Description
Creamy Tortellini and Shrimp Alfredo combines tender cheese-filled tortellini with succulent shrimp in a rich, homemade Alfredo sauce. This restaurant-quality Italian-American dish is perfect for special occasions or a luxurious weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound cheese tortellini (fresh or frozen)
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg (freshly grated preferred)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook tortellini according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, pat shrimp dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp and cook for 1-2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and add butter. Once melted, add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 3-4 minutes until it begins to thicken slightly.
- Gradually whisk in the Parmesan cheese until melted and sauce is smooth. Add nutmeg and red pepper flakes if using.
- Add the cooked tortellini to the sauce and gently toss to coat. Return the shrimp to the pan and cook for another minute until everything is heated through.
- Finish with fresh lemon juice and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Serve immediately, garnished with chopped parsley and additional Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- For best results, use freshly grated Parmesan cheese, not the pre-grated kind in a container.
- If the sauce becomes too thick, add a splash of pasta cooking water to thin it out.
- You can substitute half-and-half for heavy cream for a lighter version, though the sauce won’t be as rich.
- Add cooked vegetables like spinach, peas, or roasted red peppers for extra color and nutrition.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 785
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 890mg
- Fat: 48g
- Saturated Fat: 28g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 39g
- Cholesterol: 280mg
Keywords: tortellini and shrimp alfredo, creamy pasta, seafood pasta, shrimp alfredo, cheese tortellini, Italian dinner, easy dinner recipe
