By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on October 3, 2026

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Penne with Shrimp and Pesto

Serves 6

210 cal · 15 min

Penne with Shrimp and Pesto

Recipe GLPR53b6bc12ae5b9c

Rate this recipe

Average rating: 4.8 (1)

Italian
Main Course
15 min
210 cal
Servings: 6
Stovetop
SNAP eligible

A quick and elegant Italian main course featuring tender shrimp and vibrant pesto tossed with penne pasta, fresh green beans, and cherry tomatoes. Ready in just 15 minutes, this light yet satisfying dish is naturally pescatarian and brings Mediterranean flavors to your table.

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Ingredients

2 cups penne pasta

1 cup fresh green beans, trimmed and halved

8 oz peeled and deveined shrimp

1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

¼ cup basil pesto

Directions

  1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the penne and cook according to package directions until al dente. About 2 minutes before the pasta finishes cooking, add the halved green beans to the pot.

  2. While the pasta and green beans cook, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until the shrimp are pink and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 145°F).

  3. Drain the pasta and green beans, reserving about ½ cup of the pasta cooking water. Return the pasta and green beans to the pot.

  4. Add the cooked shrimp, halved cherry tomatoes, and pesto to the pasta. Toss gently to combine, adding a splash of the reserved pasta water if needed to achieve your desired consistency.

  5. Divide among serving bowls and serve immediately while hot.

Comments

Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff4.75

This is a genuine 15-minute weeknight dinner when you use store-bought pesto from Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Kroger, or Walmart—no real prep time hidden. Shrimp and penne are reliably stocked across all Charlotte chains, green beans and cherry tomatoes are year-round staples, and at roughly $2.50 to $3.00 per serving the cost stays honest unless you splurge on wild shrimp. The dish reheats adequately and scales easily to feed a family without fussiness. The only caveat is that pesto can run $4 to $5 a jar; make your own if budget is tight and you have basil on hand, but that adds 10 minutes and shifts the appeal to home cooks rather than rushed weeknights.

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