Craving for seafood and pasta both at the same time? These tasty and flavorful recipes for shrimp and pasta are oh-so-quick, easy, and perfect for meal prep throughout the whole week!
If you are looking for new and delicious recipes to delight your family, you will never go wrong with these recipes for shrimp and pasta. These two ingredients taste incredibly delish together, and they are so easy to prepare too!
You won’t need to spend so much time preparing these meals because most of them are ready in less than an hour. Plus, this collection of recipes for shrimp and pasta are healthy and loaded with fresh ingredients. I’ve made sure that some of them are vegan, keto, and Weight Watchers friendly too. You’ll surely enjoy adding these recipes to your healthy meal plan.
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How to peel and devein shrimp?
You can use pre-cleaned and cooked shrimp at the grocery store to make these recipes for shrimp and pasta, but of course, fresh and raw shrimps taste more delicious. Cleaning shrimp might sound a little intimidating and hard to do, but in reality, it is not.
If you’re using a frozen shrimp, you can immerse it in cold water for 15 to 20 minutes for quick thawing. If the shrimp still isn’t thawed after the recommended time, change the water and let it sit until it’s thawed.
- Remove the head, legs, and shell.
To start cleaning, pull off the head and legs of the shrimp. Next, remove the outer shell. It’s up to you if you want to leave the tails for decoration or if the recipe asks for it.
- Devein the shrimp
Get a small paring knife and use it to create a shallow cut (about 1/4 inch deep) on the edge of the shrimp’s back. Start from the top to the tail. Lift the veins using the tip of the knife and gently discard them using your hands.
These veins are the shrimps’ digestive tracts. They are completely edible and safe to eat when cooked. Removing the veins is just a way to make the shrimps look tidier, and if they’re not too visible, you can skip this step.
If you are serving a crowd, and you like your shrimp deveined, buying a shrimp cleaner set will help you a lot. It’s affordable and easy to use too.
- Rinse
After deveining the shrimp, rinse them with clean water, and you’re good to go.
Make sure to cook the cleaned shrimp within two hours as harmful bacteria grow quickly in warmer temperatures. As suggested by USDA, you should put seafood on ice water as you work on them until you’re ready to use them to keep them safe.
How long does shrimp last in the fridge or freezer?
The fresher the shrimp, the longer it can last in the refrigerator. Shelled or unshelled raw shrimp can last in the lowest section of the fridge (with 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower temperature) for at least two to three days. Store them properly in an airtight container to avoid moisture and other contaminants.
For a longer shelf-life of up to three to six months, wrap uncooked shrimp in plastic food wrap or freezer paper, then put them inside an airtight container, and freeze them.
On the other hand, cooked shelled or unshelled shrimp which are stored in an airtight container or plastic zipper bag can stay fresh in the fridge for three days. You can tell if the shrimp has gone bad based on its appearance, smell, and texture. If the shrimp looks discolored and dull, smells acidic, or has a strong ammonia odor, and has a slimy texture, it’s best to discard it and buy a fresh one.
Recommended Cooking Tools to Make Recipes for Shrimp and Pasta
Want a quick and stress-free cooking experience? Make sure your kitchen is equipped with the right cooking tools.
Here are some highly recommended kitchen tools and essentials that will make the shrimp and pasta recipes above a lot easier to make. Make sure to check them out!
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- Carote 6.5-Quart Nonstick Saute Pan
- ROEDEER Shrimp Deveiner Tool and Shrimp Peeler Set
- 4-Piece Set of 3.25 Inch Swiss Classic Paring Knives
- Pyrex Glass Mixing Bowl Set
- Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Container
- OXO Good Grips Colander
- Large Reversible Kitchen Cutting Board
- GreaterGoods Digital Food Kitchen Scale
- Cuisinart 12 Piece Color Knife Set
- Stainless Steel Measuring Cups And Measuring Spoons
- MICHELANGELO Nonstick Sauce Pan
30 Recipes for Shrimp and Pasta
Doing Weight Watchers? On a healthy lifestyle journey? Here are some extra-mouthwatering and healthy shrimp and pasta recipes that will surely fit your meal plan!
This one-pan skillet meal is excellent for meal prep and is Weight Watchers-friendly. It has a bit of spice, but you can use regular sausage and roasted tomatoes and control the cajun seasonings to fit it to your taste.
Nutritious, comforting, creamy, and dairy-free, this shrimp pasta alfredo is made with shrimp, pasta, zucchini noodles, and homemade cashew alfredo sauce.
A creamy and scrumptious weeknight dinner ready in 15 minutes! This mouthwatering meal is made with fresh jumbo shrimps cooked in Cajun Alfredo sauce and paired with Palmini linguine.
Garlicky and lemony shrimp and pasta recipe made with plant-based shrimp. This vegan shrimp scampi is as good as the seafood version and can be done in just half an hour.
A shrimp and pasta recipe filled with zucchini and tomatoes. This veggie shrimp fettuccine can take your simple dinner to a whole new level. It's ready in 30 minutes, and it only needs ten ingredients.
Low in Weight Watchers points, filling, and delish, this WW shrimp spaghetti is a healthy main dish meal you have to try.
A light dinner you can put together in 30 minutes. This Aglio & Olio recipe is dairy-free. It's made with gluten-free brown rice fettuccine, green peas, and shrimp sauteed in garlic, olive oil, and chili flakes.
Creamy, cheesy, and so tasty! This skinny shrimp Alfredo pasta bake is a lightened-up and skinny version of the all-time favorite seafood Alfredo recipe.
A classic Italian dish made with lemon juice, garlic, dry white wine, and chicken broth but made healthier. This WW shrimp scampi is not only low in myWW+ points but low in calories as well.
Filled with veggies and cajun flavors, this vegan one-pot meal is a must-try! It's made with homemade vegan alfredo sauce and is ready in just 20 minutes.
Shrimp and Pasta Salad Recipes
A fan of pasta salad dishes? These pasta salad recipes are even more delicious with shrimp! Check out these yummy and tasty shrimp and pasta salad recipes.
Loaded with wholesome ingredients, this fresh pasta salad with shrimp recipe is perfect for lunches, weeknights, and even parties and gatherings. To make this dish, you only need to prepare ditalini pasta, cheddar cheese, avocado, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, red wine vinaigrette dressing, cherry tomatoes, and shrimp.
No-mayonnaise, bright, and flavorful shrimp pasta salad. This shrimp pasta salad recipe is loaded with veggies, avocado, tasty lemony dressing, and a generous amount of fresh herbs for that Meditteranean flavor.
An eye and mouth-pleasing dinner-in-a-bowl pasta salad filled with veggies, fresh parsley, and shrimp. This colorful pasta salad with shrimp is light, fresh, and ready in less than an hour.
A unique shrimp and pasta salad dish that will surely please the crowd! BBQ shrimp pasta salad is a combination of juicy and tender BBQ shrimp, plus cheesy pasta tossed with red leaf lettuce and colorful bell peppers.
Hearty, spicy, and mouthwatering shrimp pasta salad that comes together with a rich remoulade dressing. This dish is made of cheese tortellini and shrimp and is loaded with veggies such as pickles, tomatoes, and lettuce.
Want to try something Asian? This Thai shrimp and pasta salad is delicious and filling. It uses the fish sauce for extra flavors, and the whole dish is ready in 30 minutes.
Sweet and full of unique flavors! This macaroni salad uses curry powder and pineapple as a dressing base, and the shrimp brings all the flavors together!
Made with vermicelli rice noodles and filled with fresh summer veggies, this Thai dish is sure to be a hit for any kind of occasion. It's flavorful, a bit sweet, and can be done in less than half an hour.
This pasta salad recipe is a worth-trying main dish with bold flavors from cilantro, sesame, and sriracha. It's loaded with fresh and colorful veggies and is also perfect for meal prep.
A true seafood dish, this pasta salad is made with tuna, shrimp, and fresh veggies! It requires minimal ingredients and is ready in less than 30 minutes.
Other Creamy Shrimp and Pasta Main Dish Recipes to Try!
Want your shrimp and pasta creamier and richer? These creamy recipes for shrimp and pasta will make your mouth water!
A shrimp pasta recipe made more delicious with mushrooms and homemade alfredo sauce. This tasty and creamy pasta sauce is a result of the combination of crushed pepper flakes, garlic, paprika, basil, and mozzarella cheese.
Penne pasta and shrimp coated with rich and flavorful homemade tomato sauce made from crushed tomatoes, clam juice, garlic, white wine, heavy cream, and other seasonings. This dish is going to be a new favorite!
A scrumptious pasta dish that does not only uses shrimp but rotisserie chicken as well. This quick and easy recipe can be made in one pot in just 30 minutes.
Filled with seafood goodness! This pasta recipe is loaded with pan-fried shrimp and seared scallops. The sauce is thick and cheesy too!
You can use spaghetti, fettuccine, linguine, or any pasta you like to make this 15-minute shrimp pasta dish. It's called Korean Rose pasta because of its rose-colored tomato sauce with extra chili, onion, and garlic.
Penne pasta and shrimp tossed in a rich and garlicky sauce. If you and your family are a big fan of garlic-flavored dishes, this shrimp penne and pasta will be a regular at your dinner table!
Ideal for a date night, this pasta shrimp recipe has a tasty basil sauce filled with flavors from parmesan, cream, butter, and garlic.
A quick and easy recipe that only needs pasta, shrimp, fresh garlic, lemon juice, fresh parsley, cream, butter, salt, and pepper. This shrimp pasta is super simple to make but satisfyingly delish!
Your pasta cravings will be satisfied with this creamy shrimp pasta recipe for sure. This dish is so unique because it uses sweet corn with cherry tomatoes, spinach, lemon juice, and fresh basil.
Pappardelle pasta and shrimp with cream-based sauce drizzled with lime juice and truffle oil and topped with fresh herbs. This creamy pasta shrimp recipe offers flavors like no other!