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Home » Main Course » Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta

Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta

Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon Jessica Randhawa
April 19, 2019
4.74 from 50 votes


Last Updated February 14, 2023 | 4 Comments

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533 shares
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This Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta is one of the most flavorful and delicious Italian-inspired dinners that I make for my family over and over again! Bursting with fresh Italian flavors and packed full of juicy shrimp, this amazing pasta is simple to make and ready in just 30 minutes!

pot full of Sun Dried Tomato Basil Pesto Pasta with Shrimp

Why You’ll Love Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta

This creamy sun-dried tomato and basil pesto pasta is an amazingly flavorful Italian-inspired dish that comes together quickly for a crowd-pleasing lunch or dinner. As one of my favorite pasta recipes to make at home, it pops with fresh and zesty flavors that perfectly complement the juicy shrimp. Incredibly versatile, it’s easy to make this dish with chicken instead of shrimp or add a little heavy cream for a creamier sauce. You could even swap the pasta for gnocchi!

Ingredient Notes

  • To make this recipe vegan: Omit the shrimp and parmesan cheese. Don’t worry, the recipe will still taste delicious.
  • To make this recipe gluten-free: Swap regular pasta noodles for your favorite gluten-free variety. You can also use zucchini noodles or cooked spaghetti squash.
close up of Sun Dried Tomato Basil Pesto

How to Make Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package instructions.  Before draining, reserve one cup of pasta water and set it aside. 
  2. In a large food processor or high-powered blender, add all of the pesto ingredients and pulse to blend well. 
  3. In a large skillet, heat half of the pesto sauce over medium heat for one minute. Add the shrimp and sauté until they are pink and nearly cooked. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and a few tablespoons of the reserved pasta water. Add the drained pasta back into the skillet and toss to coat. Add more water if needed.
  4. Garnish with Parmesan cheese and red chili flakes.
Sun Dried Tomato Basil Pesto Pasta with Shrimp in steel pot

Storage and Reheating

Storage: Keep leftovers stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Shrimp are best enjoyed immediately as they often become chewy after refrigeration and reheating.

Reheating: Reheat the pasta in a large skillet over medium heat with approximately 4 tablespoons of boiling water added to the pan, stirring continuously and adding additional water as needed until desired consistency is reached. Or, reheat it in the microwave.

Freezing: Freezing the pasta and cooked shrimp is not recommended. However, the pesto may be frozen for up to 3 months.

close up of shrimp in sundried tomato pesto pasta

What to Serve with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta

I like to serve this pasta with a light side tomato salad or roasted veggies like zucchini and asparagus. A slice of crusty buttery bread is always a good idea, too.

More Delicious Pasta Recipes

  • Ground Turkey Pasta
  • Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta
  • Creamy Buffalo Chicken Pasta Recipe
  • Pasta with Bacon and Peas
  • Spring Pea Pasta with Prosciutto and Burrata Cheese

If you try making this Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta, please leave me a comment and let me know! I always love to hear your thoughts.

Sun Dried Tomato Basil Pesto Pasta with Shrimp on fork
Sundried Tomato Basil Pesto Pasta with Shrimp in a pot

Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta

4.74 from 50 votes
Chef: Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked SpoonJessica Randhawa
This Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta is one of the most flavorful and delicious Italian-inspired dinners that I make for my family over and over again! Bursting with fresh Italian flavors and packed full of juicy shrimp, this amazing pasta is simple to make and ready in just 30 minutes!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4 servings
Calories 795 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

For the Pesto:

  • 8.5 oz sundried tomatoes in oil - one 8.5 oz can
  • 1 cup fresh basil - packed
  • 2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 6 cloves garlic - chopped
  • 2 shallots - peeled and chopped
  • 3 tablespoon pine nuts
  • 2 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • salt - approximately 1 teaspoon

For the pasta:

  • 1 pound linguine - or other favorite pasta, cooked according to package instructions
  • 1 pound shrimp
  • 1 cup reserved pasta water
  • ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
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Instructions
 

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Once finished (not soggy!), drain, and reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water.
  • Meanwhile, in the bowl of a large food processor or high powered blender, add pesto ingredients. Blend until completely processed.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add half of the sun dried tomato basil pesto and saute for approximately 1 minute. Add shrimp and continue to sauté until shrimp are pink and nearly cooked. Stir in Parmesan cheese until just starting to melt along with a few tablespoons of the reserved pasta water. Add the pasta to the pan and toss to coat. Slowly add more water as needed.
  • Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and red chili flakes.

Nutritional Information

Calories: 795kcal | Carbohydrates: 107g | Protein: 47g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 294mg | Sodium: 1324mg | Potassium: 1519mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1460IU | Vitamin C: 71.2mg | Calcium: 399mg | Iron: 7mg

(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)

Keyword sun dried tomato pesto pasta
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About Jessica

Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon

Jessica Randhawa is the head chef, photographer, and recipe developer of The Forked Spoon. Jessica fell in love with cooking while traveling through Asia and Europe, where she discovered her passion for good food and new adventures. Her recipes have been featured on Yahoo, MSN, USA Today, FeedFeed, and many more. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California.

533 shares
Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon

About Jessica Randhawa

Jessica Randhawa is the head chef, photographer, and recipe developer of The Forked Spoon. Jessica fell in love with cooking while traveling through Asia and Europe, where she discovered her passion for good food and new adventures. Her recipes have been featured on Yahoo, MSN, USA Today, FeedFeed, and many more. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California.

Comments

  1. Kristi says

    December 28, 2021 at 3:20 pm

    5 stars
    I made the pesto in the morning then the whole recipe later for supper, went very fast. Loved it.

    Reply
  2. Barb says

    July 17, 2021 at 5:26 pm

    Help! What about the other half of the pesto? Is it added later? The recipe didn’t say …

    Reply
    • Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked SpoonJessica Randhawa says

      July 17, 2021 at 9:04 pm

      You can save the other half, or add extra pesto to suit to your taste 🙂

      Reply
      • Barb says

        July 18, 2021 at 2:32 pm

        5 stars
        Made this for company last night and was enjoyed by all!
        Thanks for the recipe Jessica. 😊

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Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon

I’m Jessica! Aka mom, wife, chef, and travel-obsessed photographer. Welcome to The Forked Spoon. Here you can browse hundreds of incredible family-friendly recipes covering dozens of diets, courses, and cuisines. Learn more about me.

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