Make This Quick Weeknight Pasta Bursting With Fresh Pesto Flavor

[ad_1] <img decoding="async" src="https://www.spendwithpennies.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/SP-Shrimp-Pesto-Pasta-SpendWithPennies.jpg" class="shared-counts-hidden-image" data-pin-description="Spaghetti pesto shrimp is a fresh and flavorful weeknight pasta made with tender shrimp, juicy grape tomatoes, and a rich basil pesto that coats the pasta to perfection. The shrimp cook quickly in a hot skillet, while the pasta boils, keeping dinner simple and fast. A bit of pasta water helps create a silky sauce without any extra ingredients. This dish is perfect for busy nights when you want something bright, easy, and full of flavor. #spendwithpennies" data-pin-media="https://www.spendwithpennies.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/SP-Shrimp-Pesto-Pasta-SpendWithPennies.jpg" alt=""/> This recent shrimp pesto pasta comes collectively in simply 20 minutes. Pan-seared shrimp, juicy grape tomatoes, and shiny basil pesto are tossed with scorching pasta for a easy, flavorful dinner you’ll love.

Taste: Juicy shrimp, shiny pesto, and evenly charred tomatoes make each chew recent and flavorful.

Why It Works: Cooking the shrimp and tomatoes individually retains the shrimp tender whereas letting the tomatoes focus their sweetness with out watering down the sauce.

Approach: Blistering the tomatoes brings out their pure sweetness and provides depth, holding the flavors easy and recent.

Advisable Instruments: A big skillet to cook dinner the shrimp, and a pot to cook dinner the pasta.

Swaps: Use your favourite form of pasta or swap shrimp for hen, scallops, crab, or lobster.

What You’ll Want:

Spaghetti: Use common or complete wheat spaghetti, or swap in any lengthy pasta like linguine, fettuccine, or tagliatelle.

Shrimp: Contemporary or frozen medium shrimp work greatest. Purchase peeled and deveined to save lots of time, then thaw (if wanted) and pat dry for the most effective sear. Massive shrimp might have an additional 30 seconds per facet.

Grape Tomatoes: Blister the tomatoes on excessive warmth for the sweetest, juiciest taste. Cherry tomatoes work too.

Pesto: Each do-it-yourself and store-bought pesto work. If utilizing store-bought, select one with actual basil and olive oil, and style first. Some manufacturers are salty, so chances are you'll not want additional salt.

Seasonings: Salt, pepper, and dried oregano hold it easy. Add a pinch of pink pepper flakes for warmth (optionally available), and end with recent basil.

From Begin to End

This recipe strikes rapidly, so it helps to have every part prepped earlier than you begin cooking.

Cook dinner pasta al dente (agency) and reserve somewhat pasta cooking water (to loosen the pesto if wanted).

Season shrimp, sear, and put aside (full recipe beneath).

Blister tomatoes, take away the pan from the warmth, then add pasta and toss with pesto.

Add shrimp again in and prime with Parmesan and recent basil.

Pat the shrimp very dry earlier than searing in order that they brown properly as a substitute of steaming.

Add the pesto when the pan is off the burner, in order that it retains its shiny and zesty coloration and taste.

In case your pesto is thick, skinny it with a tablespoon or two of heat pasta water earlier than tossing so it coats the pasta evenly.

It’s vital to not overcook the shrimp. It solely wants a few minute per facet. When the shrimp flip pink and curl right into a C form, they’re carried out; take away them from the warmth instantly.

Leftovers Made Simple

For meal prep, remember to retailer the shrimp individually in an hermetic container for as much as 4 days. Leftovers are nonetheless scrumptious saved collectively, too. Freezing will not be beneficial.

Pesto could darken somewhat within the fridge, however the taste continues to be nice. Reheat over low warmth simply till warmed by means of, so the shrimp keep tender. Add a splash of water to loosen the pesto sauce.

Shrimp Lovers' Favorites

Did you make this Shrimp Pesto Pasta? Go away a score and remark beneath!

<img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1155" height="463" src="https://www.spendwithpennies.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SWPCB-Recipe-Card-Banner-202409.png" alt="image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text" class="wp-image-322275" title="Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies is available. Get your Copy!" srcset="https://www.spendwithpennies.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SWPCB-Recipe-Card-Banner-202409.png 1155w, https://www.spendwithpennies.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SWPCB-Recipe-Card-Banner-202409-500x200.png 500w, https://www.spendwithpennies.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SWPCB-Recipe-Card-Banner-202409-800x321.png 800w, https://www.spendwithpennies.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SWPCB-Recipe-Card-Banner-202409-768x308.png 768w, https://www.spendwithpennies.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SWPCB-Recipe-Card-Banner-202409-400x160.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1155px) 100vw, 1155px"/> Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook dinner Time 15 minutes minutes

Whole Time 25 minutes minutes

Deliver a big pot of salted water to a boil. Cook dinner spaghetti in keeping with bundle instructions till al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water and drain; put aside.

Whereas pasta is cooking, pat shrimp dry with paper towels. Season with oregano, salt, and pepper.

Warmth 1 tablespoon olive oil in a big skillet over medium-high warmth. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook dinner 1–2 minutes per facet or till shiny pink and simply cooked by means of. Switch to a plate and put aside.

In the identical skillet, scale back the warmth to medium and add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and grape tomatoes. Cook dinner till they start to blister and burst, stirring often, about 6-8 minutes.

Take away the skillet from the warmth and add 2 tablespoons pasta water. Scrape up any brown bits.

Add pasta, shrimp with any juices, and pesto. Toss effectively to coat, including extra pasta water as wanted.

Style and season with extra salt or pepper if wanted.

Prime with Parmesan and recent basil or a squeeze of lemon if desired.

Dry the shrimp effectively in order that they sear as a substitute of steaming, which releases juices as a substitute of holding them in. Add the pesto after the pan is off the warmth to maintain its shiny style. Cook dinner the shrimp a few minute per facet and pull it off the warmth as quickly because it turns pink and curls right into a C form. An O form is overcooked.

Vitamin data supplied is an estimate and can range primarily based on cooking strategies and types of components used.

Course Appetizer, Dinner, Entree, Pasta, Seafood Delicacies American

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<img decoding="async" width="500" height="1500" src="https://www.spendwithpennies.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/LP-Shrimp-Pesto-Pasta-SpendWithPennies.jpg" alt="Overhead view of shrimp pesto pasta in a skillet with a close of view of the pasta on a fork and a title" class="wp-image-362413" title="Make this spaghetti pesto shrimp for a simple, delicious dinner made with bright basil pesto, juicy shrimp, and tender pasta. The tomatoes soften as they cook, adding sweetness and color without extra ingredients. Everything comes together in one skillet, making cleanup so easy. This pasta is perfect for weeknights when you want something fresh and full of flavor without spending much time in the kitchen. #spendwithpennies" srcset="https://www.spendwithpennies.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/LP-Shrimp-Pesto-Pasta-SpendWithPennies.jpg 500w, https://www.spendwithpennies.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/LP-Shrimp-Pesto-Pasta-SpendWithPennies-400x1200.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px"/> [ad_2] Source link