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Home » Recipes » Main Dishes

Cashew Shrimp Alfredo

Last Modified: Oct 2, 2023. Originally Published: Jul 28, 2021 by Janessa.

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This Cashew Shrimp Alfredo is a great recipe option if you love Alfredo Pasta but can't eat dairy.

Cashews make the sauce super creamy. Honestly, this sauce is much easier (and dare I say, tastier!) to make than traditional Alfredo sauce because it all comes together in the blender in about a minute.

It's worth a try even if you can eat dairy. Cook up some pasta, some shrimp and maybe some vegetables and top it all with sauce. Dinner is served!

Creamy pasta in a dish with broccoli and shrimp.

The Ingredients

  • Alfredo Sauce:
    • Raw Cashews- Make sure that you are using raw cashews and not roasted as they won't blend up to the same creamy consistency. For best results, soak the cashews overnight.
    • Water
    • Garlic
    • Lemon Juice
    • Fine Sea Salt
    • Black Pepper
  • Shrimp- The pasta and sauce is pretty filling all on its own so you can leave out the shrimp for a vegan option or substitute another protein of choice.
  • Broccoli- Feel free to leave it out if you're not a fan. Or you can try substituting another vegetable such as cauliflower, carrots or asparagus.
  • Pasta- If you need it to be gluten free, use brown rice pasta or another gluten free pasta. If not, you can use whatever you like best and feel free to use a different shape as well. Or you could substitute spiralized vegetables! You would need about 6-8 cups.

The Method

  1. Combine all of the sauce ingredients in a high powered and blend until smooth. Set aside.
  2. Cook shrimp and broccoli your preferred method, such as steaming, boiling or frying.
  3. Cook pasta to al dente. Reserve 2 cups pasta water before draining.
  4. Combine everything together in the pasta pot over medium low heat for 1-2 minutes until heated through.
Bowl of one pot pasta with broccoli, shrimp and creamy cashew sauce.

Make Ahead

The sauce can be made up to 1 day in advance. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Leftover Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave.

Cashew Shrimp Alfredo Variations

Make Cashew Chicken Alfredo- Substitute 1 lb cooked and shredded or diced chicken breasts in place of the shrimp.

Add more greens- Stir in 2 cups of fresh spinach when you combine all of the other ingredients with the pasta.

Topped with Parmesan- If you don't need it to be dairy free, try topping with freshly grated parmesan cheese just before serving.

Serving Ideas

Enjoy this Alfredo alongside:

  • a simple Spinach Salad
  • Baked Herb Tomato Zucchini
  • A slice of Honey Oat Bread
  • Or check out this post with 23 Perfect Sides to Serve with Alfredo (Plus Toppings!) for even more ideas!
Creamy pasta with broccoli and shrimp.

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And if you liked this recipe...

...you might also like:

  • Chai Frappe (Also made creamy by cashews!)
  • Pot Pie Soup
  • Sautéed Spinach Pasta
  • Turkey Spinach Lasagna

Recipe Card

Creamy pasta with broccoli and shrimp.

Cashew Shrimp Alfredo

Cashews make this dairy free Alfredo sauce ultra creamy! This rich and delicious dinner comes together quickly and easily making it perfect for busy weeknights.
5 from 11 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 601kcal

Ingredients

For the Sauce:

  • 1 cup raw cashews soaked overnight and drained
  • ¾ cup water
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 2 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

For the Pasta:

  • 12.5 oz brown rice fusilli or other pasta of choice
  • 4 cups broccoli florets
  • 1 (12 oz) bag shrimp peeled and deveined
US Customary - Metric
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Instructions

  • Combine all of the sauce ingredients in a blender and blend on high until smooth. Set aside.
  • Steam broccoli and cook shrimp. Set aside.
  • Cook pasta to al dente. Reserve 2 cups of pasta water prior to draining.
  • Drain pasta and return to pot along with prepared sauce, 1 cup reserved pasta water, broccoli, shrimp and spinach. Stir and heat over medium low for 2-3 minutes until warmed through. If you would like a thinner sauce, add more pasta water until you reach your desired consistency.
  • Serve immediately.

Notes

Leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave.
Sauce recipe adapted from Downshiftology.

Nutrition

Calories: 601kcal | Carbohydrates: 86g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 137mg | Sodium: 735mg | Potassium: 737mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 569IU | Vitamin C: 83mg | Calcium: 115mg | Iron: 3mg
Did you make this recipe?Let me know what you thought in the comments below!

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Comments

    5 from 11 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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  1. Nathan says

    September 16, 2022 at 12:56 pm

    5 stars
    I love this shrimp dish, so tasty and perfect to serve when I need to be mindful about dietary restrictions. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Janessa says

      September 16, 2022 at 2:23 pm

      I'm glad you enjoyed this recipe, Nathan!

      Reply
  2. Deb says

    September 16, 2022 at 1:49 pm

    5 stars
    I made this without the shrimp and it was so rich and filling. Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful recipes.

    Reply
    • Janessa says

      September 16, 2022 at 2:24 pm

      I'm glad you enjoyed this recipe, Deb! Thank you for your kind review.

      Reply
  3. Kerri says

    September 16, 2022 at 2:20 pm

    5 stars
    This looks so good and I love how inclusive this recipe is! I've been looking to add some healthier options to my weekly meals and since this can easily be a vegan dish, I'm definitely adding it to my list!

    Reply
    • Janessa says

      September 16, 2022 at 2:24 pm

      Thank you for your kind review, Kerri. I hope you love it!

      Reply
  4. Claudia Lamascolo says

    September 16, 2022 at 3:08 pm

    5 stars
    Super easy recipe and very tasty will make it again... very good

    Reply
    • Janessa says

      September 16, 2022 at 4:01 pm

      I'm glad you enjoyed this recipe, Claudia!

      Reply
  5. Sharon says

    September 16, 2022 at 3:30 pm

    5 stars
    I love the creamy cashew sauce in this shrimp alfredo recipe. Perfect dairy-free substitute.

    Reply
    • Janessa says

      September 16, 2022 at 4:01 pm

      I'm glad you enjoyed this recipe, Sharon!

      Reply
  6. Jim Nelson says

    May 10, 2024 at 6:46 pm

    5 stars
    My first attempt at making and or eating a cashew cream sauce. Have to say if I hadn't made it myself I wouldn't have believed there was no dairy other than the shaved parm I added. It was excellent and will be a staple for many cream based sauces I make in the future. We prepared ours with Broccoli and cajun grilled shrimp, and angel hair pasta. Next time I'd use a rotellini or maybe a bow tie pasta as the sauce is very rich. Served w/ side ceasar and garlic bread.

    Reply
    • Janessa says

      May 11, 2024 at 4:33 pm

      I'm so glad that you liked this recipe, Jim! Thank you for your kind review.

      Reply
  7. Jodie says

    April 11, 2025 at 6:35 pm

    5 stars
    We love this. And it’s actually a quick thing to make. So delish

    Reply
    • Janessa says

      April 13, 2025 at 1:46 pm

      I'm so glad you like this recipe, Jodie! Thank you for your kind review.

      Reply
Janessa

Hi, I'm Janessa and I'm passionate about sharing recipes that are made with wholesome ingredients, are quick and easy and most importantly, delicious!

More about me →

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