Creamy Tomato Pesto Shrimp Pasta

Creamy Tomato Pesto Shrimp Pasta is a delightfully easy and flavourful shrimp pasta recipe to make for the perfect weeknight dinner or any occasion. The ingredients are simple; seasoned shrimp, basil pesto, cherry tomatoes, garlic, and fresh linguine pasta tossed in a delicious homemade cream sauce!

Prep Time5

Cook Time20

Total Time25

Course: Fish & Seafood, Main Dishes & Entrees, Noodles & Pasta, Quick, Easy & Under 30

Cuisine: American, Italian

Keyword: basil pesto, cajun seafood, cajun shrimp and sausage pasta, cajun shrimp pasta, cream sauce, cream sauce recipe, creamy tomato pesto, creamy tomato pesto shrimp pasta, easy seafood recipe, easy weeknight recipe, linguini pasta, pasta recipes, pesto, pesto shrimp, quick and easy seafood recipe, seafood pasta, seafood pasta recipe, tomato pesto, weeknight dinner recipe, weeknight meals

Servings: servings

Author: Taneisha Morris

Equipment

1 Large Skillet
1 Wooden Spoon
1 Tongs

Ingredients

454 grams Linguine Pasta
2 tbsp Butter
1 lb Shrimp raw, peeled and deveined
3 cloves Garlic minced
2 tbsp Basil Pesto divided
1 cup Heavy Cream or cooking/whipping cream
1/3 cup Parmesan Cheese shredded, plus more for serving
1/2 cup Cherry Tomatoes halved
1/2 Lemon freshly squeezed
Salt & Pepper to taste
1 tbsp Fresh Parsley chopped, for garnish

Instructions

Cook linguine pasta according to package instructions. Once al dente, drain and set aside. In a bowl, add shrimp and season with salt and pepper to taste, minced garlic and one tablespoon of basil pesto; mix until well coated and set aside.
In a large skillet, melt butter and sauté shrimp until cooked, about 2 to 3 minutes depending on size. Remove from heat, transfer to a plate and set aside.
Add remaining (one tablespoon) of basil pesto to the skillet. Then, add heavy/cooking cream, cherry tomatoes, parmesan cheese and juice from half a lemon. Allow sauce to simmer and thicken. Then use the back of a wooden spoon to crush the tomatoes into the sauce. Taste test the sauce, and adjust as needed. Add pasta and shrimp to the skillet and toss with tongs to coat.
Garnish with fresh chopped parsley or herb of choice, freshly grated Parmesan cheese and a lemon wedge as desired. Serve warm and enjoy.

Notes

How to Know When Shrimp is Cooked - shrimp like most seafood cook fairly fast around 2-3 minutes per side, as opposed to other kinds of protein. There are two visual cues you can use to ensure you don't overcook your shrimp - colour and shape.

See detailed notes above for additional notes and tips.

Nutrition