Description
🍅 Tomato Spinach Shrimp Pasta combines fresh tomatoes, tender shrimp, and nutritious spinach for a healthy and delicious meal.
🦐 This quick and easy dish comes together with a flavorful garlic butter sauce, perfect for busy weeknights or casual dinners.
Ingredients
– 8 ounces (about 220g) uncooked spaghetti or pasta of choice (penne, fettuccine, or linguine can be substituted)
– 1 pound (about 450g) uncooked shrimp (31-40 per pound), peeled and deveined, tails optional
– 1 tablespoon olive oil (plus optional 2 tablespoons for finishing)
– 2 to 4 tablespoons butter (depending on preference)
– 3 to 5 cloves garlic, minced
– 10 ounces (about 280g) grape or Roma tomatoes, halved or chopped
– 1/4 cup (60ml) chicken broth (or substitute with dry white wine)
– 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
– 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
– 2 cups fresh baby spinach (or about 6 oz fresh spinach), packed
– Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
– 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika or regular paprika (optional)
– Fresh basil leaves (about 1/4 cup), chopped (optional)
– 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese for serving (optional)
– Fresh lemon juice (about 1/4 to 1/2 small lemon), optional
Instructions
1-Prepare ingredients: Rinse and peel 1 pound of shrimp, wash 2 cups of fresh spinach, halve 10 ounces of grape or Roma tomatoes, mince 3 to 5 cloves of garlic, and measure out the pasta and oils. Having everything ready makes cooking smooth and efficient.
2-Cook pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook 8 ounces of uncooked spaghetti or your pasta of choice until al dente following package instructions. Drain well, reserving some pasta water.
3-Sauté garlic and tomatoes: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 to 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Then, add tomatoes, 1/4 cup chicken broth (or dry white wine), 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning, and optional crushed red pepper flakes or paprika. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes soften, about 5 minutes.
4-Cook shrimp and spinach: Add shrimp seasoned with salt, pepper, and optional paprika to the skillet. Cook over medium heat for 2 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pink and opaque. Avoid overcrowding the pan. Stir in fresh spinach and cook until wilted, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add fresh chopped basil if desired. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
5-Toss pasta and finish: Add cooked pasta to the skillet, tossing gently to combine with the shrimp and vegetable mixture. If needed, add a splash of reserved pasta water or chicken broth to achieve desired sauce consistency. Optionally stir in remaining butter and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to brighten flavors.
6-Serve: Serve immediately, topped with 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, if using. Enjoy with a side like garlic bread or a green salad for a complete meal.
Notes
❄️ Use frozen shrimp for better freshness and thaw under cool running water before cooking.
🍷 Substitute chicken broth with a dry white wine to deepen the flavor of the sauce.
🌶️ Add crushed red pepper flakes or smoked paprika for a subtle heat and enhanced taste.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing and Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 510 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 1200 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 310 mg
Keywords: Tomato Spinach Shrimp Pasta, Garlic Butter Pasta, Healthy Shrimp Pasta, Quick Weeknight Dinner