If the 10-minute preparation time of these pesto shrimp won't entice you to make this recipe, the fresh flavor surely will! Pesto is made of basil, olive oil, garlic, and parmesan. These flavors pair amazingly well with shrimp.
This pesto shrimp recipe requires just five ingredients and is ready in a matter of minutes. You can serve it as is or use it as a topping for pasta (regular or low-carb). The first time I made it, I wanted to use up some leftover pesto sauce, but it was such a hit with my family that I now make it regularly.
Ingredients
See the recipe card for exact measurements. Here are my comments on some of the ingredients.
- Olive oil: Just one tablespoon for sauteing the shrimp.
- Large shrimp: I use peeled and deveined shrimp. I typically use large shrimp (31-40 pieces per pound). Extra-large (21-25 pieces per pound) is fine too.
- Cherry tomatoes: Add color and flavor to the dish.
- Salt: Just a pinch. The pesto sauce has plenty of saltiness.
- Pesto sauce: It's OK to use store-bought pesto, but make sure it's made with olive oil. Or quickly whip up homemade pesto in your food processor.
Variations
- You can make this recipe with medium-sized shrimp (51-60 pieces per pound). If you do, adjust the cooking time. Shrimp are fully cooked when their translucent grayish color turns pink and opaque. Medium shrimp will need to be cooked for just 2-3 minutes before adding the pesto sauce.
- Sometimes, I add a handful of pitted kalamata olives with the pesto sauce.
- If you enjoy spicy food, sprinkle the finished dish with ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes.
Instructions
The detailed instructions and step-by-step photos are included in the recipe card. Here's a quick overview.
Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add the shrimp and tomatoes with a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring often, until the shrimp are almost cooked through.
Reduce the heat to medium-low. Stir in the pesto sauce.
Cook, stirring, until the shrimp are fully cooked and opaque, about one more minute. Serve immediately.
Quick and delicious! My husband literally licked the pan clean, and my kids finished their plates. A big family win for dinner.
Jen
Read more comments
Quick and delicious! My husband literally licked the pan clean, and my kids finished their plates. A big family win for dinner.Recipe Tips
- The tomatoes will be partially cooked when prepared according to my instructions. If you want them fully cooked, add them to the skillet first and cook them for one minute before adding the shrimp.
- You can use frozen shrimp, but you'll need to defrost them first. If you need to do so quickly, place them in a bowl filled with cool water for 5-7 minutes, replacing the water once or twice. Place them on paper towels to drain.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, but try to find a sauce made with olive oil. Many jarred sauces are made with soybean oil. Keep in mind that store-bought sauces, even high-quality ones, are often mediocre in taste. They can't compare to the fresh taste of homemade pesto.
Yes. Add them with the tomatoes to a bowl, add the pesto, and mix to coat. Then bake them in a single layer in a 400°F oven until opaque. This should take 8-10 minutes, depending on their size and how hot your oven runs. The disadvantage of this method is that you'll be cooking the pesto over fairly high heat, and it's best not to cook pesto.
To keep the fresh flavor of this sauce, you don't want to cook it, and certainly not over high heat. This method of adding it at the very end of cooking and just warming it ensures it remains fresh-tasting. This is especially important with homemade sauce. Store-bought ones are overcooked to begin with, which is also why they're not that good.
You can keep the leftovers in a shallow, airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat them gently in the microwave at 50% power. You can also leave them cold and use them as a salad topping. They make a delicious topping for this arugula salad.
Serving Suggestions
Pesto shrimp is a saucy dish, so I like to serve it on something that would absorb the tasty sauce, such as:
- Spaghetti squash noodles
- Zucchini noodles
- Shirataki noodles
- Hearts of Palm pasta
- Mashed cauliflower
- Mashed butternut squash
- Sauteed spinach
Alternatively, you can serve it with thick slices of almond flour bread to sop up the sauce.
Recipe Card
10-Minute Pesto Shrimp
Video
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound large shrimp - peeled and deveined; 31-40 pieces per pound
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes
- Pinch salt
- ¼ cup basil pesto sauce
Instructions
- In a large (12-inch) nonstick skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and tomatoes with a pinch of salt.
- Cook, stirring often, until the shrimp are almost cooked through, about 4 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low. Stir in the pesto sauce and cook, stirring, until the shrimp are fully cooked and opaque, about one more minute.
- Divide the shrimp and tomatoes between two plates. Use a rubber spatula to scrape any remaining sauce from the pan and pour it on the shrimp. Serve immediately.
Notes
- It's okay to use store-bought pesto sauce, although it will be inferior to fresh homemade sauce. Try to find a high-quality sauce made with olive oil.
- The tomatoes will be partially cooked. If you want them fully cooked, add them to the skillet first and cook them for a minute before adding the shrimp.
- You can keep the leftovers in a shallow, airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat them gently in the microwave at 50% power. You can also leave them cold and use them as a salad topping.
Nutrition per Serving
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Disclaimers
Most recipes are low-carb and gluten-free, but some are not. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate. Please verify it independently. The carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Please read these Terms of Use before using any of my recipes.
Jen says
Quick and delicious! My husband literally licked the pan clean, and my kids finished their plates. A big family win for dinner.
Vered DeLeeuw says
Wonderful, Jen! I'm so glad this was such a huge success. Thank you very much for the review.
Ettore says
I prepared this last evening. To give my pesto a freshening, I added fresh garlic and basil. The meal was absolutely delicious! Thank you for this recipe. It's now going to be a regular meal for us.
Vered DeLeeuw says
I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe!