This 5 Minute Pesto Shrimp recipe is an easy, healthy, delicious way to prepare shrimp in just minutes! It's great served on a salad or as an accompaniment to steak.

There's a lot of folks out there that consider seafood a restaurant only kind of food, not the kind of food you'd prepare at home on a weeknight.

I'm here to tell you that cooking seafood, specifically shrimp in this recipe's case, couldn't be easier (and quicker!) to make at home in your own kitchen!

If the seafood counter intimidates you or you'd rather just grab and go, there are frozen shrimp options available in most grocery stores. You can buy bags of frozen shrimp that are fully cooked, raw with the shell and tail, or raw peeled and deveined shrimp.

For this stovetop pan-fried shrimp recipe, I like to go with shrimp that is peeled and deveined but still has the tail on. You can do the peeling yourself, or look for that bag of shrimp in the freezer section that is already peeled for you!

DO I HAVE TO THAW SHRIMP BEFORE COOKING IT?

It is recommended to thaw shrimp before cooking it in a pan on the stovetop. To thaw shrimp quickly, place your shrimp into a colander and run cool water over it for approximately 5 minutes. It may take longer, depending on the size of your shrimp.

WHAT SIZE SHRIMP SHOULD I USE?

You can use any size shrimp you like, but larger shrimp will take longer to cook. To determine the size of your shrimp, refer to the shrimp packaging, which is usually marked with a number. This number references the count of the shrimp or the number of individual shrimp in a pound. For example, a shrimp package marked 21/25 means that there will be 21-25 of that type of shrimp per pound.

DO I NEED TO USE BUTTER OR OIL TO COOK SHRIMP?

You can use butter or oil to cook shrimp, but I like using a little of both! Butter can burn if it gets too hot, and adding oil can help prevent that.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH PESTO SHRIMP

You can serve pesto shrimp as an appetizer, on a salad, or alongside a protein like steak or chicken. If you really love shrimp, it can also serve as a main dish protein!

MORE EASY SHRIMP RECIPES

Looking for a few more shrimp recipes to add to your recipe box? Check out a few popular shrimp recipes from the archives:

Pictured:
10 Minute Garlic Butter Baked Shrimp
Pineapple Shrimp and Kielbasa Kabobs
Cheesy Crock Pot Shrimp and Artichoke Dip
Greek Shrimp Panzanella Bread Salad

If you try this easy pesto shrimp recipe, I'd love to know what you think in the comments below! Enjoy!

4 servings

5 Minute Pesto Shrimp

This 5 Minute Pesto Shrimp recipe is an easy, healthy, delicious way to prepare shrimp in just minutes! It's great served on a salad or as an accompaniment to steak.

  prep time: 0 MINcook time: 5 MINtotal time: 5 MIN 

INGREDIENTS

1 lb peeled tail-on shrimp
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 teaspoons butter
3 tablespoons pesto sauce
2 teaspoons parmesan cheese, grated, optional

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add the butter and oil to a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.

2. Add the thawed shrimp to the pan and cook the shrimp on one side for 2 minutes. Flip each shrimp and continue cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes or until cooked through (pink and opaque).

3. Remove the pan from the heat and toss the shrimp with 3 tablespoons of pesto sauce. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese, if desired.

NOTES

Author: Becky

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