Description
A vibrant and flavorful Shrimp Pesto Pasta dish featuring tender sautéed shrimp, blistered grape tomatoes, and a luscious pesto sauce tossed with perfectly cooked spaghetti. This quick and easy recipe is ideal for a satisfying weeknight dinner with fresh herbs and a light touch of Parmesan cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 ounces spaghetti (or other long pasta)
Shrimp and Seasoning
- 1 pound medium shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Cooking and Sauce Components
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
- 1 pint grape tomatoes
- ¾ cup pesto (homemade or store-bought)
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish (Optional)
- Fresh basil
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti according to package directions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- Season Shrimp: While pasta cooks, pat shrimp dry with paper towels. Season evenly with dried oregano, salt, and black pepper.
- Cook Shrimp: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook for 1–2 minutes on each side until they turn bright pink and are just cooked through. Transfer shrimp to a plate and set aside.
- Sauté Tomatoes: Reduce skillet heat to medium, add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and grape tomatoes. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes blister and burst, about 6–8 minutes.
- Deglaze Skillet: Remove the skillet from heat and add 2 tablespoons of reserved pasta water. Scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the skillet to incorporate flavor into the sauce.
- Toss Pasta and Sauce: Add cooked pasta, shrimp with their juices, and pesto to the skillet. Toss well to combine, adding more pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce and coat the pasta evenly.
- Adjust Seasoning: Taste the pasta and season with additional salt or pepper if desired.
- Serve: Top the pasta with grated Parmesan cheese and garnish with fresh basil leaves or a squeeze of lemon juice if desired for brightness.
Notes
- Reserve some pasta water as its starch helps emulsify and loosen the pesto sauce for a better coating.
- Use fresh or store-bought pesto depending on convenience.
- Be careful not to overcook shrimp to avoid rubbery texture; they cook quickly.
- Grape tomatoes add a sweet burst of flavor but cherry tomatoes can be substituted.
- Fresh basil and lemon wedges are optional additions that enhance freshness and brightness.
