Description
A quick, budget-friendly weeknight dinner that combines shrimp, cherry tomatoes, olives, and pasta in a bright, savory sauce. Ready in just 20 minutes with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) Spaghetti or Linguine
- 1 pound (450g) raw, peeled, and deveined shrimp (Size 21-25)
- 2 cups (300g) Cherry Tomatoes
- ½ cup (75g) Black Olives, sliced
- 3 tablespoons (45ml) Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
- 1 medium Lemon (zest and juice)
- ½ cup (120ml) Chicken or Vegetable Broth (low-sodium)
- ¼ cup (25g) Parmesan Cheese, grated (optional)
- 2 tablespoons Fresh Parsley, chopped
- Salt and Black Pepper to taste
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Chop parsley, slice olives, mince garlic, zest and juice lemon. Pat shrimp dry with paper towels.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water. Drain pasta and set aside.
- While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and dried oregano; cook for 1 minute until fragrant but not brown.
- Add shrimp to the skillet in a single layer. Cook for 2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp from pan and set aside on a plate.
- In the same skillet, add cherry tomatoes and sliced olives. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes burst and release juices.
- Pour in chicken broth and lemon juice. Simmer for 1-2 minutes to reduce slightly. Add cooked shrimp back to the pan and toss to warm through (30-60 seconds).
- Add drained pasta to the skillet. Toss to coat. Add reserved pasta water if sauce is too thick. Stir in lemon zest and fresh parsley. Season with salt and pepper. Serve topped with Parmesan if desired.
Notes
Do not overcrowd the pan when cooking shrimp to ensure proper searing. Save pasta water to help emulsify the sauce. Pat shrimp dry before cooking to prevent steaming. If using frozen shrimp, thaw completely and dry thoroughly. The dish does not freeze well due to shrimp texture.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 25
Keywords: Mediterranean Shrimp Pasta, quick dinner, weeknight meals, family dinner, budget-friendly, 5 ingredient recipe, shrimp pasta, easy pasta