This shrimp alfredo pasta bake is irresistibly rich in flavours, easy to make, and a family friendly dinner everyone will love. With savoury shrimps that are cooked till tender and tossed with pasta in a creamy homemade alfredo sauce, this hearty dish is perfect for a simple and quick family meal! Topped with breadcrumbs and baked till golden brown, the pasta has a crispy, crunchy crust that is loaded with satisfying creamy goodness inside. The combination of the added crunchiness and shrimp alfredo pasta literally makes the dish even more addictive!
This pasta bake recipe is simple to make and will be ready to serve in no time! Simply cook the alfredo sauce in advance, toss it with cooked shrimps and pasta, then pop into the oven with bread crumbs on top, you’ll be able to enjoy a cosy and comforting meal.
Table of contents
Ingredients for shrimp pasta alfredo bake
- Fusilli pasta: The twist and turns of the fusilli pasta hold onto the creamy alfredo sauce well, making it flavourful in every bite. Penne, rigatoni, or fettuccine pasta would pair perfectly well with the sauce too!
- Shrimps: A healthy shellfish choice that pairs well with the creamy alfredo sauce. Seasoned simply with a pinch of salt, they add a mild salty and savoury flavour to the dish with hints of their natural sweetness.
- Salt and pepper: For seasoning the shrimps and alfredo sauce.
- Oil: For pan-searing the shrimps.
- Butter: This adds richness and flavour to the sauce. You can use either salted or unsalted butter for this recipe, simply adjust the amount of salt when seasoning the shrimps.
- Garlic: This gives a flavour punch to the alfredo sauce, making it more garlicky and nuttier.
- Plain flour: Plain flour helps thicken the sauce.
- Milk: This creates a creamy sauce without the use of heavy cream to reduce the amount of calories and fats in the dish.
- Grated parmesan cheese: This adds cheesiness to the flavour to enhance the creamy taste, and helps with thickening the sauce too.
- Breadcrumbs: By spreading the breadcrumbs over the top of the pasta and oven-bake till golden brown, this achieves a delightfully crispy and crunchy crust!
How to make shrimp alfredo pasta bake
- Cook the pasta in a pot with salted water for 2 minutes less than the package instructions recommend.
- Meanwhile, heat some oil in a wok over medium-high heat then add in shrimps. Season with salt and cook till they turn opaque with a pink/orange colour. Remove them from the wok and set a side.
- Using the same wok, make the alfredo sauce. Melt butter in the wok and cook the minced garlic until fragrant.
- Stir in plain flour and milk until there are no lumps.
- Season with salt and pepper, and add in grated parmesan cheese. Stir to combine.
- Drain the pasta and transfer it together with cooked shrimps to the wok. Toss with the sauce until well combined.
- Preheat the oven to 200ºC.
- Transfer the shrimp alfredo pasta to a roasting pan. Spread it out evenly to fill the pan.
- Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese generously over the pasta. Bake in the oven at 200ºC for 6-8 minutes until golden brown.
What are the health benefits of shrimps?
Shrimp is one of my go-to meats when cooking meals at home. It is easy and quick to cook, with savoury and naturally sweet flavours that pair well with most spices and sauces, making it a versatile choice for a speedy meal. Not only that, they are also loaded with health benefits that add a nutritional punch to the dish!
A great source of lean protein.
Apart from their low calorie and saturated fat content, shrimps are an excellent source of lean protein that helps our body build healthy muscles, and provides sustained energy to support blood sugar regulation.
They support heart health.
Containing unsaturated fat, omega-3 fatty acid, and antioxidant astaxanthin, shrimps have several beneficial nutrients that support heart health. The unsaturated fat and omega-3 fatty acid lower bad cholesterol levels while raising good cholesterol levels, preventing heart disease development. The antioxidant plays an important role in reducing inflammation in our bodies, making shrimps effective against heart disease and other chronic illnesses.
Full of essential vitamins and minerals.
With various healthful vitamins and minerals, such as zinc, vitamin E, and B vitamins, these boost our immune system and support our bodies with energy metabolism, growth, and repair.
What is alfredo sauce?
Alfredo sauce is a white cream sauce that is traditionally made with butter, parmesan cheese, and fettuccine pasta in di Lelio’s original recipe. It is now catered to American tastes to include butter, heavy cream, grated parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper to create a richer and creamier flavour. This recipe uses milk and flour to create a thickening effect for a healthier, rich and creamy sauce.
Success tips for making shrimp alfredo pasta bake
Don’t overcook the shrimps.
To ensure the cooked shrimps are juicy and tender, be sure not to overcook the shrimps as they will become tough and dry. Overcooked shrimps will have a tight C-shape with a solid white-pink colour. Depending on the size of shrimps, it takes about 2-4 minutes to cook them, so be sure to remove them from the pan and set aside.
This is a photo of what cooked shrimps should look like. They will turn opaque with a pink/orange colour, and their tails curled up to a C-shape.
Stir constantly when making the alfredo sauce.
As you add in flour, milk, and parmesan cheese when making the alfredo sauce, stir constantly to ensure the ingredients are evenly incorporated and prevent any lumps in the sauce.
Toss the pasta with the sauce instead of pouring it over the pasta.
This allows the sauce to thicken while tossing pasta with the sauce, allowing it to stick better to the pasta, making it more flavourful in every bite.
Can I freeze leftover alfredo sauce?
Yes, you can keep leftover alfredo sauce. Simply store them in an airtight container and store in the freezer. You can even make a larger amount of alfredo sauce so that you can save time cooking alfredo pasta next time. Simply double or triple up the amount of ingredients in the recipe and freeze the remaining sauce. If you’re making a huge pot of alfredo sauce, it’s better to separate it into servings, as the quality will decline if you re-freeze the sauce.
Should I reserve the pasta liquid?
If the alfredo sauce gets too thick when tossing with the pasta, you can add in some pasta liquid. The starchy pasta liquid will also allow the sauce to stick better to the pasta!
This shrimp alfredo pasta bake brings together a creamy goodness of alfredo sauce and fulfilling pasta bake with rich flavours. The crunchy breadcrumbs on top bring the tasting experience to the next level! If you’re looking for a quick, cosy meal, check out this recipe!
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Shrimp Alfredo Pasta Bake
Equipment
- 1 Wok
Ingredients
- 180 g fusilli pasta
- 175 g shrimps
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp oil
- 2 tbsp breadcrumbs
For the alfredo sauce
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 tbsp plain flour
- 1 cup milk
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in salted water for 2 minutes less than the package instructions recommend.
- Meanwhile, heat 1 tbsp oil in a wok over medium-high heat.
- Add in shrimps, season with salt, and pan-sear both sides until they turn opaque with a pink/orange colour (about 2-4 minutes in total). Set aside.
- Using the same wok, cook the alfredo sauce. Melt butter and add in minced garlic, stir-fry until fragrant.
- Stirring constantly, add in plain flour and milk. Stir until there are no lumps.
- Lower the heat, and season the sauce with salt and pepper.
- Add in grated parmesan cheese and stir until well combined.
- Drain the pasta and reserve a cup of pasta liquid (only necessary if the sauce gets too thick).
- Preheat the oven to 200°C.
- Transfer the cooked pasta and shrimps back to the wok. Toss them with the sauce.
- Place the shrimp alfredo pasta in a roasting pan, spread out evenly. Sprinkle breadcrumbs generously over the pasta.
- Bake in the oven at 200°C for 6-8 minutes until golden brown.
