Here’s a complete, detailed, and big recipe write-up for the dish in your picture — Shrimp Alfredo Pasta Bake.
🍤 Creamy Shrimp Alfredo Pasta Bake
📖 Introduction
Shrimp Alfredo Pasta Bake is the ultimate comfort food that combines tender pasta, juicy shrimp, and a rich, creamy Alfredo sauce. Baked until golden and bubbling, this dish is a crowd-pleaser that works beautifully for weeknight dinners, gatherings, or even special celebrations. The combination of buttery garlic shrimp and velvety Alfredo sauce over pasta is not only indulgent but also timeless — a recipe that families across the world keep passing down and reinventing.
🛒 Ingredients
For the Shrimp:
- 1 ½ lbs large shrimp, peeled & deveined (tails on or off)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 tbsp butter
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt & black pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
For the Alfredo Sauce:
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 ½ cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese (optional for extra creaminess)
- Salt & black pepper, to taste
- Pinch of nutmeg (optional, for depth of flavor)
For the Pasta:
- 1 lb fettuccine or tagliatelle pasta
- 1 tbsp salt (for boiling water)
For Baking:
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley or basil for garnish
👩🍳 Instructions
- Cook the Pasta
- Boil water with salt and cook pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside. Toss lightly with olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Prepare the Shrimp
- Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant.
- Add shrimp, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Cook until shrimp turns pink and slightly golden (2–3 minutes per side). Remove and set aside.
- Make the Alfredo Sauce
- In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté garlic until fragrant.
- Add heavy cream and milk, stirring gently.
- Slowly whisk in Parmesan cheese until smooth and creamy.
- Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
- Assemble the Bake
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Mix pasta with Alfredo sauce until coated.
- Layer pasta in a baking dish, top with shrimp, then sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan over the top.
- Bake
- Bake uncovered for 15–20 minutes until cheese is melted and slightly golden.
- Serve
- Garnish with fresh parsley or basil and serve hot!
🔥 Methods
- Classic Stove-to-Oven Method – Sear shrimp, make sauce, mix with pasta, bake.
- Skillet Method – Skip baking, serve directly from skillet for a creamier, saucier version.
- Meal Prep Method – Prepare in foil containers (like in your picture), refrigerate, and bake when needed.
📜 History of Alfredo Pasta
Fettuccine Alfredo originated in Rome in the early 20th century. Alfredo di Lelio created this creamy pasta dish for his wife, using butter and Parmesan to settle her appetite. It spread to the United States, where cream was added, evolving into the rich Alfredo sauce we know today. Shrimp Alfredo is a delicious seafood twist that became popular in Italian-American kitchens.
💎 Benefits
- High Protein – Shrimp is lean, rich in protein, and low in fat.
- Calcium & Vitamins – Cheese provides calcium for bones and vitamin A.
- Comfort & Energy – Pasta provides carbs for long-lasting energy.
- Omega-3s – Shrimp offers heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
🏗️ Formation (How the Dish Comes Together)
- Pasta forms the hearty base.
- Alfredo sauce binds everything with creamy richness.
- Shrimp brings flavor, protein, and elegance.
- Baking locks in flavors and creates a melty, golden topping.
❤️ Lovers of This Dish
- Families who love hearty Italian-style dinners.
- Seafood lovers who appreciate shrimp in a rich, creamy setting.
- Couples on date night (romantic, elegant meal).
- Party guests, since it’s easy to make in large trays.
🥗 Nutrition (Per Serving – approx. 1/6 of recipe)
- Calories: ~580
- Protein: 36g
- Fat: 28g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Calcium: 22% DV
- Iron: 15% DV
🎀 Conclusion
Shrimp Alfredo Pasta Bake is a dish that speaks to both comfort and elegance. With creamy pasta, juicy shrimp, and melted cheese, it’s a recipe you’ll want to make over and over again. Whether for weeknight dinners or festive occasions, this dish never fails to impress.
❤️ Conclusion with Lovers
This dish is for lovers of rich, creamy pasta, for seafood enthusiasts, and for anyone who believes that food should be both comforting and indulgent. Once you make it, your family, friends, and guests will keep asking for it again — it’s that unforgettable!
Would you like me to also give you a quick variation list (like Cajun Shrimp Alfredo, Spinach Shrimp Alfredo, or Spicy Shrimp Alfredo) so you can switch it up sometimes?