Description

A creamy, comforting Broccoli Shrimp Alfredo featuring tender fusilli pasta, vibrant broccoli florets, and succulent jumbo shrimp tossed in a rich homemade alfredo sauce made from cream cheese, parmesan, and garlic. This easy one-pan dish is perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner that combines fresh vegetables, seafood, and a luscious sauce.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta and Vegetables

8 ounces fusilli pasta (or pasta of choice)
1 head broccoli, cut into small florets

Shrimp and Seasoning

1 pound jumbo shrimp, peeled, deveined, tails off
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning (optional)
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced

Sauce

2 tablespoons butter, divided
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
4 ounces cream cheese
¼ cup parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

Instructions

Cook Pasta and Broccoli: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente according to package directions. During the last 2 minutes of cooking the pasta, add the broccoli florets to the same pot to cook together. Reserve ½ cup pasta cooking water before draining; set both aside.
Cook Shrimp: In a large pan over medium heat, heat 1 tablespoon butter. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper and add to the pan. Cook shrimp for 2-3 minutes per side until the shrimp turns opaque and is fully cooked. Toss the cooked shrimp with the cooked pasta and broccoli.
Sauté Garlic: In the same pan, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Add the minced garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Make Sauce Base: Sprinkle the flour into the pan and whisk to combine. Cook for 1 additional minute to eliminate the raw flour taste.
Add Dairy Ingredients: Slowly whisk in the milk, followed by the cream cheese. Let the sauce simmer uncovered, stirring frequently, until thickened, about 2-3 minutes.
Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked pasta, shrimp, and broccoli back into the pan with the sauce. Stir well to combine everything evenly. Add reserved pasta water as needed to reach the desired sauce consistency.
Finish with Parmesan: Remove from heat and fold in the ¼ cup parmesan cheese. Serve immediately with additional parmesan cheese if desired.

Notes

Use any pasta shape you prefer, but fusilli works well to hold the sauce.
Adding broccoli during the last 2 minutes of pasta cooking keeps it tender-crisp.
Adjust pasta water additions to control the thickness of the sauce.
For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half or milk for cream cheese, but the sauce may be less rich.
Ensure shrimp is fully cooked to opaque for safe consumption.
You can omit Italian seasoning if you prefer a milder flavor.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Italian-American

Keywords: Broccoli Shrimp Alfredo, shrimp pasta, creamy alfredo sauce, broccoli pasta, easy seafood dinner, fusilli pasta recipe