Red Lobster Shrimp Linguini Alfredo Recipe – Easy Copycat
This Red Lobster Shrimp Linguini Alfredo is a creamy, comforting copycat inspired by the restaurant classic. Tender shrimp and linguini are tossed in a rich homemade Alfredo sauce made with butter, garlic, cream, and Parmesan cheese for an easy seafood dinner that tastes restaurant-worthy at home. The sauce is smooth, creamy, and packed with savory garlic and Parmesan flavor without requiring complicated ingredients or techniques. Serve it with warm Cheddar Bay Biscuits and a simple salad for a complete Red Lobster-inspired restaurant night. Whether you’re making it for a special occasion, family dinner, or seafood craving, this easy shrimp Alfredo delivers big comfort-food flavor.
This Red Lobster shrimp linguini Alfredo recipe is a go-to dish for many a seafood fan. With rich and creamy sauce that coats each tender bite of shrimp and linguine, it’s an elegant dish, unsurpassed in flavor and simplicity.
There’s just something about seafood linguini Alfredo at a restaurant that is too tough to pass up.
It’s alluring nature, just beckons you to order it each time you go. You just know it’s going to be so creamy, satisfying and sure to hit the spot.
Plus, the addition of tender, cooked shrimp to the garlic infused linguini and sauce is such a classic combination.
It’s perfect as a main course or you can even serve smaller portions for an appetizing side dish. Shrimp linguini Alfredo pairs so well with salmon fillets, lobster tails, crab legs, steak and more. You really can’t go wrong.
That’s why we’ve ordered shrimp Alfredo linguini as a main or side dish at Red Lobster for years. It’s super satisfying and one of the highlights of the menu in our opinion.
Since we love it so much, we have created our own copycat recipe for shrimp Alfredo that we make quite often at home. With a few simple ingredients, this delightful restaurant inspired dish can be whipped up in no time.
Love seafood pasta dishes? Try our crab Alfredo linguini, shrimp and lobster linguini, and pappardelle with lobster next.
If you love cozy seafood dinners, check out our roundup of the Best Seafood Comfort Recipes featuring creamy pasta, lobster dishes, and restaurant-style seafood meals.
And, for more easy dinner ideas, be sure to check out our Red Lobster pasta dishes.
Creamy Red Lobster Shrimp Linguini at Home
There’s something particularly satisfying about a restaurant-style seafood pasta.
The shrimp are tender and buttery, the linguini is coated in creamy Alfredo sauce, and everything comes together with plenty of garlic and Parmesan. Add a basket of warm Cheddar Bay Biscuits and you’ve got the kind of dinner that feels like a night out—even when you’re eating at your own kitchen table.
That’s what we’re recreating with this Red Lobster Shrimp Linguini Alfredo.
It’s creamy, garlicky, cheesy, comforting, and surprisingly straightforward to make.
Think Like a Restaurant
One of the easiest ways to recreate restaurant food at home is to stop thinking about it as a complicated recipe and start thinking about the components.
For this dish:
- shrimp → sweet + savory seafood flavor
- butter → richness
- garlic → savory depth
- cream → body
- Parmesan → salt + umami flavor
- linguini → structure
- parsley → freshness
Every component has a job.
That’s Flavor Engineering.
You don’t need 25 ingredients to make something taste restaurant-worthy. You need to understand what each ingredient contributes and build the right combination.
The Alfredo Sauce Is the Star
The key to a good shrimp Alfredo is getting the sauce creamy without making it overwhelmingly heavy.
Butter and cream create the rich base, while Parmesan gives the sauce its characteristic savory flavor.
The reserved pasta water is the little trick that helps everything come together. Add a splash or two if necessary. Its starch helps loosen the sauce while also helping it cling to the linguini.
Why Shrimp Works So Well
Shrimp are practically made for Alfredo.
They’re naturally slightly sweet, which contrasts beautifully with the salty Parmesan and rich sauce.
They’re also quick to cook, making this a relatively fast restaurant-style dinner.
The trick is simply not to overcook them.
Cook them until they’re just opaque, then remove them from the skillet. They’ll get another brief warm-up when they’re added back to the finished pasta.
Turn It Into Red Lobster Restaurant Night at Home
Instead of making the pasta by itself, build the whole seafood restaurant experience around it.
- Start with a seafood appetizer like stuffed mushrooms or baked mussels.
- Make a batch of Cheddar Bay Biscuits.
- Add a simple green vegetable like garlic green beans or roasted asparagus.
- Put the pasta into shallow restaurant-style bowls and finish with parsley, Parmesan and lemon.
You’re recreating the restaurant experience.
And that’s one of the things that makes All Spiced Out different: we’re interested in the whole experience—the menu, the flavors, the presentation, the atmosphere and the little restaurant tricks that make dinner at home feel special.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Creamy restaurant-style Alfredo at home
- Tender, buttery shrimp
- Rich garlic Parmesan sauce
- Simple ingredients
- Much easier than it looks
- Perfect for seafood lovers
- Great for date night
- Family-friendly comfort food
- Perfect with Cheddar Bay Biscuits
- Excellent for Red Lobster Restaurant Night at Home
- Ready in about 30 minutes
Ingredients in Red Lobster Shrimp Linguini Alfredo Recipe
Many of the ingredients in this dish are relatively common fridge and pantry items that you can stock for easy seafood dinners.
It’s a good idea to keep linguini on hand for easy weeknight dinners. We like to buy a large package from Costco that lasts a long time.
Similarly, a large package of frozen shrimp in the freezer to quickly thaw when needed. Make it more economical by purchasing frozen shrimp when on sale.
That way, we are always up for making shrimp linguini at the drop of a hat.
- Shrimp – use tailless shrimp, or you can purchase frozen with the tail on and then remove them after thawing the shrimp.
- Linguini – dried linguini and cook to package directions until al dente (cooked but still firm) is obtained.
- Milk – full fat milk or cream can be used. We like to keep it lighter with 2% milk, but the sauce will have a richer consistency with heavy or half and half cream.
- Cream Cheese – regular Philadelphia style cream cheese
- Parmesan – grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese is a delightful addition to this sauce.
- Butter – we prefer salted butter to unsalted, but unsalted is fine but you may need to adjust the amount for added salt in this recipe.
- Flour – all purpose flour is incorporated to thicken the Alfredo sauce.
- Garlic – minced cloves of fresh garlic accentuates the Alfredo sauce.
- Salt – a pinch of salt heightens all of the flavors in this dish.
- Herbs – dried Italian seasoning or sub dried oregano
- Pepper – optional, but a small pinch of pepper is a nice addition if you like it.
NOTE: Follow the recommended guidelines from NOAA Fisheries about sustainable seafood.
Optional Ingredient Variations
🦐 Cajun Shrimp Linguini Alfredo
Add Cajun seasoning to the shrimp and Alfredo sauce.
🧄 Garlic Shrimp Alfredo
Increase the garlic and finish with parsley and Parmesan.
🌶️ Spicy Shrimp Alfredo
Add red pepper flakes, cayenne and freshly ground black pepper.
🥦 Shrimp & Broccoli Alfredo
Add steamed or roasted broccoli.
🦞 Shrimp & Lobster Alfredo
Add cooked lobster meat near the end. Use our baked lobster tails recipe and cut the lobster into bite-sized pieces.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This is an ideal recipe for a number of reasons. Here are just a few.
- Easy to Prepare – this is an impressive dish, but easy to prepare. If you can multitask, you can have this ready in a jiffy. Make the shrimp and sauce on the stovetop while the linguini cooks and it will all come together quick.
- Restaurant Style – When we think of Red Lobster, the Alfredo linguine with shrimp or crab is always one of the first dishes to come to mind. It’s one of those quintessential entrées that never goes out of style.
- Satisfying and Lighter – This dish is super rich in the restaurant, almost too much so we keep ours satisfying while reducing the fat and calorie content.
- Economical – This is a relatively inexpensive dish and especially so when you make it at home.
Recommended Equipment
We use this skillet daily and it has held up nicely over the years. Use it to cook the shrimp quickly and efficiently. We use our sauce pan to cook our Alfredo sauce and so much more.
We also use this convenient cheese grater daily, the fine grater is perfect for grating parmesan in this recipe.
How To Make Red Lobster Shrimp Linguini Alfredo
STEP 1 – Cook Linguini to Package Directions
Cook the linguini in salted water, to package instructions. NOTE: Meanwhile the linguini cooks, you can cook the shrimp and make the Alfredo sauce, to save time.
Boil linguini until the noodles reach al dente, tender yet firm. Drain using a colander and set aside.
STEP 2 – Cook Shrimp
Meanwhile the linguini comes to a boil and cooks, you can also cook the shrimp.
If your shrimp are thawed and have tails on, you can remove the tails at this point. Or, if you prefer to keep the tails on while cooking, you can remove them afterward. Leaving them on while cooking will add more flavor to the dish.
For shrimp linguini alfredo, we remove the tails before mixing the shrimp together with the sauce and linguini.
In a skillet on medium high heat, add a tablespoon of oil and let it heat up. Season the shrimp with your spice blend of choice (all purpose, Old Bay or Cajun if you like it extra flavorful).
Arrange the shrimp evenly in the skillet and allow to cook for about 2 minutes on each side or until they are fully cooked. You may need to cook in batches if you have more shrimp than can fit in a single layer in your skillet.
Use a digital meat thermometer to ensure the shrimp have reached a safe internal temperature of at least 145°F (63°C). But, watch that you don’t overcook them. The shrimp should appear pearly and opaque.
Transfer the shrimp to a bowl and set aside.
STEP 3 – Make the Alfredo Sauce
The Alfredo sauce is quick to make and you can do that while the linguini and shrimp are cooking.
On the stovetop, in a medium sauce pan, melt butter. When the butter has melted, add in the flour.
Whisk until the flour is evenly combined with the butter.
Add remaining ingredients to the sauce pan with flour and butter.
Allow to come to a boil. The sauce will thicken as it boils. Remove from heat.
STEP 4 – Combine Linguini with Alfredo Sauce and Shrimp
Place the cooked linguini in a large serving bowl and toss with the Alfredo sauce and cooked shrimp.
Alternatively, you can pour the Alfredo sauce with cooked shrimp over the linguini without mixing it much.
Use kitchen tongs or a serving spoon to transfer the shrimp linguini to each dish.
Sprinkle chopped parsley over the dish. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips for the Best Shrimp Linguini Alfredo
Don’t overcook the shrimp.
Shrimp cook quickly. Pull them from the pan as soon as they’re opaque and cooked through.
Use freshly grated Parmesan.
It melts much more smoothly and gives the sauce a better texture.
Don’t boil the Alfredo sauce.
High heat can cause cream sauces to separate or become grainy.
Add Parmesan gradually.
Adding it a little at a time makes it easier to create a smooth sauce.
Save some pasta water.
This is your insurance policy if the Alfredo becomes too thick.
Don’t drown the linguini.
You want enough sauce to coat the pasta generously without turning it into soup.
Finish with lemon.
A small squeeze of lemon is optional, but works really well with seafood Alfredo because it cuts through the richness.
Make it restaurant-style.
Put the linguini into a shallow bowl, arrange several shrimp on top, add parsley and Parmesan, and serve with a lemon wedge. Make the shrimp visible.
What To Serve With Shrimp Linguini Alfredo
This dish is typically served with some restaurant style classic salads and soups, and of course Cheddar Bay Biscuits.
Prepare one or more of the following to pair with shrimp linguini Alfredo.
- Caesar Salad
- House Salad
- Clam Chowder
- Lobster Bisque
Shrimp Linguini Alfredo is excellent as part of a homemade 3-course shrimp sensation feast or ultimate Spendless shrimp dinners with a shrimp appetizers and sides like:
- Shrimp Cocktail with Cocktail Sauce
- Shrimp Tacos
- Grilled Shrimp Kebabs
- Parrot Bay Shrimp with Parrot Bay Sauce
- Popcorn Shrimp and Chesapeake Fries
It’s so easy to prepare a homestyle shrimp menu as they do at seafood restaurants. Just stock up plenty of shrimp and you’ll have endless ways to enjoy them.
For dessert, you can’t go wrong with a copycat brownie overboard dessert.
We love it so much that we’ve prepared our own easy brownie overboard ice cream cake based on the recipe!
More Red Lobster Copycat Recipes
It’s easy to make your own homemade seafood dinner menus. We love to include these savory classics in our rotation.
- Crab Queso Dip
- Crabby Cheese Fries
- Pappardelle With Lobster
- Oven Baked Lobster Tails
- Salmon New Orleans With Shrimp
- Creamy Lobster Mashed Potatoes
- Lobster Mac and Cheese
- Bacon Mac and Cheese
Be sure to try our delicious, tried and true seafood restaurant favorites in Red Lobster Copycat Recipes!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Red Lobster Shrimp Linguini Alfredo?
What Parmesan is best for Alfredo sauce?
What size shrimp should I use?
Can I use frozen shrimp?
How do I thin Alfredo sauce?
How do I thicken Alfredo sauce?
What should I serve with shrimp linguini Alfredo?
Can I make shrimp Alfredo ahead of time?
You’ll Also Love
Another super easy dish with impressive results is this elegant clam white sauce linguini. A perfect recipe for those canned clams in the pantry!
Red Lobster Shrimp Linguini Alfredo Recipe – Easy Copycat
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces Linguini, dried, cooked to package directions
- 1 pound Shrimp, medium shrimp, peeled and deveined, if frozen allow to thaw
- ½ teaspoon All Purpose Seasoning, or to taste. Feel free to use another seasoning like Old Bay or even a little Cajun if you like spicy food.
For The Alfredo Sauce
- 1 Tablespoon Butter, salted or unsalted
- 1 Tablespoon Flour, all purpose flour
- 1 Cup Whole Milk, or cream
- 2 Cloves Garlic, fresh, put through a garlic press
- 2 ounces Cream Cheese, regular Philadelphia cream cheese, softened at room temperature
- 2 Tablespoons Parmesan Cheese, grated from block of Parmigiano Reggiano.
- ¼ teaspoon Italian Seasoning, optional
- ½ teaspoon Salt, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon Pepper, freshly ground black pepper, optional
For Garnish
- 1 Tablespoon Parsley, fresh, chopped for garnish
Instructions
Cook Linguini
- Cook linguini in salted water according to package directions. Meanwhile the water comes to a boil, and the linguine cooks, you can also cook the shrimp and make the Alfredo sauce.
Cook Shrimp
- In a skillet on medium high heat, add a tablespoon of oil and let it heat up. Season the shrimp with your spice blend of choice (all purpose, Old Bay or Cajun if you like it extra flavorful).Arrange the shrimp evenly in the skillet and allow to cook for about 2 minutes on each side or until they are fully cooked. You may need to cook in two batches if you have more shrimp than can fit in a single layer in the skillet. Use a digital meat thermometer to ensure the shrimp have reached a safe internal temperature of at least 145°F (63°C). But, watch that you don't overcook them. Transfer the shrimp to a bowl and set aside.
Make The Alfredo Sauce
- Melt butter in a small to medium sauce pan on the stove top, on medium heat. When the butter has melted, add flour.
- Whisk the flour and butter until the mixture becomes smooth and there are no clumps.Add milk (or cream) and continue to whisk. Increase the heat to medium high and bring the milk mixture to a boil. The milk sauce will thicken and then you can reduce the heat to low again.
- Add the remaining ingredients (crushed garlic, and seasonings as well as parmesan cheese and cream cheese). Continue to whisk until a smooth consistency is achieved. Remove from heat.
Assemble the Shrimp Linguini Alfredo
- Place the cooked linguini in a large serving bowl and toss with the Alfredo sauce and cooked shrimp. Alternatively, you can pour the Alfredo sauce with cooked shrimp over the linguini without mixing it much. Use kitchen tongs or a serving spoon to transfer the shrimp linguini to each dish. Sprinkle chopped parsley over the dish. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Note
This recipe is provided for informational purposes only. The above nutritional values are estimates and should only be used as a guide. Please use proper food safety practices, always use a food thermometer to ensure safe cooking temperature, and consult a professional if you have dietary restrictions or allergies.
