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Quick Creamy Pesto Shrimp Pasta

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A quick and easy 15-minute dinner combining tender shrimp with a creamy basil pesto sauce tossed with linguine. Perfect for busy weeknights or impressing guests with minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 oz linguine or spaghetti
  • Salt (for pasta water)
  • 1 lb raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • ½ cup heavy cream or half-and-half
  • ½ cup prepared basil pesto
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tbsp reserved pasta cooking water
  • Optional garnishes: fresh basil leaves, extra grated Parmesan, red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add linguine and cook 8-10 minutes until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta cooking water before draining.
  2. While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp seasoned with salt and pepper. Cook 2 minutes on one side until pink and slightly golden, then flip.
  3. Add minced garlic to the shrimp, stirring frequently to avoid burning. Cook 1-2 minutes until shrimp are opaque and garlic is fragrant.
  4. Lower heat to medium-low. Pour in heavy cream and stir gently. Add basil pesto and grated Parmesan cheese. Stir until cheese melts and sauce thickens, about 2-3 minutes. Add reserved pasta water gradually if sauce is too thick.
  5. Add drained linguine to the skillet and toss to coat noodles with sauce. Cook for another minute until heated through.
  6. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes. Garnish with torn fresh basil leaves and extra Parmesan if desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

Do not overcook shrimp to avoid rubbery texture. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Stir sauce gently to prevent curdling. Garlic should be cooked until fragrant but not burnt. For dairy-free, substitute heavy cream with coconut cream and Parmesan with nutritional yeast. Gluten-free pasta or zucchini noodles can be used as alternatives.

Nutrition

Keywords: pesto shrimp pasta, creamy pesto pasta, quick shrimp dinner, easy pasta recipe, weeknight dinner, creamy shrimp pasta

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