When it comes to cooking delicious shrimp alfredo at home, one of the most popular options is using a boxed shrimp alfredo mix like Zatarain’s. However, many home cooks wonder exactly how long the shrimp need to cook in the alfredo sauce to reach the perfect level of doneness. In this article, we will provide a detailed guide on how long to cook Zatarain’s shrimp alfredo to achieve tender, juicy shrimp in every bite.
What is Zatarain’s Shrimp Alfredo?
Zatarain’s shrimp alfredo is a boxed pasta kit that contains dry fettuccine noodles, a sachet of alfredo sauce mix, and a seasoning packet for the shrimp. To prepare it, you simply need to boil the fettuccine, make the alfredo sauce by mixing the sauce mix with milk and butter, season and sauté the shrimp, then combine everything together.
The alfredo sauce mix contains ingredients like parmesan cheese, cream, salt, and seasonings to create a rich, velvety sauce. The shrimp seasoning is a proprietary blend of spices and herbs to give the shrimp extra flavor. Overall, it provides a fast and easy way to make restaurant-quality shrimp alfredo at home with minimal effort.
Factors That Affect Shrimp Cook Times
There are a few key factors that impact how long shrimp need to cook in an alfredo sauce:
- Shrimp size – Smaller shrimp will cook faster than larger shrimp. Zatarain’s recommends using medium (36-40 count) or large (16-20 count) shrimp.
- Thickness of sauce – A thicker, creamier alfredo sauce will cook the shrimp more slowly than a thin sauce.
- Cooking method – Pan searing prior to simmering in the sauce will decrease the final cook time.
- Cooking temperature – Higher heat will cook the shrimp faster than lower, simmering heat.
Keeping these factors in mind will allow you to accurately determine the best shrimp cook time for your Zatarain’s shrimp alfredo.
Recommended Cook Times
Based on Zatarain’s guidelines, as well as factors that affect cook times, here are the recommended shrimp cook times for Zatarain’s shrimp alfredo:
| Shrimp Size | Cook Time |
|---|---|
| Small (36-40 count) | 1-2 minutes |
| Medium (26-30 count) | 2-3 minutes |
| Large (16-20 count) | 3-4 minutes |
| Jumbo (10-15 count) | 4-5 minutes |
These times are for shrimp that are added directly to the simmering alfredo sauce. If you sear the shrimp briefly in a pan before adding them to the sauce, you can reduce the cook time by about 1 minute.
Always err on the side of caution and undercook shrimp slightly, as they will continue cooking in the hot sauce off heat. Shrimp overcooked in alfredo sauce often become rubbery and tough.
How to Tell When Shrimp Are Done
Here are some visual cues and tests to check shrimp for doneness when cooking in alfredo sauce:
- Opaque – The shrimp should turn nearly opaque white/pink when cooked through.
- Curling – As they cook, shrimp will begin to curl into a C shape.
- Flakes – Use a fork to peek at a shrimp. It should flake apart when fully cooked.
- Firm – Cooked shrimp will feel firm yet still moist and juicy.
- Internal temperature – Check temperature with an instant read thermometer. Shrimp are done at 145°F.
Pull the shrimp out of the sauce once they are nearly opaque and curling but still have some translucency in the center. They will finish cooking off heat from residual sauce heat.
Avoid Overcooking
Be very careful not to overcook the shrimp when simmering them in alfredo sauce. Shrimp go from perfectly cooked to rubbery and tough very quickly. Continuing to simmer them once opaque will toughen the texture. For the best results, use a timer and pull them as soon as the minimum recommended cook time is reached.
Cooking Tips
Follow these tips for perfectly cooked shrimp every time you make Zatarain’s shrimp alfredo:
- Sear first – Searing the shrimp for 1 minute per side before adding to sauce cuts down final cook time.
- Simmer sauce before adding – Let the sauce simmer for 3-4 minutes before adding raw shrimp so it thickens up.
- Cut large pieces – Cut extra large shrimp into 1-inch pieces to ensure even cooking.
- Stir periodically – Gently stir shrimp once halfway through cook time for even exposure to sauce.
- Remove immediately – Use tongs to transfer shrimp out of the sauce as soon as they are just opaque.
Following these simple tips will prevent overcooked, rubbery shrimp and ensure your Zatarain’s shrimp alfredo turns out perfectly cooked every time.
Serving Suggestions
Zatarain’s shrimp alfredo is a versatile, crowd-pleasing meal. Here are some tasty ways to serve it:
- Over pasta – Toss with fettuccine or linguine for classic shrimp alfredo.
- With vegetables – Serve over steamed broccoli or green beans.
- With rice – Spoon over cooked white or brown rice.
- With bread – Pair with slices of garlic bread or dinner rolls.
- With salad – Serve with a side green salad or caesar salad.
- With chicken – Add cooked chicken along with shrimp for extra protein.
- With extra sauce – Ladle extra alfredo sauce over individual servings.
You can also garnish with parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, chopped parsley, or lemon wedges. The possibilities are endless for making this 30-minute meal your own!
Storage
Short-Term Storage
For best quality and food safety, leftover Zatarain’s shrimp alfredo should be refrigerated within 2 hours of cooking. Follow these guidelines:
- Allow to cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container.
- Refrigerate for up to 4 days.
- Reheat gently over medium-low heat until warmed through, adding water if the sauce thickens too much.
Long-Term Storage
For longer term storage, divide into portions and freeze:
- Allow to cool completely, then transfer to freezer bags or airtight containers.
- Lay bags flat in the freezer to freeze quickly.
- Once frozen solid, the shrimp alfredo will keep for 2-3 months.
- Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before gently reheating.
Properly stored, Zatarain’s shrimp alfredo holds up nicely for several days refrigerated or months in the freezer.
Conclusion
Perfectly cooked shrimp in creamy alfredo is a delightful, easy dinner. By following Zatarain’s recommendations and using the shrimp size, sauce thickness, cooking method, and cook times provided, you can achieve tender and juicy shrimp with this boxed shrimp alfredo every time. Monitor doneness closely, erring on the side of slightly undercooked when simmering in sauce. With proper storage, leftovers will keep well for several days refrigerated or months frozen. Now you know exactly how long to cook Zatarain’s shrimp alfredo for restaurant-worthy results at home.