Al Pesto Pasta With Shrimp

Al pesto pasta with shrimp is an elegant dish that takes no time to make.

Tender pasta, homemade pesto, juicy shrimp, and more.

This pasta with shrimp is a must try dinner any night of the week. 

Get the recipe down at the end of the post in the recipe card. 

Al Pesto Pasta With Shrimp Recipe

There is something about pasta for dinner!

And our Al Pesto Pasta with Shrimp is up for the job.

It’s thin spaghetti cooked al dente. And that perfectly cooked pasta is tossed with homemade pesto.

But that’s only half of it.

We add pan-seared cherry tomatoes and buttery garlic shrimp.

If that doesn’t sound like a good time, then I do not know what to say. 

We all love a good pasta recipe, and this one has so much to love and maybe even lick your plate.

This delicious pasta dish brings together the classic flavors of Liguria, the region of Italy known for its pesto tradition.

With a large pot of salted water, cook the trenette pasta until al dente. 

This is a dish worth turning the stove on for in the r heat; it is that good.

It starts not with the pasta but with the homemade pesto sauce.

And begins pesto begins with a few fresh ingredients.

I used fresh sweet basil, baby spinach, and arugula. 

What You Will Need Pasta Al Pesto Recipe:

Pasta. I used spaghetti pasta for this recipe, but I have also prepared this dish using fettucini and linguini; either works well. 

Shrimp. Fresh or precooked shrimp work well for this recipe—I have used both with good results. Naturally, the fresh shrimp is the better of the two, but preparing this meal with precooked shrimp ain’t a bad option. 

Cherry Tomatoes. I love summer cherry tomatoes, and blistering them in a bit of EVOO and a pinch of good sea salt is pretty dang good too!

Homemade Pesto. The homemade pesto is made with fresh sweet basil, baby spinach, arugula, fresh oregano, and toasted pine nuts. And, of course, I added a respectable amount of garlic, a long pour of extra virgin olive oil, and Parmigiano Reggiano. I also love using a good pecorino fiore sardo cheese in this pesto recipe.  

EVOO. Unsalted Butter. Sea Salt & Freshly Cracked Black Peppercorns. Good extra-virgin olive oil goes a long way; the same goes for good butter, sea salt, freshly cracked black peppercorns, and of course, season to taste. 

How to make Al Pesto Pasta With Shrimp

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of spaghetti pasta
• 2-3 tbsps of pasta water
• 1/2 pound of precooked shrimp
• 1  1/2 cups of cherry tomatoes
• 2-3 cloves of garlic
• 1 shallot minced
• 2tbsps extra virgin olive oil plus more for serving
• 2 tbsps of unsalted butter divided
• 3/4 cup of homemade pesto sauce
• fresh basil for garnish
• sea salt to taste
• freshly cracked black. peppercorns to taste

Directions:

1. Prepare pesto using our homemade basil pesto recipe here.
2. Into a saute pan, heat one tablespoon of EVOO over medium heat; when the pan is hot, add the cherry tomatoes and move them around until they blister. Remove the pan from heat and set aside. 
3. Cook pasta following the package instructions, drain, and toss with butter, pasta water, and extra virgin olive oil to keep the pasta loose. 
4. While the pasta is cooking, saute the garlic and shallots with a single tablespoon of EVOO, add the shrimp with unsalted butter, and heat the shrimp through in roughly three (3) minutes. 
5. Fold the pesto into the spaghetti and toss with sea salt and freshly cracked peppercorn to taste. 
6. Add the shrimp and blistered tomatoes and gently fold. 
7. Serve with fresh basil. 
8. For an extra burst of flavor, squeeze some fresh lemon juice over the dish.

Serve this traditional Ligurian delicacy as a main dish, accompanied by a side salad, or as a side dish alongside other pasta creations.

This recipe will surely become a favorite among pasta lovers and the whole family.

Enjoy this delicious pasta, reminiscent of the flavors of the Italian Riviera, in the comfort of your own home. And if you’re a fan of the movie Luca, you’ll feel like you’re right in the capital of Liguria! 

Now that you have the recipe, all you need to do is gather the ingredients. And as always, if you have any questions, drop us a line in the comments below. And if you make the recipe, we would love to hear about it. 

What is pesto made of?

Depending on the recipe, you will find that some of the pesto varies a bit.

Our pesto recipe uses a food process and is made with fresh basil leaves, arugula, pine nuts, EVVO, and more.

You will find it offers a very earthy and nutty flavor. 

What do you eat pesto with?

Pesto can be served on toasted bread, mixed in soups, paired with pasta, etc.

You will find that pesto is very versatile, so you can really use pesto with any of your favorite dishes.

Now, some even love making their over-easy eggs with pesto for an elevated flavor. 

Can I buy store-bought pesto instead of making homemade? 

You are more than welcome to buy pesto if you want to speed up the prep work.

Just use any brand or style you enjoy.

I really like the pine nut flavor, but pistachio is another delicious pesto. 

Is it healthy to eat shrimp?

Shrimp is a great source of antioxidants and is a great protein to incorporate into your diet.

You will find that shrimp is also a lighter protein, which is great if you are wanting to watch what you eat. 

How to Store Leftover Shrimp and Pasta 

If you do not eat all your pasta right away, you can simply store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Then just reheat it in the microwave. Or you can eat the leftover pesto pasta chilled. 

You will find that you can freeze the shrimp and pasta, but the shrimp can become pretty rubbery once it thaws from being frozen and then reheated. 

What to serve with Pesto Pasta Recipe

Here are a few recipe ideas to serve with your pasta. 

•  Honey Garlic Butter French Green Beans
• Garlic Bread
• Steamed Vegetables
• Grilled Asparagus

More Pasta Dishes To Try

Lo Mein Pasta

Pasta Dinner Ideas

Fettuccine + Meatballs