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Creamy pasta nights hit different when shrimp and bacon are invited. This Shrimp Alfredo takes everything people love about a classic carbonara and folds it into a rich, silky shrimp alfredo sauce that clings to every strand of pasta without feeling heavy or greasy.
Instead of choosing between carbonara with shrimp or a traditional alfredo, this recipe quietly steals the best parts of both. You get smoky bacon, juicy shrimp, and a sauce that feels indulgent but still balanced enough that you actually want a second bowl.
What Makes This Recipe Work
This recipe is built for maximum payoff with minimal fuss.
- Bacon-forward flavour base: Rendering the bacon first gives you a built-in layer of smoky depth that seasons the shrimp and the sauce without needing extra fat or salt later.
- Silky, not stodgy sauce: The shrimp alfredo sauce is creamy and rich but never gluey, thanks to controlled heat and pasta water working behind the scenes.
- Carbonara energy, Alfredo comfort: You get that savoury carbonara-style richness from bacon and cheese, paired with the lush creaminess people expect from Shrimp Alfredo.
What Goes Into Shrimp Alfredo
This Shrimp Alfredo combines juicy shrimp, crispy bacon, and a rich parmesan cream for a quick, flavorful meal. You get all the indulgence of shrimp alfredo sauce with the comfort of carbonara with shrimp.
- Bacon: Diced and pan-fried until crispy for a savory, smoky base.
- Shrimp: Fresh or frozen, tails on or off, bringing a sweet and tender bite.
- Heavy Cream: Creates the silky, luscious sauce; you can also use half and half or evaporated milk.
- Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated for maximum flavor and creamy texture.
Note: Please see recipe card at the bottom for a full list of ingredients with measurements.
Add-Ins And Swaps (If You’re Feeling Extra)
Want to switch things up without breaking the recipe? These work beautifully and are not already in the base dish.
- Mushrooms: Sautéed mushrooms add an earthy note that pairs insanely well with bacon and shrimp.
- Spinach Or Kale: Stir in a handful right at the end for a pop of colour and freshness.
- Chilli Crisp Or Chilli Oil: For heat lovers who want more than just peppery warmth.
- Pancetta Instead Of Bacon: Slightly milder but still rich if you want a more classic carbonara vibe.
How To Make Shrimp Alfredo
- Crisp the Bacon: Heat oil over medium high heat and fry bacon until crispy. Drain off excess fat, leaving about 1 teaspoon.
- Sauté the Aromatics: Add the onion and garlic to the skillet. Cook until the onion is transparent, about 1 minute.
- Cook the Shrimp: Reduce the heat to low and add the shrimp. Cook for 1 minute, stirring occasionally.
- Build the Sauce: Pour in the half and half or cream and add the parmesan. Bring to a gentle simmer for 1 minute.
- Season and Thicken: Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook until the parmesan melts, the shrimp are cooked through, and the sauce slightly thickens.
- Finish and Serve: Stir in the parsley, adjusting salt and pepper if needed. Serve over pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, cauliflower rice, or zucchini noodles.
Enjoy this Shrimp Alfredo with Caprese Garlic Bread for an ultra-indulgent pairing. Add a lighter side like Skinny Lemon Garlic Shrimp Caesar Salad for freshness and crunch. For a hearty, flavor-packed option, serve it with Hasselback Herbed Garlic Butter Sweet Potatoes to round out the meal.
Pro Tips From My Kitchen To Yours
- Use low heat once the cream goes in. High heat can split the sauce and ruin the texture.
- Always reserve pasta water. It helps loosen the sauce without thinning the flavour.
- Season at the end. Bacon and parmesan already bring salt, so taste first.
- Pull shrimp early. They finish cooking in the sauce and stay tender.
Recipe FAQ’s
Alfredo uses a cream and parmesan base, while carbonara with shrimp traditionally includes egg yolks for richness. This recipe blends the two styles but keeps it egg free.
Cook them over low to medium heat and remove them as soon as they turn pink to avoid a rubbery texture.
Absolutely. Just thaw and pat them dry before cooking so they sear nicely and don’t water down the sauce.
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Carbonara Shrimp Alfredo
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 4 oz bacon diced
- 1 small onion
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 1 pound shrimp tails on or off
- 1 1/4 cups heavy cream half and half or evaporated milk
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese fresh grated
- 1 pinch salt to taste
- 1 pinch pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Heat oil a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the bacon until crispy. Drain off some excess fat, keeping about 1 teaspoons worth in the pan. Add the onion and garlic and fry until onion is transparent (about 1 minute).
- Reduce heat to low. Add shrimp and let cook for 1 minute, while stirring occasionally.
- Pour in half and half (or cream) and add in parmesan cheese. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer for 1 minute. Season with a little salt and pepper to your taste and let cook until the parmesan cheese has melted, the shrimp are cooked through and the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Top with parsley, taste test sauce and adjust salt and pepper, if needed.
- Serve over pasta, rice, steamed veg, mashed potatoes, cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Going to make this during the week. Can I use fat free 1/2 and 1/2 instead?
Hi Linda, You can use fat free half-and-half, but keep in mind that it won’t thicken as naturally as the heavy cream or standard half-and-half listed in the recipe. Because it lacks the fat content to emulsify properly, your sauce might end up a bit thinner. Mix a teaspoon of cornstarch into the cold fat free liquid before adding it to the pan to help it thicken up. Fat free dairy can curdle or break more easily than full fat cream, so keep the heat low and just let it gently simmer. Enjoy Xx
This recipe is the bomb! However, a little light on the cheese, because cheese! I probably ended up at at least a full cup of cheese until I got where I wanted. GF said it was the best alfredo she’s ever had by a very large margin.
I just made this! I read all the comments before making a recipe. I LOVE Cafedelights recipes. On the thickening; I put my shrimp (and bay scallops) in a little bit of flour. I don’t know the measurements, I use baggies. AMAZING! I did the main part of the recipe, saved the bacon grease for my multi layers of cooking; 1. onions, garlic 2. Butter bacon grease with shrimp 1 min, 3. bacon grease butter bay scallops until browned. Mind you, I lightly floured them. Presentation was amazing, and the sauce was perfect (if you prefer a thicker sauce). Each layer was cooked separately in the same pan. Just added the reserved bacon, and 1 Pat of butter, threw it all together
Really good and easy added some red bell pepper for color the shrimp and bacon is a winner
Made for the recipezazz Italian leg of the tour