - 2 tbsp olive oil
11 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
12 - Lemon wedges

# How to Make It:

01 - Cook the fettuccine pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water, then drain and set aside.
02 - While the pasta cooks, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp, season lightly with salt and pepper, and sauté for 2–3 minutes per side or until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and add 2 tablespoons butter and remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
04 - Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in Parmesan cheese, black pepper, salt, and nutmeg. Simmer for 2–3 minutes, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens slightly.
05 - Add the drained fettuccine to the sauce, tossing gently to coat. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a little at a time until desired consistency is reached.
06 - Return the cooked shrimp to the pan and toss to combine. Stir in chopped parsley. Serve immediately, garnished with extra parsley and lemon wedges if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The homemade sauce comes together in minutes but tastes like it simmered all afternoon
  • Restaurant quality results without the hefty price tag or intimidating techniques
02 -
  • Cream sauces can break if boiled too vigorously, so keep it at a gentle simmer and stir constantly
  • Room temperature cream incorporates more smoothly than cold from the fridge, so take it out while the pasta cooks
03 -
  • Don't overcrowd the pan when searing shrimp or they'll steam instead of getting that nice golden color
  • The sauce will thicken as it stands off heat, so add more pasta water when reheating leftovers