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Dump-and-Bake Shrimp Alfredo Pasta

Name: Dump-and-Bake Shrimp Alfredo Pasta
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 1 (16 ounce) package uncooked rotini pasta; 1 (22 ounce) jar Alfredo sauce (about 2 ½ cups); 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth; 1 cup white wine ((or substitute with an additional 1 cup of chicken broth or water)); ½ cup frozen diced onion, thawed ((or about ½ of a medium fresh onion, finely minced)); 2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic ((about 3-4 fresh garlic cloves)); 1 (4 ounce) jar diced roasted red peppers (pimentos), drained ((about ½ cup)); 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese or Italian cheese blend; 2 lbs. raw peeled and deveined shrimp ((I use medium (41-50 count) shrimp)); Optional garnish: grated Parmesan cheese; fresh chopped parsley, basil, or other herbs

Published: Sep 7, 2022 by Blair Lonergan

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You don't even have to boil the pasta for this simple dump-and-bake shrimp Alfredo pasta! With just 10 minutes of prep, the one-dish meal is seriously the world's easiest weeknight dinner. Pair the creamy shrimp pasta with a Caesar salad, garlic bread, or sauteed zucchini.

Creamy shrimp alfredo pasta in a baking dish on a green table

Creamy Shrimp Pasta

A creamy shrimp Alfredo pasta recipe that practically cooks itself! This cozy, flavorful comfort food comes together with very little hands-on prep work, making your busy weeknights just a little bit easier. It's such a delicious and kid-friendly way to incorporate seafood into your family's diet, even when the grilling season is well behind us!

Why You'll Love this Easy Garlic Shrimp Alfredo Pasta Recipe

When the weather is cooler, we often turn to oven-baked fish like this 5-ingredient garlic parmesan tilapia, stovetop skillet options like linguine with clam sauce, and warming bowls of Fisherman's Stew. If you're looking for a restaurant-quality pasta dish to serve when the temperatures drop, then this dump-and-bake creamy shrimp pasta is the answer!

Best of all, you'll love how quickly it comes together, thanks to my favorite dump-and-bake method. You don't have to spend extra time boiling pasta, sauteeing shrimp, or washing a sink full of pots and pans. Instead, just stir the ingredients together in one dish and pop it in the oven! How's that for a warm, cozy, and comforting seafood supper?!

Process shot showing how to make creamy shrimp pasta

Ingredients

This is just a quick overview of the ingredients that you'll need for shrimp alfredo pasta with jar sauce. As always, specific measurements and step-by-step cooking instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.

Shrimp: I use medium shrimp here. If you prefer larger shrimp, they will require a few extra minutes in the oven, so add them to the dish sooner.
Rotini pasta: the suggested cooking times are based on rotini pasta. You can substitute with a different type of pasta, but you may need to adjust the baking time accordingly.
Alfredo sauce: you'll need a large 22-ounce jar. This is the brand that I use. If you can't find the 22-ounce jar, purchase two of the smaller jars and just measure the sauce to equal 2 ½ cups total.
Garlic: mince or grate 3-4 fresh garlic cloves, or purchase a jar of pre-minced fresh garlic in the produce section at your grocery store.
Onion: frozen pre-diced onion is a great shortcut because you don't need to chop anything and it's already soft when it thaws. If you prefer a fresh onion, make sure that it's grated or minced very fine so that it softens nicely in the oven.
White wine: use a good quality dry white wine that you would like to drink (not those wines in the grocery store labeled "cooking wine," which tend to be quite salty). Good options include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Grigio.
Chicken broth or chicken stock: use a low-sodium variety in this dish.
Roasted red peppers or diced pimentos: for a pop of red color and extra flavor.
Cheese: shredded mozzarella cheese or a grated Italian cheese blend work well in this Italian-inspired casserole.

How to Make Shrimp Alfredo Pasta

This meal is equally perfect for quick weeknight dinners and for holiday get-togethers with family and friends. It's easy to throw together, it tastes fancy, and it's a mild dish that everyone can enjoy. Trust me -- even if your kids claim to not like shellfish, this creamy shrimp alfredo pasta recipe is sure to change their minds!

Stir together the uncooked pasta, Alfredo sauce, broth, wine, onion, garlic, and red peppers in a greased 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
Cover the dish tightly and bake in a 425°F oven for 45 minutes.
Remove the cover and check to make sure that the pasta is almost tender and much of the liquid has been absorbed.
Stir in the uncooked shrimp, and sprinkle the cheese on top.
Return the dish to the oven and bake for 5-10 more minutes, until the cheese is melted and the shrimp turn pink.

Overhead shot of a pan of shrimp alfredo pasta

What to Serve with Shrimp Alfredo

Here are some easy sides that go well with shrimp alfredo:

Overhead shot of two plates of shrimp alfredo pasta on a green dinner table

Make Ahead

You can assemble the casserole a few hours in advance (not adding the shrimp or cheese until later), or even leave it covered in the refrigerator overnight before baking. The pasta will start to soften and absorb some of the liquid as it sits, so you may need to decrease the baking time slightly. You don't want to overcook the casserole or you'll end up with gummy, mushy pasta.

Storage

This casserole is best enjoyed immediately from the oven. Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. The pasta will dry out a bit as it sits, so you may need to stir in some additional Alfredo sauce or stock when you reheat the dish. Individual portions can be reheated in the microwave for about 1-2 minutes.

I do not recommend freezing this casserole because pasta has a tendency to get gummy and mushy when thawed. That said, I know that other readers have frozen leftovers without issue.

Recipe Variations

Don't have rotini? You can substitute with other similar short pasta shapes such as penne, ziti, elbows, or medium shells. Just pick a pasta that has a similar cooking time as rotini (about 7-8 minutes recommended on the package) -- otherwise you'll need to adjust the casserole's baking time in the oven.
Cooking for a Smaller Family: Cut all of the ingredients in half and bake the casserole in an 8-inch or 9-inch square pan. Check the pasta after 30 minutes, as it may be done slightly sooner than the larger pan.
Add vegetables. You can stir frozen peas or fresh spinach into the dish at the end (at the same time that you add the shrimp), or include broccoli at the start. If using frozen broccoli, just thaw it and stir it right into the dish. If using fresh broccoli florets, you might need to par-boil or steam them first so that they're a little bit tender when you add them to the casserole.
Use homemade Alfredo sauce instead of a jar of store-bought sauce.
Add herbs to the Alfredo casserole for even more flavor. Good options include fresh or dried parsley, basil, thyme, oregano, and rosemary. An Italian seasoning blend would also be fine, since it combines a lot of these spices in one convenient package.

Square overhead shot of a plate of creamy shrimp pasta on a dinner table

Tips for the Best Shrimp Alfredo Pasta Recipe

You'll need at least one large 22-ounce jar of Alfredo sauce. If you can't find this larger size jar in your store, purchase two smaller (15 ounce) jars and measure out about 2 ½ cups of sauce total. One smaller jar won't be quite enough.
If using larger shrimp, they will require a couple of extra minutes in the oven. Plan accordingly and add them to the dish a little bit sooner than called for.
Total cooking time will vary depending on the type of pan that you use and your individual oven. Glass or ceramic baking dishes will take longer than metal pans, for instance. To know when your casserole is done, taste a bite of the pasta. The noodles should be tender, the shrimp should be pink and opaque, and most of the liquid should be absorbed.
Be careful not to overbake the casserole or the pasta will become mushy and the shrimp will be tough or rubbery.
Garnish the casserole with fresh herbs like basil or parsley for a bright, fresh touch. A sprinkling of grated Parmesan cheese is also delicious!

Close overhead image of a plate of shrimp alfredo pasta on a table with a side salad

Love these easy dump-and-bake recipes?

Try these other quick-prep options as well (or find a roundup of my favorite dump-and-bake dinners here):

Close overhead shot of a pan of creamy shrimp pasta bake

More Easy Shrimp Recipes to Try

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