Description
Creamy, very tasty, incredibly delightful, but super easy to make, shrimp spaghetti alfredo is the dinner recipe you need in your arsenal. The best part is that this pasta recipe requires only a few ingredients: shrimp, heavy cream, butter, garlic, spaghetti, etc. Shrimp spaghetti alfredo makes a romantic dinner for date night, Sunday dinners, Valentine’s Day, birthday, or any occasion. And did I mention that this is perfect for beginner cooks? This unforgettable recipe will be on repeat in your household as it is in mine.
Ingredients
- 1 pack (1 lb) of thin spaghetti, regular spaghetti or any other type of pasta
- 1 lb large uncooked shrimp
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 TBS butter
- 6 – 7 cloves of garlic (you need good amount of fresh garlic not store-bough minced garlic)
- 1 teaspoon Knorr Bouillon
- Salt to taste (about ½ – 1 tsp)
- Black pepper to taste (about ½ teaspoon)
- ½ cup of water, broth, or milk (optional; I typically use water)
- 2 teaspoons – 1 TBS of Homemade seasoning mixture including ½ tsp salt, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp paprika, ½ cayenne pepper, ½ tsp garlic powder, and ½ tsp Knorr bouillon) to sauté the shrimp. Alternatively, use 2 teaspoons – 1 TBS store-bought Cajun seasoning.
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (to sauté the shrimp).
- Dry or fresh parsley (to garnish)
Instructions
- Gather the Ingredients. Set all the ingredients out within your reach. This will keep you organized and ensure you don’t forget anything.
- Prep the Ingredients. First, clean and devein the fresh shrimp, then dab dry with a paper towel. You can buy deveined shrimp, but if not, remove the black line you see on each shrimp. You will also want to grate lots of garlic to have it ready.
- Season the Shrimp. Now it’s time to season the shrimp with the homemade mixture. I used ½ tsp salt, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp paprika, ½ tsp cayenne pepper, ½ tsp garlic powder, and ½ tsp Knorr bouillon). Alternatively, you can use 1 TBS Cajun seasoning. The Cajun seasoning that I recommend is “Slap Ya Mamma.”
- Saute the Shrimp. Set a saucepan on the stove, add olive oil, and once heated, add your seasoned shrimp. Cook them until they are just about done.
- Boil/Cook the Spaghetti. Fill a pot with water and set it to boil. Once it’s boiling, cook the spaghetti according to the directions on the box.
- Make the Alfredo Sauce. Using the same pan you used for cooking the shrimp, add butter and let it melt. It would be best if you use low-medium heat for this step. Once the butter has melted, add the grated garlic and cook for several minutes, making sure it doesn’t burn. Pour in the heavy cream, salt, black pepper, Knorr bouillon, and water. Simmer on low for 5 to 7 minutes until this sauce thickens. Taste and adjust the flavors as needed.
- Combine, Serve, and Enjoy. Reduce the heat to the lowest and add the juicy shrimp back into the pot, stirring to combine. Then, use a tong to pick up the boiled/cooked spaghetti and add it to the sauce, combining the glorious sauce with the shrimp and spaghetti. Alternatively, drain the boiled spaghetti, add it to your sauce, and combine. Your shrimp spaghetti Alfredo is ready! Garnish with parsley, serve, and enjoy!
Notes
If using frozen shrimp, ensure they thaw completely.
Since I season my shrimp with paprika as part of my homemade “Cajun seasoning,” I wash or wipe the shrimp pan after removing them before continuing with my alfredo sauce to prevent the sauce from getting reddish.
When you make your spaghetti, always cook it in salted water. Add the salt when the water boils before adding the pasta.
Use fresh garlic, those store-bought “minced garlic’ won’t cut it.
Ensure to simmer your sauce on low so it doesn’t quickly thicken very fast and dry off.
Always taste and adjust flavors to your desire.
