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    Home » Recipes » Seafood Recipes

    Shrimp and Zucchini Noodles al Pesto

    Published: Jun 13, 2021 · Modified: Jul 11, 2022 by Chef Dennis Littley

    183 shares
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    5 from 31 votes
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    Pinterest image for shrimp and zucchini noodles

    We love shrimp at our house and Shrimp and Zucchini Noodles (also known as Zoodles) is a delicious alternative to pasta. Since becoming prediabetic, I have scaled back on the carbs saving items like pasta and desserts for special occasions or my once (or twice) a week indulgences.

    shrimp and zoodles in a white bowl

    But I promise even those without dietary restrictions will find this dish a nice addition to their home menu. Because it doesn’t matter how healthy it is. If it’s not delicious, it’s not worth wasting calories on.

    When I create dishes at home, my first thought is would I be able to serve this in a restaurant? Would it impress my guests? And the answer to both those questions is yes.

    This is a restaurant-quality dish that you can make in your home in less than 30 minutes at a fraction of the cost of eating out. That’s a win-win in my book.

    Table of Contents:

    • What Ingredients do I need to make Shrimp and Zucchini Noodles?
    • What Spiralizer is the best to use?
    • How do I make Shrimp and Zucchini Noodles?
    • Chef Dennis Tip:
    • More Shrimp Recipes You’ll Love!
    • Shrimp and Zucchini Noodles al Pesto
      • Equipment
      • Ingredients
      • Instructions
      • Notes
      • Nutrition

    What Ingredients do I need to make Shrimp and Zucchini Noodles?

    overhead view of ingredients to make shrimp and zoodles

    Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make Shrimp and Zoodles al Pesto. In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place”.

    Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed the up cooking process, but it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

    What Spiralizer is the best to use?

    There are a lot of good spiralizers on the market. I recommend the Spiralizer Brand available on Amazon.

    How do I make Shrimp and Zucchini Noodles?

    sauteed shrimp in a saute pan

    Start by sauteing the shrimp for the dish. Cook them till they are almost completely done. Then set them aside until you’re ready for them.

    zucchini noodles added to sauteed mushrooms in a saute pan

    I love mushrooms so I’ve included them in my Shrimp and Zucchini Noodle dish. If you’re not a fan feel free to leave them out. But in my restaurant days mushrooms found their way into many of my dishes.

    First of all they’re delicious and a rich, low-calorie source of fiber, protein, and antioxidants. Plus they’re an inexpensive way to add volume to the dish.

    After sauteing the mushrooms, add the zucchini, yellow squash noodles, and garlic to the pan. This is where the tricky part comes in. You want to cook the zucchini noodles long enough so they’re not raw tasting, but not overcook them so they become mushy.

    This is definitely not a prepare ahead dish, you need to serve this dish as soon as the zucchini noodles are cooked!

    tomatoes added to zucchini noodles and tomatoes

    Add the pesto, tomatoes and seasonings to the pan. Continue cooking for about a minute to blend it all together. This dish can be heavily seasoned, the squash and mushrooms will be pretty flat on their own. The pesto adds great flavor to the dish and you can add as much or as little as you like.

    *The tomatoes don’t have to be hot.

    Here are three of my Pesto Recipes

    completed shrimp and zoodles in a saute pan

    The last step is adding the shrimp to the dish and getting everything blended together and hot.

    close up of shrimp and zoodles in a white bowl

    Serve the Shrimp and Zoodles with grated Romano cheese, and crushed red pepper flakes.

    Chef Dennis Tip:

    If you have veggie-resistant people in your household, try mixing the zucchini noodles with spaghetti to get them use to eating the zoodles.

    More Shrimp Recipes You’ll Love!

    • Garlic Shrimp with Supergreens and Pasta
    • Shrimp Etouffee
    • Shrimp Fra Diavolo 
    • Shrimp and Cheesy Grits
    • Lemon Basil Shrimp with Supergreens

    Did you make this? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

    Please SUBSCRIBE and FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST!

    Partial overhead view of shrimp and zoodles in a white bowl
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    5 from 31 votes

    Shrimp and Zucchini Noodles al Pesto

    Shrimp and Zucchini Noodles (Zoodles) is a delicious alternative to pasta and my restaurant-style recipe takes this dish to the next level
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time10 minutes mins
    Total Time25 minutes mins
    Course: Entree
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 2
    Calories: 265kcal

    Equipment

    • spiralizer

    Ingredients

    • 2 large zucchini
    • 12-14 large shrimp peeled and deveined – I used 16/20 count shrimp
    • 2 large yellow squash
    • 8 ounces mushrooms sliced
    • 1 cup grape tomatoes sliced in half or left whole
    • 2 tablespoon pesto more or less to your tastes
    • 2 tablespoon grated Romano cheese more or less depending upon your tastes
    • ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper more or less depending upon your tastes
    US Customary – Metric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Prepare or buy zucchini noodles
    • Saute the shrimp untill they are almost completely done. Then set aside until your ready for them.
    • Saute the mushrooms in olive oil over medium high heat until they are full cooked
    • Add the zucchini, yellow squash noodles and garlic to the pan. This is where the tricky part comes in. You want to cook the zucchini noodles long enough so they’re not raw tasting, but not overcook them so they become mushy.
    • Add the pesto, tomatoes and seasonings to the pan. Continue cooking for about a minute to blend it all together.
      This dish can be heavily seasoned, the squashj and mushrooms will be pretty flat on their own. The pesto adds great flavor to the dish and you can add as much or as little as you like.
    • Add the shrimp to the pan, blending the mixture and making sure the shrimp are hot and fully cooked.
    • Serve the Shrimp and Zoodles with grated Romano cheese, and crushed red pepper flakes.

    Notes

    Here are three of my pesto recipes

    Nutrition

    Calories: 265kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 584mg | Potassium: 2301mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 2381IU | Vitamin C: 125mg | Calcium: 221mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askChefDennis or tag #askChefDennis!

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    About Chef Dennis

    Picture of Chef Dennis

    Chef Dennis Littley is a classically trained chef with over 40 years of experience working in the food service industry. In his second career as a food blogger he has made it his mission to demistify cooking by sharing his time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen. Let Chef Dennis help you bring the joy of cooking into your home. For more details, check out his About page.

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    1. Kristina

      June 15, 2021 at 6:42 am

      5 stars
      I needed an idea for quick and easy dinner tonight..this is it!

      Reply
    2. Scarlett Brooklyn

      June 15, 2021 at 4:50 am

      5 stars
      I haven’t tried zucchini for noodles, sounds really great.

      Reply
    3. Jamie

      June 15, 2021 at 4:17 am

      5 stars
      This is going to be great for the summer!

      Reply
    4. Mihaela | https://theworldisanoyster.com/

      June 15, 2021 at 3:34 am

      5 stars
      OMG, this is tonight’s dinner! It’s only 8 am but I’m already salivating:))

      Reply
    5. Richelle Escat

      June 15, 2021 at 2:13 am

      5 stars
      Nice dish! It looks so satisfying! It might be one of my favorite comfort foods.

      Reply
    6. Marysa

      June 14, 2021 at 9:40 pm

      I haven’t made zoodles in a while. This sounds like a delicious combination of flavors.

      Reply
    7. Brianna

      June 14, 2021 at 9:03 pm

      5 stars
      Pesto and zoodles are a great combo, perfect summer dinner!

      Reply
      • Loreto and Nicoletta

        June 20, 2021 at 11:45 pm

        5 stars
        Nice dish. We made a doodle carbonara that was so delicious. The zucchini is a great substitute for regular pasta. I like that you put the mushrooms in. Love mushrooms. This us definitely a beautifully presented delicious dish!❤️😛👌👍

        Reply
    8. Inas

      June 14, 2021 at 8:29 pm

      Looks like a simple yet delicious dish!

      Reply
    9. Terri Steffes

      June 14, 2021 at 8:17 pm

      This looks delicious and I would definitely order this at a restaurant. I love shrimp that is well cooked.

      Reply
    10. Amy

      June 14, 2021 at 8:11 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious! Really enjoyed this meal.

      Reply
    11. Heather D

      June 14, 2021 at 8:10 pm

      This looks so delicious! I have been using shirataki noodles but I’m going to try this soon!

      Reply
    12. Tasheena

      June 14, 2021 at 6:17 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve actually never had this at an actual restaurant. This looks delicious though.

      Reply
    13. MELANIE EDJOURIAN

      June 14, 2021 at 4:08 pm

      5 stars
      I do love zucchini noodles. I haven’t had them in ages!!! I would love to see if I could recreate this at home.

      Reply
    14. Tara Pittman

      June 14, 2021 at 3:36 pm

      This looks so delicious. What a great way to use zucchini from my garden.

      Reply
    15. Sarah Bailey

      June 14, 2021 at 2:13 pm

      I would love to be able to cook restaurant style at home – how absolutely amazing does this sound as well. Definitely a recipe to try.

      Reply
    16. Amber Myers

      June 14, 2021 at 2:06 pm

      5 stars
      My kids love pasta and shrimp, so I bet this will be a winner here. It looks fantastic!

      Reply
    17. Petro

      June 14, 2021 at 1:12 pm

      5 stars
      Such a great idea, can’t wait to give your recipe a try!

      Reply
    18. Heather

      June 14, 2021 at 11:20 am

      Your recipes always make my mouth water. We’ve been eating a lot of zucchini noodles instead of pasta lately. Can’t wait to try this!

      Reply
    19. Freya

      June 14, 2021 at 12:23 am

      5 stars
      This was a really delicious and simple to put together dish!

      Reply
    20. Jeri

      June 13, 2021 at 10:56 pm

      5 stars
      Wow! This looks delicious! I will definitely be making this when the zucchini is ready in my garden!

      Reply
    Newer Comments »

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    My name is Dennis Littley or “Chef Dennis” as I’m known both at work and across the blogosphere. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

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