Creamy Shrimp Alfredo

Delicious, indulgent and not to mention addictive, Creamy Shrimp Alfredo With Spinach is the ultimate comfort meal, with silky sauce piled generously on top of piping hot pasta.

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It may be a classic restaurant dish, but don’t be fooled – it couldn’t be easier to whip up your own alfredo at home using just a few key ingredients. 

For best results and to better enhance this creamy shrimp Alfredo with spinach recipe, without sacrificing taste and authentic flavor, instead of using cheese from the shaker or pre-grated cheese, consider Cooper® Sharp cheese.

For this recipe, we used Cooper® Sharp White cheese to put a twist on an old favorite dish. Our recipe has the addition of shrimp and spinach to add some fresh flavors, a splash of color and a nutritious hit of protein.  

This meal is quick enough to make for a weeknight supper, but special enough to serve on date night. This Shrimp Alfredo With Spinach recipe is one for every home cook to master.

ALFREDO SAUCE

Modern day alfredo is an evolution of an Italian sauce first created in Rome in the early 20th century. After making its way over to the US, it has since become a staple of American-Italian cuisine, served in popular restaurant chains with various meat and seafood variations. 

Today, more than a century after I.C. Cooper first staked his claim in the chronicles of cheese history, Cooper® is a regional household favorite and a family tradition across the Northeast. Cooper® Sharp is top-tier cheese.

When you grab some from the deli, you know you’re getting quality—because Cooper® is made with milk and hand-selected aged cheese. No unpronounceable ingredients here!

The alfredo sauce is a luxurious blend of garlic, heavy cream, and parmesan cheese, making for a simple yet totally delicious white sauce that generously coats the accompanying fettuccine. As the

cheese melts in the hot cream it thickens the alfredo sauce and gives it that signature smooth texture.

PASTA

Fettuccine is traditionally used in alfredo dishes, as per the original Roman recipe. The long, thick strands are great for holding onto all that lovely sauce. 

However, if you have some different pasta shapes on hand or simply prefer a different shape, then by all means use it in this Shrimp Alfredo With Spinach Dish. It will also pair well over a bed of white rice.

A broader noodle tends to work best with cream-based sauces, so tagliatelle or pappardelle are both excellent substitutions.

Bear in mind that if you use fresh pasta rather than dried, the cooking time will be cut down to just a few minutes in boiling water. Double check the package before you start cooking so you don’t end up with overcooked, mushy pasta.

CHEESE

In 1893, banker I.C. Cooper decided to put down his balance sheets and start making aged cheese in New York.

Traditionally, parmesan cheese is the most used hard Italian cheese that’s normally featured in many pasta recipes, thanks to its salty and savory taste with subtle nutty notes. 

However, with Cooper® Sharp cheese (as opposed to the generic American cheese), this Shrimp Alfredo With Spinach will make a big difference to the overall flavor of your dish. 

We hear it again and again … fans love Cooper® because of its one-of-a-kind sharp flavor. Cooper® doesn’t taste like any other deli cheese. While most cheeses are aged for less than a year, making them lack the strong taste and complexity of the real deal, Cooper® Sharp cheese does not; which is why it’s been a family tradition and favorite comfort food for generations.

Cooper® is creamy, flavorful, and epically versatile. You can slice it, shred it, cube it, and it melts like a dream. That’s why Cooper® is perfect for grilled cheese, deli sandwiches, mac and cheese … burgers, salads, midnight snacks. Pretty much anything, really.

You can, however, use parmesan grated straight from the block rather than the kind you find in a shaker to include with the Cooper® Sharp cheese. The reason is this will omit the use of all-purpose flour, and also because the one from the shaker will often lead to a graininess that will take away from your alfredo sauce.

Parmesan is inherently salty, so if using it as an addition in this recipe, make sure you try your sauce before adding any extra seasoning. If it’s too salty then it will overpower the delicate flavor of the shrimp and your dish won’t be as balanced.

Since its start more than a century ago, Cooper® has earned a loyal following in the Northeast. Because Cooper® is the taste of home. A source of regional pride. And if you’ve ever left the Northeast, you know how far you’ll go to get ahold of some Cooper® again.

Cooper® is now available online for shipping around the country. Click here to order and to view more information on the Cooper® Sharp cheese. 

Not much can transport you back in time quite like tasting something you grew up with. That’s the power of Cooper® Sharp. It’s the taste of great memories. Just like grandma’s grilled cheese, you can always count on Cooper® for a little comfort.

In addition to this Creamy Shrimp Alfredo With Spinach recipe, to relieve those same great memories as described above, and to experience an altimate, no-fuss, easy and delicious meal, try one of these delicious dishes next and discover the various ways to use Cooper® Sharp cheese:

Basil Pesto Alfredo

Macaroni and cheese pasta

Black pepper wedge salad, Or 

Choose any from one of the cheese entrees here

CREAM

Alfredo specifically calls for heavy cream, as it’s the high fat content that gives you that thick and silky sauce and goes a long way in helping it thicken up. 

Though it’s absolutely possible to make alfredo with a lighter cream (or even cream cheese or Greek yoghurt), I’d highly recommend sticking to the heavy stuff to get the best results. There’s no harm in treating yourself every now and then, and trust me, this dish is worth the calories!

SHRIMP

Shrimp is some of the healthiest seafood out there, packed full of protein, omega-3 fatty acids and lots of vitamins and minerals. 

Shrimp doesn’t have an overly fishy flavor, but is well-liked thanks to its meaty texture and mild, slightly sweet taste. For convenience, look for packets of shrimp that have already been peeled to cut out any prep time. Tail-on is fine, as they can simply be sliced off while you eat.

Shrimp cooks very quickly, so be sure to keep an eye on it – overcooked shrimp is tough and rubbery and no way near as pleasant to eat. 

You’ll know it’s done when the shrimp is an opaque white with pink accents (as opposed to the translucent gray of raw shrimp). If it starts to curl up into a very tight ‘o’ shape, this is a sign that it’s been cooked too much.

SPINACH

This leafy green vegetable is a nutritional powerhouse and offers some great balance to the rich alfredo sauce. As well as being very low in calories, it is full of protein, iron, calcium and magnesium, providing a long list of health benefits. 

Its mild, slightly sweet taste goes perfectly with this creamy pasta dish and also adds a splash of color which makes it all the more appealing. If it looks like a lot when you add it to the pan, don’t worry. Spinach wilts down to just a fraction of the size when it’s cooked. 

You can use frozen spinach in this recipe if you like, but it will need to be thawed and thoroughly drained before use as it will hold onto a lot of water. While perfectly safe, if you add frozen spinach directly to the pan it will water down your creamy sauce.

WHY ISN’T MY ALFREDO SAUCE THICKENING?

If you find that your sauce is too thin even when all the Cooper® Sharp cheese has melted, simply let it stand (off the heat) for 2 to 3 minutes. 

As it cools slightly, the proteins in the sauce will thicken to give you the desired consistency. If you find it’s getting too thick, then a splash of water that the pasta’s been cooked in will help to loosen it up.

CAN YOU REHEAT SHRIMP ALFREDO WITH SPINACH?

As there is both cream and shrimp in this recipe, it is best eaten straight away. As long as the shrimp wasn’t frozen then it’s safe to eat any leftovers the following day, but the shrimp will likely overcook and end up rubbery and tough. 

Fortunately, this recipe is so good that you don’t need to worry too much about having anything left over!

MORE PASTA RECIPES TO ENJOY

If you enjoyed this Creamy Shrimp Alfredo With Spinach Pasta, we recommend trying these next:

Cajun Chicken and Shrimp Pasta

Rasta Pasta

Air Fryer Lasagna

Haitian Spaghetti 

Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash for a lighter and healthier alternative 

Haitian Macaroni Au Gratin

Baked Mac and cheese with broccoli 

Creamy Shrimp Skimpy Linguine

Shrimp Alfredo With Spinach

Savory Thoughts

This Creamy Shrimp Alfredo With Spinach is the ultimate comfort meal, with silky sauce piled generously on top of piping hot pasta. It is delicious, addictive and indulging.

5 from 12 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 25 mins

Total Time 35 mins

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 6 People

Calories 1868 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 ½ Cups Cooper® Sharp White cheese shredded
• 2 lbs. Jumbo raw shrimp peeled and deveined
• 4 Tbsp. Oil
• 4 Garlic Cloves minced
• 1 Lb. Bag Spinach
• ½ Onion Chopped
• 1 Tbsp. Cajun Seasoning
• ½ Tsp. Kosher Salt
• 2 Cups Heavy Cream
• 2 Tbsp. All Purpose Flour
• 2 Tbsp. Parsley Flakes
• Fettuccine Pasta

Instructions

 

• Cooked the pasta as directed on the package, but al dente.

  In a large pan, add the oil to heat up. Then add the shrimp and 1 tbsp. Cajun seasoning. Cook for 5 minutes over medium heat, turning once to cook the other side.

  Remove the shrimp from the pan.

  In the same pan, add the onions, spinach, and garlic. Cook until the spinach has wilted. Turning constantly to avoid sticking to the bottom. This process should take about 4 minutes.
  
• Add in the creamer and flour. Stir well to combine and bring to a boil. Once the sauce starts to boil, reduce the heat to medium low and add in the shrimp. Season with salt, parsley and remaining Cajun seasoning. Stir.

  Add in the partially cooked pasta and mix well to combine. Cover and let simmer for about 5 to 8 minutes on low heat.
  
• Remove the pan from the stove and serve immediately, topped with more cheese. Enjoy!
  

Video

Notes

*** Calories are estimated per serving

**** When printing the recipe, please unselect the camera so that the pictures are NOT printed with the recipe (if preferred).

Nutrition

Serving: 6PeopleCalories: 1868kcalCarbohydrates: 266gProtein: 81gFat: 58gSaturated Fat: 23gCholesterol: 237mgSodium: 2312mgPotassium: 521mgFiber: 15gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 79IUVitamin C: 39mgCalcium: 23mgIron: 83mg

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