Add this Shrimp Pesto Pasta Salad to your next summer party menu! This simple shrimp pesto pasta recipe comes together in less than 30 minutes.
30 minutes
Minimal prep
You’ll Learn: The easiest way to steam shrimp to keep them tender for pasta salads
Worth It: It’s a satisfying, protein-forward option that actually keeps you full
Bonus: Easy to tailor to common diets
why you’ll love this recipe
- Delicious cold meal – I am always looking for simple summer meals that I can serve chilled for when its TOO hot to cook. Pasta salads are a great option because they are filling, satisfying and easy to make.
- Perfect for a barbecue – I love this shrimp pesto pasta recipe because it is filling enough to be the main meal, but it also makes an amazing side dish! It’s so versatile for your summer parties
- Quick summer dish – This recipe comes together in under 30 minutes! Even though it is great for parties, I also think it is perfect for summer weeknight dinners.
Serving Suggestions
Shrimp pesto pasta salad is delicious on its own, but if you are doing a summer backyard BBQ, there are SO many great pairings. It would be amazing with some grilled options, like grilled balsamic chicken or Greek turkey burgers. For more sides, you could make this grilled watermelon salad or grilled sweet potato wedges.
For dessert, you could make some strawberry pound cake, or a peach blueberry crisp.
Ingredients
- Bowtie pasta – I think bowtie is the best shape for this pasta salad, but you could also use macaroni noodles
- Olive oil – I used extra virgin olive oil, but you could also use any neutral oil you have on hand
- Shrimp – shrimp is my go to protein for this salad because it is delicious cold or room temp, but you could sub in any protein you enjoy cold
- Pesto – You can use my homemade pesto with walnuts, easy kale pesto or store bought basil pesto with pine nuts
- Cherry tomatoes – I like the size of cherry tomatoes, but tomatoes are in season, you could use whatever tomatoes you have on hand
- White balsamic vinegar – white balsamic is a little less sweet, but if you do not have any, you could use regular balsamic vinegar. A little lemon juice would also be a great addition to the acid in this recipe
- Salt, pepper, crushed red pepper flakes – you can add more or less crushed red pepper to taste depending on how much spice you like
- Fresh basil – the garnish of fresh basil tastes so good on this pasta salad. It adds so much flavor!
Ingredient Substitutions
You can easily make this recipe dairy free by swapping the standard pesto for a dairy free pesto. Trader Joe’s dairy free pesto sauce would be a great option! For gluten free, you could use gluten-free pasta, but be careful mixing as it tends to break down a little faster.
In place of raw shrimp, you could use pre-cooked shrimp to cut down cooking time.
Depending on any allergy you have, you can make a pesto to accommodate! Pesto ingredients vary in each recipe, and there are plenty of different kinds that use different nuts! It is easy to make a homemade pesto in a food processor or blender and blend until smooth, or use a store-bought pesto.
This dish is a cold pasta salad, but this could also be an excellent hot dish.You could use bowtie pasta, or a spaghetti. Saute the tomatoes with fresh garlic cloves in a large skillet or pan, and combine with the hot pasta and shrimp. Zucchini would also be so delicious with the tomatoes. Then combine some starchy pasta water you reserve with the same sauce and add some butter and parmesan cheese to make it a creamy pesto shrimp pasta!
How to make
Step 1: Boil bowtie pasta and steam shrimp
To begin, boil bowtie pasta in a large pot of salted water until al dente according to package instructions. Drain pasta and place in a large mixing bowl. Toss pasta in olive oil.
While the pasta boils, steam shrimp in a steamer basket over boiling water over medium-high heat. Timing will vary, but you will know they are cooked through when the shrimp is pink and opaque and makes a C shape, about 2-3 minutes depending on the size of your shrimp.
Step 2: Prep other ingredients and pesto sauce
Then, slice steamed shrimp into bite size pieces and cut cherry tomatoes into quarters. Add them to the mixing bowl with the cooked pasta and basil ribbons.
Next, in a small mixing bowl, whisk together pesto, white balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper. Pour pesto mixture into the large bowl with the rest of the ingredients.
Step 3: Toss it all together
Finally, stir to combine fully. Top with extra basil and freshly grated parmesan to serve.
Storage and serving
Store leftovers of this shrimp pesto pasta recipe in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I prefer to serve this salad at room temperature so I leave it out on the counter for about 30 minutes prior to serving it!
If you make a hot version of this pasta recipe, reheat on the stove or in the microwave until gently warmed.
Check out these other summer side dishes
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!
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Recipe
Shrimp Pesto Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 lb bowtie pasta
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb raw shrimp peeled and deveined
- 8 oz cherry tomatoes
- 3/4 cup pesto
- 2 tbsp white balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves cut into ribbons
Instructions
- Boil bowtie pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain pasta and place in a large mixing bowl. Toss pasta in olive oil.
- While the pasta boils, steam shrimp in a steamer basket over boiling water. Time will depend on the size of the shrimp, but you will know they are cooked through when the shrimp is pink and makes a C shape.
- Slice steamed shrimp into bite size pieces and cut cherry tomatoes into quarters. Add them to the mixing bowl with the cooked pasta and basil ribbons.
- In a small mixing bowl whisk together pesto, white balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper. Pour pesto mixture into the large mixing bowl with the rest of the ingredients.
- Toss to combine fully. Top with extra basil and freshly grated parmesan to serve.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
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