Hands down Olive Garden Shrimp Alfredo is a favorite recipe of so many people! Did you know you can make this classic Olive Garden dish in just about 30 minutes?
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Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo with Shrimp
The Olive Garden is known for its amazing Alfredo Sauce. A rich and creamy Parmesan cheese sauce is made even better when paired with freshly sauteed shrimp. This recipe is perfect for when you want a dinner that is rich and decadent. Did you know it’s actually pretty easy to make this classic shrimp fettuccine alfredo pasta recipe?
What Makes Olive Garden Shrimp Alfredo so Good?
When you taste this dish, it may seem like it has more ingredients than it actually does. However, the simple ingredients work together perfectly to create a sophisticated flavor.
The exquisite taste of the dish can be attributed to the use of whole ingredients that combine to perfectly dress the lightly browned shrimp and al dente pasta. The rich flavor and varying textures of sauce, noodles, and shrimp make an out-of-this-world experience for your palate.
Why This Dish Works
Alfredo sauce with pasta works so well because you use fresh butter, cream, and Parmesan cheese. Parmesan cheese is a dry slightly salty and nutty cheese that always adds a special touch to many Italian dishes. In Alfredo shrimp pasta, shrimp is perfectly seasoned and cooked in seasoned butter to give the shrimp a little something extra.
Ingredients
Here’s what you will need for this copycat Olive Garden Shrimp Alfredo recipe:
- Shrimp
- Salt
- Ground Black Pepper
- Butter
- Garlic
- Fettuccine Pasta
- Heavy Cream
- Butter
- Grated Parmesan Cheese
How to Make Shrimp Alfredo
Making shrimp Alfredo is not difficult at all. You can make the whole dish in under 20 minutes.
- If your shrimp is not peeled and deveined, peel and devein the shrimp.
- Start the pasta water to boil.
- Make the Alfredo sauce by melting the butter and cream together.
- When the butter and cream are melted, add the Parmesan cheese and stir until the cheese melts. Reduce the temperature to low.
- Drop your pasta into the boiling water and cook the shrimp.
- Season shrimp with salt and black pepper.
- Saute shrimp by adding butter to a skillet over medium heat. When the pan is hot add chopped garlic and saute for about 30 seconds.
- Saute shrimp on each side for about 2 to 3 minutes. The shrimp should be pink.
- When the pasta is done, drain it, and toss it into the Alfredo sauce.
- Serve the alfredo pasta topped with the cooked shrimp.
Secrets for How to Make Delicious Shrimp Alfredo
- Use medium-size shrimp, this way you get a good bite of seafood flavor.
- Be careful not to overcook the shrimp, you can undercook the shrimp a tiny bit, as when it is combined with the pasta it will finish cooking.
- Use a good quality Parmesan cheese. Do not use Parmesan cheese from a can.
- Do not overcook the pasta – Mushy pasta is not a good thing. Cook your pasta al dente.
Tips and Tricks for Making Alfredo sauce
- Use a Parmesan cheese you will grate. Pre-grated cheese has an anti-caking agent in it that may prevent the cheese from melting well.
- Heat the butter and cream to where it bubbles before you add the cheese, it will melt better this way.
- If you plan on having some extra sauce, do not store the sauce with the pasta, the pasta can soak up the sauce.
What to Serve with Shrimp Alfredo
Enjoy this heavenly pasta dish with the addition of broccoli or mushrooms, which you can mix right into the sauce or serve separately.
You can also serve it with homemade Olive Garden breadsticks or garlic bread and a side salad such as Olive Garden’s house salad or Caesar salad.
I love sprinkling on some extra parmesan and chopped fresh parsley just before eating it!
How to Store the Leftovers
Once you allow the extra shrimp alfredo to cool, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Ideally, keep the sauce and pasta separately. Because of the dairy in this dish, I don’t recommend freezing it.
What is the Best Way to Reheat This Dish?
I suggest reheating this on the stovetop rather than the microwave so the shrimp has a nice texture. Place the food in a sauté pan and heat it over medium heat.
Cover it with a lid to retain the moisture so the shrimp can gently steam. You can also add a dash of cream or milk to loosen the sauce if needed.
Love Olive Garden? Try these copycat recipes!
- Mushroom Stuffed Chicken Breast
- Olive Garden Apple Sangria
- Restaurant Spinach Dip
- Olive Garden Zuppa Recipe
- Olive Garden Soups
- Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo Sauce
- Mozzarella Squares
- Venetian Chicken Recipe
- Fried Shrimp Scampi
- Baked Shrimp
More Shrimp Recipes
Be sure to take a look at more of my copycat seafood recipes and easy Italian recipes.
Olive Garden Shrimp Alfredo
Ingredients
Shrimp
- 12 ounces medium-sized shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon chopped garlic
Pasta
- 12 ounces dry fettuccine pasta
Alfredo Sauce
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 4 ounces butter
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder optional
Instructions
Pasta Directions
- Salt water for pasta in a large pot, and bring to a boil.
- Cook pasta for the time recommended on the pasta.
Shrimp Directions
- Season shrimp with salt and black pepper.
- Saute shrimp by adding butter to a pan over medium heat. When the pan is hot add chopped garlic and saute for about 30 seconds.
- Saute shrimp on each side for about 2 to 3 minutes. The shrimp should be pink.
Alfredo Sauce Directions
- Prepare the Alfredo sauce by combining the cream and butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Do not let the mixture come to a boil, but heat until small bubbles begin to form.
- Add the Parmesan cheese and whisk quickly. Add the garlic powder and continue to whisk.
Serving the Shirmp Alfredo
- Place cooked pasta into a large bowl. Add cooked shrimp and alfredo sauce. Toss together. Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- Do not allow the pasta to overcook. The residual heat in the pasta will help it finish cooking.
- Do not allow the shrimp to overcook; it will become rubbery. Wait until it is just pink.
- Do use a block of Parmesan cheese that you grate for best results.
- If your alfredo sauce is thin, add a couple of tablespoons of cream cheese to it to make it thicker.
Ashley Barr
I love it i made it just now my boyfriend loves it definitely doin more of ur recipes thank u
Lindap
Made this for dinner last night. It was amazing. Thank you. I can’t wait to try your other copycats.
Robin
I am a 66 year old Sicilian Grandmom. I found you last year. As you can imagine I’m very picky about other people’s Italian recipes. This was just as great as my recipe and I even learned a few things. Bravo. Every recipe I’ve tried is a 5.Grazie for all your work that helps others find ways to save money by not going to a restaurant and paying a lot more. I’ll definitely keep cooking your copykats. Many blessings, Mama Robz.
Stephanie Manley
Aww thank you!
Roxanne
Excellent. Made no changes to the recipe. Why mess with perfection!
Shakira R
Oh yes!!! I just cooked this and it was absolutely delicious!!!
Sonya
I love this recipe and so do my kids. I just cooked it over the weekend and my son wants me to cook it again today.
Missy
Just made it. It is delicious. It makes alot too. I’m gonna freeze some for later.
Bernadette
Love your recipes can’t get enough of them thank you
*******
Stephanie
Thank you!
Sally
I have not had chance to try this shrimp alfredo from Olive Garden, thank you for sharing the recipe! I can’t wait to try it at home!
vivian
I made the alfredo sauce the recipe turned out so good
clara Miller
I love your website to saves a lot of money. Keep the recipes coming
Stephanie
I will do my best to keep the recipes coming!
Lowell Rogers
Thank You!
From Texas and our HideOUT IN Maine!
Sammy
Can’t wait to give this a try!