Quick Shrimp Pesto Pasta

Servings: 6

Cook Time: 20

Total Time: 20

This quick shrimp pesto pasta comes together in just 20 minutes, bringing big flavor with minimal effort.

5 from 35 votes

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Ingredients

12 ounces pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pint cherry tomatoes
4 ounces pesto (½ cup)
1 pound shrimp, peeled
1 cup pasta water, reserved
¼ cup Parmesan cheese, for serving

Instructions

In a large pot, cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, drain and set aside.
In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the cherry tomatoes and sauté for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the pesto, the shrimp, and ¼ cup of pasta water to the skillet. Continue cooking for 3 to. 5 minutes, stirring often, until the shrimp turn pink and are cooked through.
Add the cooked pasta to the shrimp mixture and toss to combine with the sauce. Add ¼ cup of pasta water to the skillet, and stir to thin out the pesto sauce. For a more saucy pasta, add more of the reserved water. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese over the pasta, toss to combine, and serve.

Notes

You can cut down in time by cooking your pasta ahead of time.
There are a lot of shrimp per bowl of pasta. If you need to stretch this recipe to feed 6, use a full 16-ounce box of pasta.

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