Easy Healthy Creamy Pesto Shrimp Pasta – Ready in 25 Minutes
You need a dinner recipe that you can whip out in less than 30 minutes. One that only uses 1 pot! A recipe, so tasty, your whole family will love! This Healthy Creamy Pesto Shrimp Pasta is it!
There are only 7 ingredients in this one pot wonder.
If you like this one-pot wonder, you’ll love my one-dish Artichoke Chicken recipe.
Shrimp
A few things about sweet succulent shrimp…
All Shrimp are NOT Equal
In my opinion, wild caught Gulf Shrimp is best. Many farmed shrimps are contaminated with antibiotics and use slave labor to peel shells! Learn more about shrimp farming overseas in this article.
Size Matters
For this Healthy and Creamy Pesto Shrimp Pasta, a medium or small sized shrimp is all you need. No need to spend the money on the jumbo shrimp.
When purchasing your shrimp, you will see a number range associated with the size. Medium (41-50) means there are 41-50 shrimp per pound. Small (51-60) has 51-60 shrimp per pound.
Buying them shelled will save you time, but they are a little more expensive. If you can, pay the price for shelled, to make this meal even easier.
Pesto
This is the flavor enhancer! Pesto is soooo good, and easy to make. (It’s also easy to buy!) Here are the ingredients in standard pesto:
- Fresh Basil
- Olive Oil
- Nuts (typically pine nuts)
- Garlic
- Parmesan Cheese
Whiz up these ingredients in a food processor, or buy a jar at your local market.
Leftover Pesto
There are so many ways to use up leftover pesto. My favorite is making a salad dressing. If you like pesto, you will love this recipe for Spinach Salad with Easy Pesto Dressing. Here are a few more ideas:
- Put on top of Hard Boiled Eggs
- Mix it with Greek Yogurt for a tasty veggie dip
- Warm Pesto Artichoke Dip
- On top of Sliced Tomatoes
- Put it on top of Chicken and bake
- Mixed in with Rice or Quinoa
Pesto can also me frozen. Put leftover pesto in small freezable containers for up to 6 months.
Goat Cheese
Usually creamy and healthy aren’t used in the same sentence. Goat cheese is packed with vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats. Winning! For more health benefits of goat cheese, read this WedMD article.
Goat cheese is tangy, light, and melts beautifully in this pasta. If you aren’t a fan, sub cream cheese.
If you love goat cheese like me, you’ll love these Goat Cheese & Basil Crackers.
Pasta
To keep up with the name of this recipe: Healthy Creamy Pesto Shrimp Pasta, choose a healthier pasta. I prefer whole wheat.
If you are gluten free, use your favorite gluten free pasta. Jovial brand is the preferred gluten free brand by many. However, there are so many more options out there.
Pasta Shapes
Change up your pasta shapes. My kids always get excited when they see a new shape on our table. The possibilities are endless:
- Bow Tie
- Spiral
- Corkscrew
- Animal Shaped
- Tubes
Of course regular ol’ spaghetti will work too.
Important Pasta Cooking Note
Once your pasta is done cooking, don’t dump the pasta water! This is filled with starchy components that help bring the sauce together. Dip out a big mug of the pasta water and hold back.
Veggies
The two veggies in this dish are tomatoes and spinach.
Tomatoes
Pesto, pasta, and tomatoes are like the 3 amigos. Such a flavorful team!
Tomatoes are free radical fighters! They contain lycopene which helps with UV damage from the sun and with heart health.
Use whole cherry or grape tomatoes in this dish. There’s no dicing or halving. By keeping them whole you will: 1.) Save time, and 2.) if you have leftovers the tomatoes won’t get weird with tough skins.
Spinach
By putting the spinach in while the pasta is still hot, it wilts. This makes it softer, easier to eat, and you are able to get more in! Popeye was on to something! There are so many good reasons to eat more spinach like lowering your blood pressure and aiding in digestion.
Nuts (or Seeds)
You gotta have a little bit of crunch! There are so many crunchy options. Choose your favorite! Here are some tasty nuts and seeds that go great in this dish:
- Pine Nuts
- Sunflower Seeds
- Pecans
- Almonds
- Pistachios
- Pumpkin Seeds
How Easy is Pesto Shrimp Pasta?
So easy! One Pot meals are the best. Less dishes = Happiness.
- Boil the pasta water, add a handful of salt and the pasta.
- With 2 minutes left on the pasta, add the shrimp. Cook until done.
- Drain water, saving a mug of the water for later.
- Put the pasta and shrimp back in the pot, add pesto and spinach.
- Stir until combined, add goat cheese, tomatoes, and nuts.
- Stir and enjoy!
Leftovers
Oh, heck yes to these leftovers! Pesto Shrimp Pasta is good reheated or cold. In fact, this recipe can be made a day before, for a cold pasta salad. It keeps for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
If you like this shrimp recipe, you will love this Shrimp appetizer with Zippy Dip.
Want to try this recipe? Don’t want to miss out on more Freckle Face Foodie recipes? Let me send you my FREE RECIPES DROPS a few times a month!
Healthy Creamy Pesto Shrimp Pasta
Healthy and creamy never tasted so good! This recipe will be a staple in your home. Full of flavor, made in 1 pot, and ready in 25 minutes!
Ingredients
- 12 oz Pasta whole wheat, gluten free, any shape
- 1 lb Raw Shrimp (41-50) peeled, de-veined
- 1/2 cup Pesto jarred or home-made
- 4 cups Fresh Spinach
- 1-2 cups Cherry or Grape Tomatoes
- 4 oz Goat Cheese Chevre
- 1/4 cup Nuts or Seeds such as sunflower seeds or pine nuts
- Salt, Pepper, Red Pepper Flake optional
Instructions
- Boil water for pasta in large stock pot. Add a handful of salt (optional) and pasta. Cook pasta according to direction on package. With 2 minutes remaining on the pasta, add in shrimp. Shrimp is done when it is no longer translucent.
- Using a handled mug, dip out a mug full of the starchy pasta water, before you discard it down the drain. This will be used in the sauce. Drain pasta and shrimp. Put shrimp and pasta back in empty stock pot.
- Put spinach on top of hot pasta and shrimp. Toss, wilting the spinach.
- Stir in pesto. Add in cherry tomatoes and goat cheese. Drizzle in some pasta water. This will help make a sauce. Save left over pasta water for leftovers, if needed.
- Taste the pasta. Add more pesto, salt, pepper, or red pepper flake, if necessary. Sprinkle on the nuts or seeds. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
If the shrimp are done and the pasta isn’t quite ready, use a slotted spoon or mesh strainer to scoop out opaque shrimp.
When packing up leftovers, drizzle a bit of pasta water over pasta if looking dry. Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
If using gluten free pasta, it is best consumed then and there…not reheated.
Nutrition
Calories: 418kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 24gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 106mgSodium: 711mgPotassium: 409mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 2831IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 136mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Comments
This is definitely a hit with our kids and so delicious.
Thanks for your comment Chad!
Sounds like supper tonight! Thanks!
You are welcome, Gerry! Thanks for visiting. Let us know how it turns out.
This is a hit for the whole family! Bonus for me, it’s easy and healthy!!
Thanks Kristen! So glad everyone liked it!
This dish is so quick to prepare and healthy. Loved it!
Thanks for the 5 stars Lois! So glad you like it.
So delicious, nutritious and EASY!!
Thank you Kristen!
Love this recipe! Not only is it easy to prepare but delicious!
Denise, thanks for making my recipes!
This recipe is delicious! Easy weeknight meal!
Thanks Carrie! I’m so glad you like it.
Quick, easy & delicious!
Thanks Lisa! Glad you enjoy it.