Description
A quick and flavorful Tomato Spinach Shrimp Pasta combining perfectly cooked spaghetti with succulent shrimp, fresh baby spinach, and a light tomato-garlic sauce, finished with Parmesan cheese for a delicious weeknight meal in just 25 minutes.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 8 ounces spaghetti (or other pasta)
- kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
Shrimp and Sauce
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1-2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 pound raw shrimp
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach
For Serving
- Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Boil a large pot of salted water and add the spaghetti. Cook it until just al dente according to package directions. Before draining, scoop out about 1/4 cup of the starchy pasta water to use later. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Prepare the sauce base: While pasta cooks, heat olive oil and butter together in a large skillet over medium-high heat until butter is melted and combined. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 30 to 60 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Add tomatoes and seasoning: Pour in the low-sodium chicken broth, then add the halved cherry tomatoes and sprinkle with Italian seasoning. Cook the mixture for 3 to 4 minutes, allowing the tomatoes to soften and flavors to meld.
- Cook shrimp and spinach: Add the raw shrimp and fresh baby spinach to the skillet. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 3 to 4 minutes more, stirring occasionally and turning the shrimp, until the shrimp turn opaque and are fully cooked through and the spinach wilts.
- Season and combine pasta: Taste the sauce and season with kosher salt and black pepper as desired. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss everything together thoroughly. If you prefer a looser sauce, gradually stir in some of the reserved pasta water to achieve your desired consistency.
- Finish and serve: Keep the pasta on very low heat until ready to serve. Plate the pasta and generously sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese and additional black pepper if you like.
Notes
- Reserve some pasta water before draining to help loosen the sauce if needed.
- Use fresh shrimp for the best texture and flavor; thawed frozen shrimp works too.
- Adjust garlic amount to taste for a milder or stronger flavor.
- Substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth for a pescatarian option.
- Parmesan cheese can be omitted or replaced with a vegan cheese alternative for dietary preference.
- To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta instead of regular spaghetti.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
