Description
This Pesto Pasta with Shrimp is a quick, flavorful seafood dish featuring juicy shrimp tossed with al dente pasta and creamy basil pesto perfect for weeknights or elegant dinners.
Ingredients
12 oz pasta (spaghetti, linguine, or penne)
1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 tbsp olive oil
2 cups fresh basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
1 tbsp lemon juice
Salt and pepper, to taste
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Optional: cherry tomatoes or baby spinach for extra flavor
Instructions
1. Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain.
2. In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Season shrimp with salt and pepper, then sauté 2–3 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove from heat.
3. Add pasta, pesto, and a splash of reserved pasta water to the skillet. Toss until evenly coated. Add lemon juice and shrimp.
4. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve warm. Garnish with fresh basil or crushed red pepper if desired.
Notes
For extra richness, stir in a spoonful of cream or ricotta.
Use whole-grain pasta or zucchini noodles for a lighter version.
Great served warm or cold as a picnic pasta salad.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Dinner, Pasta, Seafood
- Method: Boiling, Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 180mg
Keywords: Pesto Pasta with Shrimp, Shrimp Pesto Pasta, Basil Pesto Pasta, Easy Seafood Pasta, Italian Dinner