Creamy Alfredo shrimp pasta with broccoli combines pasta, cooked shrimp, and green florets in a homemade Parmesan cream sauce. The broccoli joins the pasta during the last minutes of boiling, while the shrimp and sauce use a separate skillet. Parsley finishes the assembled dish.
The recipe takes about 30 minutes. Grate the cheese and mince the garlic before cooking so the short sauce stage is ready to follow the shrimp. Jump to the recipe card for the measurements and complete method.
How This Shrimp Alfredo Comes Together
The pasta pot handles both noodles and broccoli, reducing the number of separate cooking steps. The skillet gives the shrimp space to cook before the cream is added. Removing the shrimp during sauce-making keeps them from simmering for the entire time needed to warm the cream and melt the cheese.
Heavy cream, butter, garlic, and Parmesan make the listed sauce. There is no flour-based thickener in this version. Stir the cheese into warm cream over controlled heat rather than trying to reduce the sauce rapidly after the seafood has returned.
Creamy Alfredo Shrimp Pasta Ingredients
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 12 oz penne pasta or pasta of choice
- 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Pasta, Broccoli, and Shrimp Notes
Penne is the listed pasta option, though another shape can be used. Its package directions guide the main cooking time. Add the broccoli for the final 2 minutes rather than boiling it for the entire pasta window.
Cut broccoli into manageable florets so it is easier to drain and distribute. Thaw frozen shrimp according to the packaging and pat dry before seasoning. Keep the Parmesan ready for the sauce, and use the listed butter and oil for their separate cooking stages.
How to Make Alfredo Shrimp Pasta with Broccoli
1. Cook Pasta and Broccoli
Cook the pasta according to its package directions. Add the broccoli during the last 2 minutes of cooking, then drain both well. Excess water carried into the skillet can change the sauce’s consistency, so let the colander drain before combining.
2. Season and Cook the Shrimp
Pat the shrimp dry and season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the shrimp for about 2–3 minutes per side, checking their size and doneness, until opaque and cooked through. Remove from the skillet.
3. Warm Garlic and Cream
Reduce the heat to medium and melt the butter in the same skillet. Add the garlic and cook for about 1 minute, until fragrant. Pour in the cream and simmer gently for 3–4 minutes. Lower the burner if it begins boiling aggressively.
4. Melt the Parmesan
Stir the Parmesan into the warm cream until the mixture is smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the cheese while stirring instead of leaving it in a dense mound at the bottom of the pan.
5. Toss and Serve
Add the cooked pasta, broccoli, and shrimp. Toss gently until the sauce is distributed and everything is hot. Scatter with parsley and serve immediately, dividing the shrimp and broccoli among the plates rather than letting them collect beneath the noodles.
Tips for Pasta, Vegetables, and Sauce
Have the broccoli cut before the pasta approaches the end of cooking. The final 2-minute addition is easy to miss if you are still chopping. Set a reminder based on your pasta’s directions rather than assuming all shapes have the same boiling time.
Keep the cooked shrimp out of the skillet while the cream simmers. Returning them only for the final toss helps avoid a long second cooking stage. Prepare plates and side dishes beforehand so the assembled pasta does not need to wait hot on the burner.
Use gentle heat when melting the Parmesan. A sauce that is smooth before tossing is easier to distribute than one still containing clumps of cheese. Taste after the Parmesan goes in, since it brings seasoning along with texture.
Toss with a lifting motion rather than crushing the broccoli against the side of the pan. A wide skillet gives you room to move the pasta without pushing sauce over the edge. Serve while the coating is fluid and the shrimp are tender.
What to Serve with Shrimp Alfredo
A lightly dressed salad or simple vegetables adds freshness alongside the rich cream sauce. Garlic bread is optional for catching extra sauce, but the pasta already provides a substantial base. Keep additional sauces separate so the Parmesan flavor stays clear.
For a cream-free alternative, try garlic butter shrimp pasta with vegetables. If you prefer a spicier sauce with peppers, see creamy Cajun shrimp pasta. These offer other ways to use shrimp and noodles without repeating the same meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different pasta shape?
Yes, fettuccine or linguine would both work well in place of penne.
Can I use frozen shrimp?
Yes, just thaw completely and pat dry before cooking so they sear properly instead of releasing excess water.
Can I lighten up the sauce?
Half-and-half can be used in place of heavy cream, though the sauce will be a bit thinner and less rich.
Creamy Alfredo Shrimp Pasta with Broccoli Recipe Card
Creamy Alfredo Shrimp Pasta with Broccoli
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Cook the pasta according to package directions. Add the broccoli during the final 2 minutes of cooking, then drain both well and set aside.
- Pat the shrimp dry and season with Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the shrimp and cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until pink, opaque, and cooked through. Remove the shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
- Reduce the heat to medium and melt the butter in the same skillet. Add the garlic and cook for about 1 minute, until fragrant. Pour in the heavy cream and gently simmer for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Stir the Parmesan into the warm cream until melted and smooth. Season the creamy Alfredo sauce with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Add the cooked pasta, broccoli, and shrimp to the skillet. Toss gently until everything is evenly coated in the creamy Parmesan Alfredo sauce and heated through.
- Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve immediately. This creamy shrimp recipe combines juicy seafood, tender broccoli, pasta, and homemade Alfredo sauce for a simple and comforting dinner.