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Elle Cresswell

The Date-Night Shrimp Alfredo

Light a candle, pour a glass of something cold and crisp, and let this Creamy Shrimp Alfredo do what it does best — steal the show.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • ¼ lbs fettuccine pasta
  • 1 lbs juicy shrimp
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp paprika
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp oil
  • ½ medium onion finally chopped
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • ½ cup white wine
  • 2 cups cream
  • ⅓ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • Salt to taste
  • Pepper to taste
  • A handful of fresh parsley

Method
 

  1. Start by bringing a big pot of salted water to a boil — it should taste like the sea (but, you know… pleasant). Drop in ¾ pound of fettuccine and cook according to the package instructions until perfectly al dente.
    Drain it — but whatever you do, don’t rinse it. We want that starchy goodness to help the sauce cling later.
    Now, while the pasta is doing its thing, let’s talk shrimp.
  2. Pat 1 pound of shrimp dry with paper towels (dry shrimp = better sear, and we love a golden moment).Season them with:
    ½ teaspoon salt
    ¼ teaspoon paprika
    ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    Give them a quick toss so everyone’s coated and feeling included.
    Heat a large pan over medium-high and add 1 tablespoon of oil.Once it’s shimmering, lay the shrimp down in a single layer — no crowding, no chaos.
    Cook about 2 minutes per side, just until they turn pink and opaque. Don’t overcook — we want tender, not rubbery. Remove and set aside like the little seafood stars they are.
  3. Now for the sauce magic.
    Finely chop ½ a medium onion.In that same skillet (hello, flavor), add 2 tablespoons of butter and the chopped onion.
    Sauté for about 5 minutes, until soft, sweet, and lightly golden.
    Mince 1 garlic clove and stir it in. Let it cook for about 1 minute, just until fragrant. (If your kitchen doesn’t smell amazing right now, something’s wrong.)
    Pour in ⅓ cup white wine — Chardonnay if you’re feeling fancy.Let it simmer and reduce until most of the liquid has evaporated. This is where the flavor deepens and gets a little dramatic.
    Now pour in 2 cups of cream.Bring it to a gentle simmer and let it cook for about 2 minutes to thicken slightly.
    Sprinkle in ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese and stir until it melts into a silky, dreamy Alfredo sauce. Let it come just to a light simmer — not a boil.
    Taste. Add salt and pepper as needed.
  4. Now bring it all together.
    Add the cooked pasta and shrimp back into the pan. Toss everything until those long ribbons are completely coated in that rich, creamy sauce.
    Finish with fresh parsley, serve immediately, and prepare for silence at the table — the good kind.
    This is the kind of pasta that makes people close their eyes after the first bite.

Notes

Be sure to take the shrimp out of the pan as soon as they’re cooked — they only need a couple of minutes per side. Leave them in too long and they’ll go from tender and juicy to “why are you chewy?” real fast.
And that final combo? Magic.
The fresh parsley adds brightness, the Parmesan brings that salty, nutty depth, the cream makes everything lush and velvety… and the white wine — even though it’s just a splash — quietly ties it all together. It doesn’t overpower, it just enhances. Like a good supporting character that secretly makes the whole show better.
It’s simple ingredients, but together? Chef’s kiss.
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