This Shrimp and Broccoli with Pasta is a seafood dish served in a light alfredo sauce and topped with grilled seasoned shrimp. This is an Applebee's Copycat recipe from an older (now retired) healthier recipe for Shrimp Broccoli Cavatappi, and now you can make it right at home!
When dinner needs to be quick, easy, and healthy, making a pasta recipe is one of the best ways to accomplish the task. This Shrimp Broccoli Pasta dish is a low fat satisfying dinner recipe that you will feel good about serving the whole family.
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❤️ Why you'll love it
✔️ One generous serving is only 350 calories and 14 grams of fat.
✔️ You can have a restaurant quality meal right at home in just 30 minutes!
✔️ This creamy shrimp pasta is super satisfying and its lower calorie content leaves room for dessert!
🥘 Ingredients
Medium to large shrimp, I buy raw, peeled and deveined shrimp
Cavatappi pasta, this is my preferred pasta, but others will work (see variations)
Broccoli florets, save time and buy just the crowns.
Extra virgin olive oil (or butter)
Garlic cloves, I buy the whole cloves and press them myself.
Low-fat milk the main ingredient in the sauce
Flour, this thickens the alfredo sauce
Fresh Grated Parmesan cheese, added for flavor
⅓ less fat cream cheese, added for creaminess.
Fresh ground black pepper, Salt to season the recipe
Crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
🔪 Instructions
Cook the shrimp
- Cook shrimp on hot grill or grill pan for 2 minutes on each side until pink. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
Cook the pasta
- Cook pasta according to package instructions until just al dente. Remove pasta from water by scooping out with a slotted spoon into colander.
- Return pasta water to stove and blanch broccoli for 5 minutes. Strain broccoli into a colander and rinse immediately with cold water to stop broccoli from cooking.
Make the alfredo sauce
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently, until broccoli is lightly browned.
- Whisk flour into the butter garlic mixture and cook for 2 minutes. Gradually stir in milk, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Cook the alfredo sauce for 6 minutes or until mixture thickens, stirring constantly.
- Stir 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, cream cheese, and salt, stirring with a whisk until cheeses melt.
- Toss sauce with hot pasta and broccoli.
- Top with cooked shrimp and sprinkle with remaining ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, a squeeze of lemon juice, and lemon zest.
- Season with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using).
🥄 Equipment
Large pot
Large skillet
Slotted spoon
Colander
Flat head wooden spoon
Measuring cups
Hand whisk
🥫Storage
Store any leftover Shrimp and Broccoli with Pasta in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days.
📖 Variations
- Substitute frozen broccoli for the fresh broccoli florets.
- Chicken broth can be substituted for the low fat milk.
- Instead of grilling, saute shrimp in a saucepan over medium heat in a non-stick frying pan coated with cooking spray.
💭 Tips
Choose a pasta shape that is almost the same size as the shrimp and one that has curls or ridges to allow the sauce to nest in the pasta.
📚 Related Recipes
Quick and Easy Chicken Alfredo is creamy and delicious and a family favorite.
Cinnabon lovers will want to try this Copycat Cinnabon Recipe!
Meat Lovers Skillet Pizza - Pizza Hut Copycat, made in a cast iron skillet!
🍽 Serve with…
Serve this creamy shrimp broccoli pasta with a green side salad topped with your favorite salad dressing.
🏫 The last word
My preferred pasta for this shrimp recipe is cavatappi. Cavatappi pasta is a hollow tube that looks like a corkscrew. Other pasta types that would work well in this recipe would be bow tie pasta or campanelle pasta.
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When you make this recipe, please comment below and let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @grumpyshoneybunch or #grumpyshoneybunch so I can see your photos!
If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating
📖 Recipe
Shrimp Broccoli Cavatappi
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Ingredients
- 1 pound shrimp , peeled and deveined
- 2 cups dried pasta , preferably cavatappi
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- 1⅓ cups 1% milk
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1¼ cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons ⅓ less fat cream cheese
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- red pepper flakes , to taste
Instructions
Cook the shrimp
- Cook shrimp on hot grill or grill pan for 2 minutes on each side until pink. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
Cook the pasta
- Cook pasta according to package instructions until just al dente. Remove pasta from water by scooping out with a slotted spoon into colander.Return pasta water to stove and blanch broccoli for 5 minutes. Strain broccoli into a colander and rinse immediately with cold water to stop broccoli from cooking.
Make the alfredo sauce
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently, until broccoli is lightly browned.
- Whisk flour into the butter garlic mixture and cook for 2 minutes. Gradually stir in milk, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Cook the alfredo sauce for 6 minutes or until mixture thickens, stirring constantly.
- Stir 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, cream cheese, and salt, stirring with a whisk until cheeses melt.
- Toss sauce with hot pasta and broccoli.Top with cooked shrimp and sprinkle with remaining ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, a squeeze of lemon juice, and lemon zest.Season with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using).
Michelle W
This is one of my favorite dishes at Applebee's. I can't wait to try your recipe!! And your shrimp look divine!!
mreeanne
We just made this tonight and it was great! One thing though, how much flour do you put in it?
Shelby
Sorry about that! I updated the recipe, I would use about 2 tablespoons of flour, enough to thicken the sauce. Glad you enjoyed it!
Stephanie @CopyKat.com
I love this recipe. It is simple, I have everything on hand, I would love to try this recipe this weekend!
Marion@LifeTastesGood
This looks sooo good, Shelby! I love everything in it, and I'm sure making it at home with the freshest of ingredients is so much better than going out. Thanks for sharing!
Constance Smith
Looks delicious!!
Nora
This looks so delicious Shelby!
Teri@The Freshman Cook
This looks really good and tasty! I have not had this at Applebee's, but now I want to try yours! Great recipe!
Valerie Cathell Clark
This looks like perfect #comfortfood to me! I may have to make this dish for my parents this week!
Sarah E.
I like the challenge that restaurants give with only giving pictures and descriptions - it's so much fun to come up with the recipes and try and get them close to the real thing 🙂 This looks amazing, Shelby! My kids love shrimp and would probably devour this in no time!
DB, Foodie Stuntman | Crazy Foodie Stunts
I don't patronize Applebee's very often but now I don't have to with this pasta dish! It looks delicious!
Chris Baccus
The last photo looks amazing (the others look good too.) Will have to try it soon.
Liz
Boy, does your pasta look irresistible! Those shrimp are grilled to perfection!!!