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Sundried Tomato Basil Pesto Pasta with Shrimp in a pot
4.87 from 61 votes

Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta Recipe

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!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 795kcal

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

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.
  • For the remaining pesto, you can stir in more to taste, stash it in the fridge for up to 2 days for another round of pasta, or freeze it for up to 2 months.

Notes

This recipe makes up to 2x the pesto needed for the pasta, as I based it around a standard 8.5-oz jar of sun-dried tomatoes in oil. Use as much of the remaining pesto as you like, then refrigerate the rest for up to 2 days for an easy second pasta night, or freeze it for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

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
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