Shrimp Fettuccine with Vodka Sauce (2024)

This shrimp fettuccine dish is like a sultry song that seeps into your soul and warms you up all over. It's perfect for a date night in, or for any night ending in the letter "y."

I love pasta. I can't quit, won't quit pasta.

In college, my sorority sisters (my little liberal arts college sorority was NOT the typical large school kind of sorority, I feel compelled to explain here) entered me into a talent competition. My talent: eating a pound of pasta in one sitting.

I weighed less than 100 pounds at the time (don't freak out: I'm 4'11") and I loved to eat back then as much as I love to eat now. And pasta? Pasta was my soul food.

So I sat on that stage and ate a pound of pasta while the other acts went on in the middle of the stage next to me.

I tied for second place.

Because, come on: who in their right mind can (and would) eat a whole pound of pasta in one sitting? I can, and I DID.

Shrimp Fettuccine

So let's talk about this shrimp fettuccine pasta dish. It came about because I wanted to make penne alla vodka but didn't have penne and also, I don't do heavy whipping cream anymore.

But I had:

• fettuccine
• tomatoes
• vodka
• shrimp

And this luscious little deliciously devil of a dish is the result.

This shrimp fettuccine pasta comes together fairly quickly. So it's a great meal to make on a busy weeknight! But, it's also hearty and special enough to grace your big family Sunday supper table too.

Make the vodka sauce

To make the rich vodka sauce, you start by melting butter in a large saucepot over medium-high heat. Add the onions and garlic and sauté until softened, which takes about 4-5 minutes.

Add tomatoes to the pot and stir. Slowly add the vodka, the milk or dairy-free milk, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Stir the sauce gently as you add each ingredient.

Bring the heat up to high and bring the water to a boil. Then lower heat to low-medium and simmer for about 5 minutes.

Shrimp Fettuccine Cooking Tips

Use canned stewed tomatoes for the sauce. Canned stewed tomatoes give this dish a nice rich, deep, simulated slow-cooked tomato flavor. If you use regular canned diced tomatoes, that would give this dish a brighter flavor.

Use frozen or fresh shrimp. I used frozen shrimp, which I thawed prior to including in this dish. But you can use raw shrimp as well; just be sure to adjust your cooking time as noted in the recipe.

Sub out the protein if you prefer. If you don't like shrimp, you can easily make this without and have it as a vegetarian pasta. As for chicken or pork,I honestly don't think it would be the same with any other meat. It might, however, be delicious with meatballs. If you try that, please do let me know how it tasted!

More 30-Minute Meal Recipes

• Creamy Vegan Pasta with Crispy Mushrooms
• One Pan New Orleans-Style BBQ Shrimp and Scallops
• Easy Shrimp Tacos
• Immunity Boosting Chicken Soup
• Pork and Peanut Dragon Noodles

What type of pasta sauce do you prefer? Are youa white cream sauce kind of guy/gal? Or do you prefer to go big and bold with a red tomato-based sauce?

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