Easy Pesto Shrimp

Pesto shrimp is a dinnertime win! Savory basil pesto is a natural pairing with juicy shrimp; serve with pasta or rice for an easy dinner idea.

Here’s an idea that has easy weeknight meal written all over it: pesto shrimp! Turns out this bright green, garlicky sauce is the perfect pairing for this succulent shellfish. The two flavors go hand-in-hand, just like famous duos like tomatoes and basil. Alex and I were inspired to make this recipe because of the bushy basil plant in our backyard. There’s no better use for a big patch of pesto than a pile of juicy, succulent shrimp.

How to make pesto shrimp…in 5 minutes!

Yes, this is one of those 5 minute simple recipes that’s a savior on busy weeknights. In our house, we eat seafood only occasionally (we eat mostly plant based recipes). But every now and then, we eat healthy seafood like shrimp or salmon. What we love about shrimp: it cooks so quickly! Just a few minutes in a skillet and you’ve got dinner. Here are the basic steps to how to make pesto shrimp:

• Pat the shrimp dry. This is key before you start cooking: so there’s not too much extra liquid.
• Saute the shrimp 1 to 2 minutes per side. Heat the olive oil, then pop in the shrimp and cook just 1 to 2 minutes per side. Just before they are cooked…
• Add pesto for only 30 seconds! This gets it beautifully bright green and coats the shrimp in a beautiful sauce. Do not cook any longer than that, or the pesto will darken and turn brown.

Make with homemade or best quality pesto

The main thing to know about his shrimp pesto recipe: use the best quality pesto! The best, of course, is homemade! Below we’ve listed a few of our favorite options. But we get it: this requires fresh basil, which is not always available. If you can’t make homemade pesto, use the best quality brand you can find. The quality varies a lot between brands, so you may need some trial and error before you find your favorite pesto.

If you’re able to make homemade pesto, here are a few recipes we recommend:

• Best Basil Pesto The standard! This is our favorite pesto recipe using toasted pine nuts and Parmesan cheese.
• Cashew Pesto You can make pesto with any kind of nuts! Cashews are cheaper and make a great pesto.
• Walnut Pesto Walnuts are also great for making pesto.
• Dairy Free Pesto Don’t want Parmesan in your pesto? Here’s the answer.

Shrimp nutrition

One medium shrimp has only 7 calories, so it’s a great lean protein for a healthy dinner! Shrimp are part of a healthy Mediterranean-style diet. (Here’s more on shrimp nutrition.) The calories & protein in shrimp are as follows:

• 1 medium shrimp = 7 calories, 1 gram protein
• 1 jumbo shrimp = 14 calories, 1.5 grams protein

Think ahead: make sure to thaw frozen shrimp

Should you use fresh or frozen shrimp for this pesto shrimp recipe? You can use either! Turns out, frozen shrimp can be even fresher than if you buy fresh at the grocery store. If it’s flash frozen right away, it can be extremely fresh. Either way, try to find wild caught shrimp: it’s usually a sustainable option. If you do use frozen, you’ll need to make sure to think ahead to thaw it before making the recipe. Here’s what to do:

• Day before: If you think ahead, simply place the frozen shrimp in the refrigerator overnight.
• Day of: Place the shrimp in a large bowl of very cold water for 15 minutes. Stir every 5 minutes to break up clumps that freeze together. The shrimp should defrost in about 15 to 20 minutes.

Make pesto shrimp into a fast dinner idea

Of course, this pesto shrimp isn’t a full meal in 5 minutes. But it gets you much closer to dinner! Here’s what we’d suggest serving with it to round it out into a meal:

• Rice: Make a pot of any type of rice: go to How to Cook Rice. Or try Coconut Rice!
• Quinoa: Make a pot of quinoa: you can even swirl in pesto to the quinoa too.
• Pasta: Add noodles to make it a full meal. Try Shrimp Pesto Pasta or add to Pesto Spaghetti.
• Couscous: Couscous is not a whole grain: it’s a pasta! It cooks in just 10 minutes, so it’s the quickest option. Try this Easy Couscous.
• Salad: Make a quick salad, like Easy Arugula Salad, Celery Salad or Italian Salad.
• Beans: Make 5 minute Easy Cannellini Beans or Easy White Beans to add even more protein.
• Sauteed Veggies: Try ultra-fast Peas with Lemon, Lemony Green Beans, Sauteed Green Beans, Sauteed Broccoli or Pan Fried Broccoli.

This pesto shrimp recipe is…

Dairy-free, gluten-free, and pescatarian.

Print

More easy shrimp recipes

There are lots more easy shrimp recipes that make for a fast dinner! Here are some of our favorites to try:

• Garlic Butter Shrimp HUGE flavor in under 10 minutes! A fast and easy dinner for weeknights or entertaining.
• Shrimp Stir Fry or Classic Shrimp Fajitas Two classic dinners that take 30 minutes or less.
• Shrimp Roll Like a lobster roll, but with shrimp!
• BBQ Shrimp Fast and easy; perfect for weeknights.
• Creamy Shrimp Pasta or Cajun Shrimp Pasta Easy to make with the best big flavors: garlic, lemon, and Parmesan.
• Perfect Sauteed Shrimp, Easy Cajun Shrimp or Honey Garlic Shrimp This really is the best easy shrimp, with the best seasoning.
• 3 Cheese Shrimp Pizza Like shrimp alfredo…on pizza crust!
• Easy Coconut Shrimp Baked to perfection: no one can resist that juicy coconut-scented bite!
• Shrimp Cocktail The zesty famous cocktail sauce will have everyone begging for the recipe.
• Cilantro Lime Shrimp An healthy, easy dinner recipe that takes just 10 minutes! Serve with rice, in tacos, or as a Mexican-style salad topping.
• Shrimp Fried Rice Here’s how to make the best shrimp fried rice that tastes just like takeout!
• Broiled Shrimp It’s so easy and comes out juicy and perfectly seasoned. Add breading for an irresistible crunch!
• Shrimp and Broccoli This ultra meal comes together in minutes for a fast and easy healthy dinner! Serve with rice or over noodles.