Zucchini Noodles with Shrimp and Pesto is a fresh, vibrant, and light pasta dish that combines tender shrimp with the freshness of zucchini noodles and the aromatic, herbaceous flavor of pesto. This dish offers a healthy, low-carb alternative to traditional pasta while still delivering big on flavor and texture. Itâs perfect for anyone looking for a nutritious yet indulgent meal thatâs both satisfying and refreshing.
The zucchini noodles, often referred to as “zoodles,” are made by spiralizing fresh zucchini into long, thin strands, creating a pasta-like texture that absorbs sauces beautifully. The zoodles are sautĂ©ed briefly to soften them while still retaining their crunch, making them a perfect base for the shrimp and pesto.
The shrimp are seasoned with a touch of garlic, salt, and pepper, then sautéed until perfectly tender and juicy. The natural sweetness of the shrimp pairs beautifully with the freshness of the zucchini noodles, creating a well-balanced seafood dish.
The pesto is the star of this dish, made with fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil. The pesto sauce brings a rich, herbaceous flavor that ties the entire dish together, coating the zucchini noodles and shrimp in a silky, flavorful sauce. The pesto adds depth and brightness, complementing the natural sweetness of the shrimp and the mild flavor of the zucchini.
To finish, a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese and some freshly cracked black pepper adds an extra layer of richness and flavor. You can also garnish with additional fresh basil or a squeeze of lemon juice to brighten the dish even more.
Zucchini Noodles with Shrimp and Pesto is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a light, healthy meal any time of year. Itâs gluten-free, low-carb, and full of fresh, clean flavors that make it both satisfying and nourishing.
In summary, this dish combines the lightness of zucchini noodles with the richness of shrimp and the fresh, fragrant flavor of pesto. Itâs a refreshing, healthy, and flavorful meal that offers all the deliciousness of pasta without the heaviness, making it a perfect choice for anyone looking for a lighter, healthier take on a classic seafood pasta.
Ingredients
- 2 zucchini large,
- 1 pound shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1/4 cup pesto
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Use a spiralizer or julienne peeler to make zucchini noodles.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until pink and cooked through.
- Add the zucchini noodles to the skillet and toss to coat in the shrimp and oil.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes until zucchini noodles are just tender.
- Remove from heat and stir in the pesto.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately.
Made this tonightâsuper quick and honestly restaurant vibes. The shrimp were perfectly tender and the pesto made it taste way richer than I expected.
Totally agreeâthose shrimp cook so fast! I always worry about overcooking but 2-3 minutes per side has been spot on for me.
Restaurant vibes? Maybe lol. I tried it but my zucchini noodles went kinda wateryânext time Iâll salt them a bit and squeeze. Still tasty though.
Made this tonightâsuper fast and surprisingly filling. The pesto at the end really pulls it together. I added a squeeze of lemon and it tasted like a restaurant dish.
Shrimp + pesto is always a win, but 2-3 minutes per side seems long for my shrimp size. Mine overcooked slightly and turned rubbery. Otherwise tasty though!
Totally agreeâ2-3 minutes per side is a lot depending on shrimp size. I do closer to 1â2 minutes each side and pull them as soon as theyâre opaque. That rubbery texture is real if they go even a minute too far.
I had the same kinda issue once đ I think my shrimp were too big? Next time Iâll just cook them until they look pink then stop. Pesto makes it good either way though.
lol shrimp + pesto? sounds weird but ok
5 stars! (and yes, I used a julienne peelerâtook longer but worth it).
I followed it exactly and it turned out bland. Maybe my pesto was mild? Salt/pepper to taste didnât fix it enough for me.
Made this tonightâso fresh and quick. The shrimp timing was spot on and the pesto really pulls it together. I used store-bought pesto and it still tasted fancy.
Low-carb win! Served it with a side salad and it felt like a whole meal. Would add parmesan next time.
Noodles from zukini? Nah, why would you even try this? Just eat normal pasta!
I get where you’re coming from, but this is actually a great low-carb alternative! đ
Zucchini noodles are gross! Just stick to real pasta, it tastes better.
Good idea with zucchini noodles, but mine got a little watery after cooking too long. Next time Iâll cook the noodles just until glossy and not extra. Still tasty though!
Yes!! Overcooking zucchini noodles is totally what makes them watery. âJust until glossyâ is the moveâI’ll add that to my timing too. Glad it was still tasty đ
Mine too, I cooked like 10 minutes once and it turned into soup kinda lol. Next time Iâll try cooking shorter like you said. Pesto helps it taste good even if it gets a bit wet.
Mine got watery đ I think I didnât dry the zucchini enough before cooking. Flavor is still great with the pesto, but texture wasnât as nice.
Honestly this sounds like dieting food. Like, whereâs the sauce? The noodles were meh until I added extra pesto and pepper.
Honestly I thought it was bland tooâmy zucchini noodles needed more pesto and a little lemon. I added crushed red pepper and it tasted way better. Next time Iâll do the same.
I get what you mean about âdieting food,â but the shrimp + pesto definitely bring the flavor. The sauce is basically the pesto coating everythingâespecially if you let it toss for a bit.
5 stars! Perfect for my keto diet! Was super quick to make!
Super easy recipe! But I add like a ton more garlic. Yummm đ€€. If you love garlic, you gotta try that!
I don’t have a spiralizer. Can I just cut the zucchini with a knife? Help!
I donât get why people love pesto so much, but ok this was actually pretty good. The shrimp + pesto combo is legit.
Pesto is great but I think you might wanna add garlic and lemon juice. Also shrimp takes longer than 2-3 minutes per side⊠unless theyâre tiny. Either way sounds tasty.
Right?! Iâm usually not a pesto person either, but the shrimp makes it taste way less âherby soapâ lol. The timing matters tooâzucchini noodles can go mushy fast.
I added garlic and some cherry tomatoes. It was a hit!
Garlic is good, but cherry tomatoes? I don’t know, seems like a weird combo for shrimp and pesto.
That sounds delicious! Garlic and cherry tomatoes would add great flavor! I should try that next time.
Pretty good, but I found it a bit oily with the olive oil + pesto combo. Iâd reduce the olive oil next time or use a thicker pesto.
Totally get thatâzucchini can get slick fast, and the olive oil + pesto combo is a lot. Iâve started doing 1/2 tbsp olive oil or just relying on the pestoâs fat. Thicker pesto makes a big difference too.
Maybe you used too much pesto? I usually do 1/4 cup and donât add extra oil, but your recipe has olive oil first so yeah it could be greasy. Next time try draining the shrimp if it releases a lot of liquid, or cook the zucchini a shorter time.
Zucchini Noodles + Shrimp = yum! I make this ALL the time! đ
Zoodles are weird. Why wouldn’t you just use regular noodles?
Zucchini noodles? Sounds weird. I didn’t even know you could spiralize a vegetable. I just used regular pasta and tossed some shrimp on it. #NotForMe
Could you use any other kind of sauce instead of pesto? I can’t find any right now.
I swear, zucchini noodles are the best! I didn’t even miss real pasta!!
I totally agree! Zucchini noodles are a game changer! đ They taste so fresh and guilt-free!
Really? I just can’t get over the texture. It feels too weird for me. I’ll stick with real pasta.
Not a fan. The zucchini was mushy and the shrimp didn’t have enough seasoning.
Easy and quick! Definitely making this again
Not sure if I trust these zucchini noodles… Looks too easy, bet it won’t be as good as regular pasta. đ€
I loved how simple it was! The shrimp were juicy and the pesto made it taste so fresh. Will try with different toppings next time!
I donât like veggies, but I tried this and was pleasantly surprised! Who knew? Zoodles, whoopee!
Wow, I’m glad you gave it a shot! Zoodles are the best way to sneak in those veggies without even noticing. Yum!
Um, isn’t pasta better than these zucchini things? Tried it, not for me.
Pretty tasty, but my shrimp cooked faster than the recipe said. Next time Iâll keep a closer eyeâstill delicious though.
I followed it exactly and it was kinda bland until I added more pepper and a tiny squeeze of lemon. Then suddenly it popped.
Shrimp turned out great! But the noodles were kinda bland, needed more flavor.
I’m glad the shrimp turned out well! Maybe try adding some garlic or parmesan to the noodles next time for extra flavor!
My spiralizer keeps jamming, so I ended up doing julienne peeler slices. Still good, but the ânoodlesâ were a little uneven. Next time Iâll take the spiralizer out of time-out.
Haha same hereâmy spiralizer jams too. The julienne peeler hack is legit though. Uneven noodles still cook fast, so youâre probably good. Next time, try slicing the zucchini a bit thicker for fewer snags.
zucchini noodles are a fad. this recipe was ok tho. đ
I dunno, they don’t taste like real pasta. But this one was alright, I guess.
Zucchini noodles are awesome! They bring such a fresh taste. Love this recipe!
Ok recipe but shrimp is too expensive where I live, so I used chicken instead and it was kinda dry. Would not recommend swapping unless you adjust cook time a lot. Still, flavors were nice.
Thanks for sharing! Yeah shrimp can be pricey. Iâve done chicken swaps before, but youâre rightâ2â3 minutes a side is made for shrimp, not chicken. If anyone tries it, Iâd slice/thin it and pre-cook or reduce the heat so it doesnât dry out.
Turned out tasty, but my zucchini noodles got a little watery after tossing. Next time Iâll salt them lightly and pat dry before cooking.
So glad it was tasty! Yeah, zucchini can get watery if it sits too long or isnât driedâsalting and patting is a great move. Iâve also found cooking them closer to the very end helps too.
Loved it! I didnât have shrimp, so I used chicken instead. Still turned out good!
Good idea but mine turned watery. I think I spiralized too long before cooking. Next time Iâll pat the zucchini dry and cook it less.
Mine turned out watery too and I didnât even spiralize that long⊠maybe the pesto was too thin? I just kinda stirred and hoped lol. Still tasted good though, so Iâd try less pesto and more heat next time.
Oof, that makes senseâzucchini noodles can definitely get watery. Patting them dry and keeping the cook time closer to âjust tenderâ usually helps a lot. Also, you can try cooking them in batches so they donât steam too much.
This recipe is amazing! The shrimp was perfectly cooked with the pesto. Will definitely make again!
I tried this recipe last week and it was a total hit at my dinner party! Everyone loved it, thanks for sharing!
Sounds good, but shrimp always scares me a bit. What if I overcook it?
SO good! I used garlic pesto instead and it was delish! Everyone loved it.
Not gonna lie, I was skeptical about zucchini noodles with shrimp, but it worked. I added a squeeze of lemon at the end and it popped.
I liked the flavors, but my zucchini noodles got a bit watery after cooking. Next time Iâll salt them lightly first and keep the heat shorter. Still a good lighter meal.