10 Shrimp Pasta Recipes That Are Sure to Please

When you want a delicious, high-protein, and low-calorie meal, you simply can’t go wrong with shrimp.

It’s tasty, packed with protein (~6 grams of protein per ounce!), and lends itself to endless variations, ranging from sweet and sour to salty and savory.

Shrimp is also extremely easy to make. So much so that I would say that with a little practice, it’s almost impossible to screw up!

So, if this is your first foray into shrimp territory, then I’d recommend the Cilantro-Lime Shrimp Pasta–it’s the perfect place to start. If you want to try something totally new, make the Shrimp Ceviche with Quinoa Pasta. And if you want to make one of the most famous shrimp pasta dishes of all time, try the Shrimp Scampi.

Enjoy!

Thai Shrimp Noodles

Picture courtesy of Damn Delicious

Italian food isn’t the only inspiration for an amazing bowl of noodles. This shrimp and pasta dish is infused with savory Thai flavors like peanuts, cilantro, and red chili paste.

For more great recipes that are healthy and delicious, pick up the cookbook Damn Delicious: 100 Super Easy, Super Fast Recipes. You’ll enjoy other meals like Spaghetti Carbonara and Teriyaki-Sriracha Shrimp Skewers.

Serves 4

Ingredients

Shrimp & Noodles:

1 lb. medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1 lb. linguine

2 carrots, peeled and shredded

1/4 cup dry roasted peanuts, chopped

2 green onions, thinly sliced

2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro

1/4 tsp. sesame seeds

Sauce:

1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce

2 Tbsp. peanut butter

2 Tbsp. vegetable oil

2 Tbsp. sesame oil

1 Tbsp. pure honey

1 Tbsp. brown sugar

1 tsp. red chili paste with garlic (optional)

Nutrition Facts (per Serving)

Calories: 703

Protein: 43 grams

Carbs: 84 grams

Fat: 23 grams

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Shrimp & Zucchini Noodles In a Parmesan Pesto Cream Sauce

Picture courtesy of Peas and Crayons

This healthy shrimp pasta recipe keeps it low-carb with zucchini noodles. And since the creamy pesto starts with the premade stuff, you can keep it simple while still cooking from scratch. You’ll be eating this delicious shrimp dinner in just 20 minutes.

Serves 2

Ingredients

2 medium zucchini

1 Tbsp. butter

1 Tbsp. flour

1/2 cup low-fat milk, room temp.

1/2 cup (about 2 oz.) grated Parmesan

2 Tbsp. pesto

10 oz. shrimp, peeled and deveined (fresh or thawed)

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1/8 tsp. paprika

1/8 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling

Nutrition Facts (per Serving)

Calories: 471

Protein: 48 grams

Carbs: 17 grams

Fat: 24 grams

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Primavera Pasta Salad with Shrimp

Picture courtesy of Cookin Canuck

With the focus on fresh veggies and shrimp, you don’t even need a fancy sauce. This recipe uses a simple dressing with freshly squeezed lemon juice, honey, and olive oil.

Put the ingredients for your dressing in a jar and shake it right before serving, and this shrimp pasta salad comes together fast. All you have to cook are the shrimp and orzo before mixing the salad together.

Serves 6

Ingredients

Shrimp Salad:

12 oz. medium raw shrimp, peeled

1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1/8 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

8 oz. whole-wheat orzo

1/2 lb. asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1” pieces

8 oz. snap peas, trimmed

1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

2 Tbsp. chopped fresh mint

4 large leaves basil, thinly sliced

Dressing:

3 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 tsp. agave nectar or honey

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

Nutrition Facts (per Serving)

Calories: 459

Protein: 24 grams

Carbs: 62 grams

Fat: 13 grams

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Creamy Goat Cheese Shrimp Pasta

Picture courtesy of The Healthy Foodie

You can enjoy creamy pasta without opening a jar of alfredo sauce. This healthy shrimp pasta recipe uses tangy goat cheese to make the sauce instead, so it has more flavor but less fat.

Easily reduce the calories and carbs per serving by using a little less pasta.

Serves 4

Ingredients

9 oz. dry whole-wheat spaghettini (or pasta of choice)

2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 dry shallot, minced

1 clove garlic, minced

1 cup chicken broth

2 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

1 tsp. Sriracha

1 container (1 oz.) soft goat cheese

1 lb. large raw shrimp, peeled, deveined, and tails removed

1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Nutrition Facts (per Serving)

Calories: 425

Protein: 36 grams

Carbs: 40 grams

Fat: 13 grams

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Shrimp Ceviche with Quinoa Pasta

Picture courtesy of The FoodOlic

For an easy shrimp pasta recipe, make ceviche. You don’t have to use heat to cook the protein, so you can just prep it and then boil water for the pasta while you wait.

Ceviche can be marinated for anywhere from 20 minutes to several hours, leaving you plenty of time to assemble the rest of the dish.

Serves 4

Ingredients

9 oz. quinoa penne pasta (about 4 cups cooked)

1 cup (about 12 oz.) fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined

1 yellow bell pepper

1 red onion

20 limes (or lemons)

1 orange

1/2 habanero pepper

Fresh cilantro

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Nutrition Facts (per Serving)

Calories: 389

Protein: 25 grams

Carbs: 68 grams

Fat: 3 grams

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Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo

Picture courtesy of Cooking Light

Alfredo sauce is rich and creamy, which usually leads to a heavy and fat-laden pasta dish. But this recipe is lightened up without losing flavor.

Instead of using a ton of cream or Parmesan, this version adds low-fat cream cheese as the base of the shrimp alfredo recipe.

Serves 6

Ingredients

1 package (9 oz.) fresh refrigerated fettuccine

1 lb. medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

2 green onions, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 cup (about 2 oz.) grated Parmesan

1/3 cup half-and-half

3 Tbsp. (about 1.5 oz.) reduced-fat cream cheese

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

Nutrition Facts (per Serving)

Calories: 442

Protein: 37 grams

Carbs: 40 grams

Fat: 14 grams

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Blackened Shrimp & Pasta

Picture courtesy of African Bites

This Cajun pasta and shrimp is such a great way to serve spaghetti – you’ll find yourself craving it just as much as the kind with Italian meatballs.

Since this lean pasta dish is low in fat, it’s a low-calorie spaghetti and shrimp dinner. And you could make it even healthier by using zucchini noodles instead of regular pasta.

Serves 4

Ingredients

Blackened Shrimp:

1 1/2 Tbsp. paprika

2 tsp. dried thyme

1 tsp. dried oregano

2 tsp. garlic powder

1 Tbsp. onion powder

1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper (or more to taste)

1 lb. medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

Pasta:

8 oz. spaghetti

2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 medium onion, sliced

2 tsp. minced garlic

3 medium tomatoes, diced

1 tsp. dried thyme

1 tsp. smoked paprika

1 Tbsp. creole spice

1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 red bell pepper, sliced

1 cup chicken broth

2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

Nutrition Facts (per Serving)

Calories: 399

Protein: 34 grams

Carbs: 44 grams

Fat: 11 grams

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Cilantro-Lime Shrimp Pasta

Picture courtesy of Julia’s Album

Pasta doesn’t have to be fancy to be full of flavor. There isn’t even a sauce for this quick pasta recipe.

The shrimp is seasoned with red pepper flakes, garlic, and white wine. Then fresh cilantro matches the hint of lime, or you could easily make it an Italian pasta dish with parsley and lemon instead.

Serves 3

Ingredients

1 lb. raw shrimp, peeled and deveined

2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes

1/4 tsp. salt

4 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped (about 1/2 cup)

3/4 cup chicken stock

1/4 cup white wine

2 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lime juice

4 oz. linguine pasta

Fresh cilantro, chopped for garnish

Nutrition Facts (per Serving)

Calories: 427

Protein: 40 grams

Carbs: 35 grams

Fat: 13 grams

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Herbed Mediterranean Shrimp Pasta

Picture courtesy of Two Healthy Kitchens

This quick pasta recipe is ready in under a half hour, and it’s healthy with shrimp, whole-wheat pasta, and leafy Italian herbs.

Use fresh tomatoes too if you have an extra 10 minutes. Replace the cans of petite diced tomatoes with 2 pounds fresh. Before you dice them up, remove the skins by boiling them in hot water for a few minutes until they slide off.

Serves 6

Ingredients

12 oz. whole-wheat linguine

1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 cup chopped sweet onion

1 lb. medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 cans (14.5 oz. each) petite diced tomatoes, undrained

1 can (15 oz.) tomato sauce with Italian herbs

1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley

2 1/2 tsp. dried oregano

1 tsp. dried basil

1 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

1/2 cup (about 2 oz.) crumbled reduced-fat feta

2 Tbsp. minced fresh basil

Nutrition Facts (per Serving)

Calories: 341

Protein: 27 grams

Carbs: 44 grams

Fat: 7 grams

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Shrimp Scampi

Picture courtesy of The Kitchn

This one-pot pasta and shrimp recipe is a classic. When you don’t have tomato sauce in the pantry, make a simple dish with just olive oil and butter.

The secret to a good scampi is adding white wine, which adds rich flavor. It also gives you something else to enjoy at the dinner table because you’ll be left with most of the bottle.

Serves 6

Ingredients

1 lb. dry spaghettini

1 1/2 lbs. medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 cup dry white wine

6 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes

3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cold, cut into small cubes

1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Juice from 1/2 medium lemon

Nutrition Facts (per Serving)

Calories: 339

Protein: 29 grams

Carbs: 25 grams

Fat: 13 grams

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What do you think of these shrimp pasta recipes? Have anything else to share? Let me know in the comments below!