Dinner at the Zoo

By 27 Comments

Shrimp Pesto Pasta

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This recipe for shrimp pesto pasta is spaghetti tossed in a flavorful pesto sauce, then topped with sauteed shrimp and tomatoes. A fresh and easy dinner that’s quick to make and packed with flavor!

Shrimp Pesto Pasta Recipe | Shrimp Pasta | Pesto Pasta | Easy Shrimp Recipe #shrimp #pasta #pesto #tomato #dinner #dinneratthezoo

A pan of shrimp pesto pasta topped with tomatoes, parmesan cheese and parsley.

If you’ve been reading her for a while, you know I’m ALL about the easy dinner ideas. It doesn’t get much simpler than this shrimp pesto pasta! The whole thing is ready in about 20 minutes, you can’t beat that!

Seared shrimp served over spaghetti tossed in pesto sauce.

I like to use spaghetti for my shrimp pesto pasta, but linguine or fettuccine would also be great. While the pasta is boiling, I cook up my shrimp. After the noodles are done, I simply toss the pasta with the shrimp, pesto, add some tomatoes and cheese, and dinner is served!

A serving spoon in a pan of shrimp pesto pasta.

How do you make shrimp pesto pasta?

So here’s my little secret: I don’t make my own pesto. Yes, you can make your own pesto, but there are so many high quality store bought versions these days that I feel like it’s not always worth the extra time and effort. My favorite pesto is the Kirkland brand at Costco, it comes in a jar in the refrigerated section. The refrigerated store bought pesto tends to be superior in flavor to the shelf stable type, so go for the fresh stuff whenever possible!

Pesto pasta with seared shrimp, cherry tomatoes and parmesan cheese.

This pesto pasta recipe gets finished off with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese, fresh tomatoes and herbs. I went with parsley because that’s what I had on hand, but you could also use basil or even just skip the herbs if you don’t happen to have them on hand. Another awesome addition to this dish would be pine nuts, or even some sauteed zucchini!

A serving spoon with a cooked shrimp in a pan of pesto pasta.

I’m definitely going to be turning to this shrimp pesto pasta when I need a speedy dinner. If you add a loaf of bread and a green salad, it’s even fancy enough for company!

MORE GREAT SHRIMP RECIPES TO TRY

Shrimp Pesto Pasta Video


This recipe for shrimp pesto pasta is spaghetti tossed in a flavorful pesto sauce, then topped with sauteed shrimp and tomatoes. A fresh and easy dinner that's quick to make and packed with flavor!
Print Pin
4.72 from 14 votes

Shrimp Pesto Pasta

This recipe for shrimp pesto pasta is spaghetti tossed in a flavorful pesto sauce, then topped with sauteed shrimp and tomatoes. A fresh and easy dinner that's quick to make and packed with flavor!
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Keyword pesto pasta, shrimp pasta, shrimp pesto pasta
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 627kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 10 ounces dry spaghetti can also use linguine or fettuccine
  • 3/4 cup basil pesto
  • 1 pound medium to large shrimp peeled and deveined
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (or equal parts garlic powder dried basil and dried oregano)
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • Optional garnish: chopped parsley

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package directions.
  • While the pasta is cooking, prepare the shrimp.
  • Heat the olive oil in a large pan over high heat. Add the shrimp and sprinkle with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.
  • Cook for 2-4 minutes or until shrimp are just pink and opaque. Turn off the heat.
  • Drain the pasta and add it to the pan with the shrimp. Stir in the pesto.
  • Add the cherry tomatoes and parmesan cheese to the pan. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 627kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 177mg | Sodium: 671mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 4g

Still hungry? Follow Dinner at the Zoo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for more great recipe ideas!

Still hungry? Follow Dinner at the Zoo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for more great recipe ideas!

Comments

  1. China says

    May 1, 2019 at 12:31 am


    I love shrimp pesto. So delicious. So quick and easy. Absolutely delicious. I opt for brown rice pasta and also roasted my tomatoes with some shallots and garlic in the oven.

    Reply

  3. Yani says

    February 9, 2019 at 11:41 am

    I will make this for dinner tonight for my husband and I. The kids are not fans of shrimp, so before I add the shrimp I will take a portion out and mix it with grilled chicken for them. One dinner will please the whole family! Thank you!

    Reply

  5. Jaime says

    February 2, 2019 at 6:23 am


    Delish!!! Wow simple yet super tasty! I am growing basil in my basement and what better way than to use it than trying your recipe! I am so glad I found your post!

    Reply

  6. Danielle Nikkia Salmon says

    January 1, 2019 at 1:09 pm

    OMG this looks so so good. The shrimp literally had me wanting to devour my laptop screen. I love how deliciously easy it looks to make because that means even little ol me can make it. Great job!

    Reply

  8. chandra says

    November 30, 2017 at 5:52 am

    er. what the hell happened to the recipe? The photos are nice, and the video is fine, but nowhere do I see measurements for any of the ingredients! perhaps it’s a glitch, because I see recipes for some of the other dishes on this site — just not this one. Also, for some reason, i can’t type capital letters in the comments. weird.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sites I am featured In