Chicken and Shrimp Alfredo: Best 30-Minute Dinner Idea

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The dish brings together Italian culinary richness with domestic home cooking comfort while enchanting every palate. The decaden classic combination of Chicken and Shrimp Alfredo delivers a sensory experience that delights our taste buds. By creating Chicken and Shrimp Alfredo you get more than just tossing pasta and sauce together because the art requires combination of flavor management alongside texture coordination to deliver hearty yet sophisticated final results.
In 1920s Rome Alfredo Di Lelio made the first Alfredo sauce to excite his expectant wife’s craving for food. Traditional Italian restaurants around the United States made Alfredo sauce their signature dish in the mid-twentieth century thus spreading its popularity across the world starting from its original pasta with butter and Parmesan combination. This chicken and shrimp dish creates a protein-rich variation that unites all of the flavors while providing ideal textures.
Why the Chicken and Shrimp Alfredo Recipe Stands Out
Executing our recipe correctly produces a constant emulsion for the sauce through stepwise ingredient addition while preserving proper temperatures. Our secret ingredient of nutmeg brings an extraordinary impact to the dish that keeps the proteins moist and stops them from drying during cooking.

Key Features:
The silky-smooth creamy texture of the sauce stays unbroken throughout the preparation.
A harmonious flavor relationship develops through combinations of rich tastes with zesty lemon and fresh herbs.
Restaurant-Quality refers to technical mastery that transforms home cooked food into professional chef-level quality.
Time-Saving Tips:
Mise en Place: Prep all ingredients first for efficient cooking.
The process requires keeping all steps active by cooking the pasta at the same time as preparing the proteins and making the sauce.
Essential Equipment
Tools that match these requirements result in perfect performance outcomes.
12-inch Skillet: For even cooking.
Pasta Pot with Strainer: For al dente pasta.
Microplane: For grating Parmesan.
The chef’s knife: should be used to perform accurate preparation of proteins.
Ingredients Breakdown
Pasta
- Fettuccine: Traditional choice; alternatives include pappardelle or spaghetti.
- Cooking Tips: Cook until al dente, reserve pasta water for sauce.

Proteins
- Chicken Breasts: Sliced into strips, seasoned with Italian herbs.
- Shrimp: Peeled and deveined, lightly seasoned.
- Cooking Methods: Chicken seared until golden, shrimp cooked until pink.

Sauce
- Cheese Blend: Parmesan and Romano for depth.
- Cream and Butter: Essential for rich sauce.
- Aromatics: Garlic and shallots for flavor base.
- Nutmeg and Pepper: Add warmth and balance.

In this article, you can discover all you need to know about Cheese.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Preparation
- Mise en Place: Prep ingredients, season proteins, measure sauce components.
- Cook Pasta: Bring salted water to boil, cook fettuccine al dente, reserve water.
Cooking Proteins
- Chicken: Sear in olive oil and butter until golden and cooked through.
- Shrimp: Cook in same skillet until pink and just done.
Making the Sauce
- Aromatics: Sauté shallots and garlic, add a touch of red pepper flakes if desired.
- Emulsion: Whisk in cream and half-and-half, simmer until thickened.
- Cheese: Gradually add Parmesan and Romano, whisk until smooth.
- Seasoning: Add nutmeg and pepper, adjust to taste.
Assembly
- Combine: Add chicken, shrimp, and pasta to sauce, toss gently.
- Adjust: Use pasta water if sauce thickens.
- Rest: Let sit for flavors to meld before serving.
Expert Tips
- Don’t Rush: Simmer sauce gently to avoid breaking.
- Pasta Water Magic: Adjust sauce consistency seamlessly.
- Garnish Fresh: Parsley and basil add vibrant freshness.
Variations and Customizations
- Proteins: Add scallops or Italian sausage.
- Flavors: Cajun spice or lemon zest for a twist.
- Diet: Gluten-free pasta or dairy substitutes.
To make your food healthy and safe, you can visit Nutrition Resource.
FAQs
- Sauce Breaking: Whisk in a little cream or pasta water.
- Reheating: Gently heat with a splash of milk.
- Freezing: Best to freeze sauce separately.
Wine Pairing
- Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio: Oak notes complement creamy sauce.
- Limoncello Spritz: Refreshing finish.
- Water with Lemon: Alternative for non-wine drinkers.
Side Dishes
- Caprese Salad: Fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil.
- Garlic Bread: Perfect mop for sauce.
- Steamed Asparagus: Light contrast to richness.
Make It a Menu
- Appetizer: Bruschetta.
- Dessert: Tiramisu.
- Full Menu: Caprese Salad, Alfredo, Tiramisu.
Related Recipes
- Shrimp Scampi
- Chicken Parmesan
- Tuscan Chicken
- Pasta Primavera

Best-Ever Chicken and Shrimp Alfredo
Ingredients
For the Pasta:
- 12 oz fettuccine pasta or pappardelle
- 1 tbsp salt for pasta water
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta cooking water
For the Proteins:
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch strips
- 1 lb large shrimp 16-20 count, peeled and deveined, tails optional
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning divided
- 1 tsp garlic powder divided
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil divided
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter divided
For the Sauce:
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 small shallot finely diced
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes optional
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour optional, for thicker sauce
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup half-and-half
- 1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Romano cheese
- 1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp white pepper
For Garnish
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh basil thinly sliced
- Additional grated Parmesan cheese
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Preparation:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add salt.
- Season chicken strips with 1 tsp Italian seasoning, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Season shrimp with remaining Italian seasoning, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Have all sauce ingredients measured and ready.
- Cook the Pasta:
- Cook pasta until al dente according to package directions, usually 8-10 minutes.
- Before draining, reserve 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water.
- Drain pasta but do not rinse. Set aside.
- Cook the Proteins:
- In a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp butter.
- Once hot, add chicken in a single layer (work in batches if needed). Cook undisturbed for 3-4 minutes until golden.
- Turn chicken pieces and cook for another 2-3 minutes until cooked through (165°F). Remove to a plate and tent with foil.
- In the same skillet, add remaining olive oil and butter.
- Add shrimp in a single layer and cook for 1-2 minutes per side until just pink and opaque. Be careful not to overcook.
- Remove shrimp to the plate with chicken.
- Make the Sauce:
- Reduce heat to medium and add butter to the skillet.
- Add shallots and cook for 1 minute until softened.
- Add garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- [Optional for thicker sauce] Add flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Slowly whisk in heavy cream and half-and-half.
- Bring to a gentle simmer (do not boil) and cook for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Reduce heat to low and gradually add Parmesan and Romano cheeses, whisking constantly until smooth.
- Add nutmeg and white pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Assembly:
- Return chicken and shrimp to the skillet, including any accumulated juices.
- Add drained pasta and toss gently to coat. If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time.
- Cook for 1-2 minutes until everything is heated through and well-combined.
- Remove from heat, cover, and let rest for 2-3 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Serving:
- Transfer to warmed serving plates or a large pasta bowl.
- Garnish with fresh herbs, additional Parmesan, and serve with lemon wedges.
- Enjoy immediately.
Notes
2. Pasta water is key to adjusting sauce thickness – don’t skip this step
3. Room temperature cream helps prevent sauce from breaking
4. Pat shrimp dry with paper towels before cooking for better searing
5. For a lighter version, substitute whole milk for half of the heavy cream
This Chicken and Shrimp Alfredo is not just a meal; it’s an experience. With the right techniques and ingredients, it’s achievable at home. Try it, tweak it, and make it yours. Let me know your experience in the reviews below.
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