Garlic Scape Pesto Pasta with Shrimp

Garlic scape pesto pasta with shrimp is an ideal dinner with so much going for it. The flavor of the pesto gives the whole dish a balanced garlic hum (Thank you for the term, Jamie Oliver), along with that salty umami note from the parmesan cheese.

Add the seasoned, tender shrimp and the fact that you can have this meal on the table in less than 15 minutes, it’s a pure winner pesto pasta recipe overall.

Easy Garlic Scape Pesto Pasta

Garlic scape pesto (along with my garlic scape butter) is something I routinely make every year. Sometimes I grow the garlic scapes myself (A Garlic Scape is the flowering portion of the garlic plant. You cut the scape off the plant while it’s growing to help the plant focus its energy on forming bigger bulbs), or sometimes I’ll buy the scapes from local farmers to make it.

If you don’t want to make your own pesto, you can also purchase garlic scape (or wild garlic) pesto from the grocery store.

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Garlic Scape Pesto – The recipe I have on the blog is for a simple pesto using the usual characters except replacing the typical basil for garlic scapes. If you’re not into making your own pesto, this jar of wild garlic pesto is the best substitution I can find for my recipe. Alternatively, you can substitute garlic butter. It’s not exactly the same, but it’s a close flavor match.
• Shrimp – I like to use shrimp with the shells removed but the tails still attached. I like the way the shrimp look in the dish with the tails still on, but if it bothers you, please remove them before cooking. For most shrimp dishes, I like to use the 31-40 size or larger.
• Pasta – The type of pasta I used for this pesto shrimp recipe was spaghettini. Personally, I prefer the smaller size of those over the regular spaghetti size. You can also substitute any kind of pasta you love. Linguini, fettuccini, bowties, even shells or macaroni!
• Butter – Butter adds that extra richness and pairs so well with the pesto on the pasta. I have used on occasion my garlic scape butter when I have it on hand to echo those garlic flavors, and you can also use store-bought garlic butter if you want to amp up those garlic flavors in this dish.
• Seasonings – Garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper.
• Lemon Slices – Optional, but some freshly squeezed lemon adds some brightness to the rich pasta.

How to Make Garlic Scape Pesto Pasta with Shrimp

The key to making this pesto recipe is having everything ready to go before you start. It makes life so much easier because the cooking goes pretty quickly.

STEP 1 – Boil the Water – Start by getting the salted water on to boil. When the water comes to a boil, add the pasta.

STEP 2 – Prep the Shrimp. – Lay the shrimp out, dry them off, and season both sides.

STEP 3 – Cook the Shrimp – Melt the butter in a hot pan and add the seasoned shrimp in batches. Cook 2-3 minutes on each side to develop color on the shrimp and cook through. Remove and set aside.

STEP 4 – Add the Pasta – Drain the cooked pasta and it to the skillet. Add the pesto and toss the pasta with the pesto until well mixed in. Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder.

STEP 5 – Add Shrimp Back – Add the shrimp back to the pasta (along with any resting juices if there are any). Toss with the pasta.

STEP 6 – Adjust for Seasonings – Season with more salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Taste to adjust any seasonings.

NOTE: All the exact ingredient amounts and more detailed instructions along with recipe notes will be included in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

How Do I Know When My Shrimp Are Cooked?

Shrimp are incredibly difficult to undercook because they cook through in a matter of minutes.

They have a great way to show you they’re done by turning a coral/orange color and they lose that grey/opaqueness that they have when raw.

Another surefire sign that they’re cooked through is that they will curl inwards, forming a “C” shape. If you’re interested in knowing, the internal temperature of cooked shrimp should be 145 degrees Fahrenheit.

Serving Ideas

For a quick weeknight dinner, I’ll serve this garlic shrimp dish by itself. But if you want to ‘fancy’ it up, or break up the carbs a bit, these brown sugar honey glazed carrots pair incredibly well because it’s a nice contrast between savory and sweet with the pasta.

The same concept goes with this orange and pecan roasted broccoli salad, and if it’s color you’re after, these buttery beets fit that bill!

Storing and Freezing

This pasta dish will hold in the fridge for up to three days covered tightly so it doesn’t dry out.

To freeze, place portions in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to a month. (Longer if the shrimp are removed).

To reheat, thaw overnight in the fridge to remove the shrimp from the pasta. Microwave the pasta for 2 minutes and add some additional butter to moisten up the mixture. Place the shrimp in a small dish, add a tiny pat of butter, cover, and reheat for 30 seconds to reheat. Add back to the pasta and toss.

Did you make this Garlic Scape Pesto Pasta with Shrimp Recipe? Please leave a ***** star rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment giving me your thoughts about it!

Thank you for stopping by The Salty Pot today and I hope you have a wonderful day!

~Joanne