Ingredients
– 1 pound medium or large shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails removed if desired
– 2 tablespoons olive oil
– 3 cups broccoli florets
– 1/4 cup water
– 8 ounces medium pasta shells, boiled until tender and drained
– 3 tablespoons butter
– 2 teaspoons minced garlic
– 2 tablespoons flour
– 3 cups whole milk
– 2/3 cup shredded parmesan cheese
– 1 to 2 teaspoons salt
– 1/2 teaspoon cracked or ground black pepper
– Additional grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
1-First step: Cook the shrimp
Set a large skillet over medium heat and drizzle in the olive oil. Once the oil is warm, add the shrimp in a single layer. Cook them for 4 to 6 minutes, stirring once or twice, until they turn opaque and are cooked through.
Move the shrimp to a plate or dish, then cover them loosely to keep warm. If you are using already cooked shrimp, just heat them briefly in the oil until warmed through, which makes this recipe even faster for busy nights.
2-Second step: Steam the broccoli
Add the broccoli florets and water to the same pan. Cover the skillet and cook for 4 to 6 minutes until the broccoli is fork-tender. The steam helps soften the florets without making them mushy.
When the broccoli is ready, drain off any extra liquid and set it aside with the shrimp. This keeps the vegetables bright and helps the sauce stay thick later.
3-Third step: Start the Alfredo base
Lower the heat slightly if needed, then melt the butter in the skillet. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute, just until fragrant. You want the garlic to smell warm and savory, not browned.
Next, sprinkle the flour over the butter and garlic. Stir until the mixture looks smooth and paste-like. This step makes the sauce thicker and helps it cling to the pasta shells.
4-Fourth step: Whisk in the milk
Slowly pour in the milk while whisking the whole time. Add a little at a time so the sauce stays smooth. Keep whisking until the mixture thickens and no flour lumps remain.
If you want a richer Shrimp Broccoli Alfredo, you can replace part of the milk with heavy cream. For a lighter bowl, use whole milk, 2 percent milk, or a mix of milk and plain Greek yogurt.
5-Fifth step: Add the cheese and seasonings
Stir in the parmesan cheese, salt, and black pepper. Keep stirring until the cheese melts into the sauce and everything looks creamy and glossy. Taste the sauce before moving on, then add more salt or pepper if needed.
6-Sixth step: Bring everything together
Add the cooked pasta shells to the skillet, then gently fold in the shrimp and broccoli. Stir until every shell gets coated with the sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of milk to loosen it.
Cook for another minute or two, just until everything is hot. Then top with extra grated parmesan cheese and serve right away while the sauce is creamy and warm.
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Notes
🛢️ Use jarred alfredo sauce for ultra-quick 15-minute version.
🥛 Swap 1 cup milk for heavy cream—creates richer, restaurant-style sauce.
🥦 Make healthier: Sub Greek yogurt for butter/cream to cut fat.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Pescatarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 503 kcal
- Sugar: 13g
- Sodium: 965mg
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 38mg
