Shrimp Pasta with tomatoes and basil is a simple, flavorful dish that’s perfect for weeknights or a casual dinner with friends. Garlic, fresh basil, white wine, and a pinch of red pepper flakes come together to create a bright Mediterranean-style sauce that pairs beautifully with thin spaghetti.
Shrimp Pasta Recipe
This aromatic shrimp pasta with tomatoes and basil cooks in about 30 minutes and requires only a handful of ingredients. Shrimp cooks quickly, so it’s an ideal protein for a fast, satisfying meal. Tossing the shrimp with a white wine pan sauce, blistered cherry tomatoes, butter, and fresh basil turns a simple pasta into something special.
Serve this with crusty garlic bread or a crisp salad to round out the meal. The combination of bright lemon, fresh herbs, and a touch of butter creates a sauce that clings to long, thin pasta for a balanced bite every time.
You need more PASTA in your life.
Recipe Shopping List
Before you start, gather these ingredients. For exact amounts see the recipe card below.
- Thin spaghetti (capellini or similar)
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Red chili pepper flakes
- Shrimp (peeled, deveined)
- Salt and garlic powder
- Cherry tomatoes
- White wine (a dry white)
- Lemon juice
- Fresh oregano
- Cold salted butter (for finishing)
- Fresh basil
- Parmesan cheese, shredded
A Greek Salad would be great with this!
How To Make This Recipe
Here is a clear overview of the steps. Follow the full recipe card below when cooking to get exact measurements and times.
- Boil: Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Cook the thin spaghetti until al dente and drain, reserving a small cup of pasta water.
- Sauté: Warm olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes, then season the shrimp with salt and garlic powder. Sauté the shrimp with cherry tomatoes until shrimp are pink and tomatoes begin to blister.
- Deglaze: Add white wine, lemon juice, and chopped oregano. Turn heat to medium-high and simmer 1–2 minutes until the sauce reduces slightly.
- Finish with butter: Remove the pan from heat and add cold pats of salted butter, one at a time, shaking or stirring to emulsify into the sauce.
- Toss and serve: Combine the sauce and shrimp with the drained pasta. Add chopped fresh basil and shredded Parmesan before serving.
Try Traeger Garlic Bread with this!
Recipe FAQ
Do you have to use fresh basil, garlic, and tomatoes?
Fresh basil and garlic give the best flavor. Dried basil won’t provide the same bright, herbaceous quality, so prioritize fresh basil if you can. Fresh garlic is also preferred; jarred minced garlic will work in a pinch but has a different flavor profile. Cherry tomatoes can be varied by color—red, yellow, or mixed—any will work well when blistered briefly in the pan.
Is capellini the same as angel hair pasta?
Capellini and angel hair are very similar: angel hair is slightly thinner. Either can be used here, but both cook quickly, so watch closely to avoid overcooking. Wider noodles will also work, but long thin pasta keeps the dish elegant and lets the shrimp and sauce shine.
What kind of wine works best for this recipe?
Use a dry, light white wine that you would also enjoy drinking—Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc are good choices. Avoid heavily oaked Chardonnays, which can introduce unwanted bitter or woody notes to the sauce.
What size shrimp is best for this dish?
Any shrimp size works for flavor. For ease of eating and presentation, medium-large (about 35/40) up to extra jumbo (16/20) are good choices. Very small shrimp can be harder to handle, and very large shrimp may be better cut into bite-sized pieces.
Enjoy with our Homemade Caesar Salad
More Shrimp Recipes
- Lingcod and Shrimp Ceviche
- Ginger Scallion Shrimp
- Shrimp Japchae
- Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
- Spicy Broccoli Shrimp Stir Fry
- Blackstone Sweet Chili Shrimp
Shrimp Udon with Miso Brown Butter
More Italian-Inspired Recipes
If you enjoy shrimp with tomatoes and basil, try other Italian-inspired dishes that pair similar herbs and flavors. These recipes highlight comforting Mediterranean ingredients and are great for weeknights or entertaining.
- Tortellini Soup with Sausage
- Traeger Smoked Italian Meatballs
- Italian Sausage Pasta Salad
- Traeger Cheesy Italian Shells
- Creamy Tortellini Soup
- Chopped Italian Sandwich
- Italian Meatballs with Creamed Spinach
- Meatball Stuffed Shells
- Creamy Shrimp Alfredo
- Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
Shrimp Pasta with Tomatoes and Basil
Simple ingredients combine to create a pasta everyone will love. Bright lemon, fresh herbs, and butter finish a quick white wine sauce that clings to thin spaghetti.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 pound thin spaghetti
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon red chili pepper flakes
- 1 pound raw shrimp
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 8 cherry tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons white wine
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
- 3 tablespoons cold salted butter, cut into pats
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
- ⅛ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente, then drain, reserving a little pasta water.
- Heat olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes and cook briefly until fragrant.
- Season the shrimp with salt and garlic powder. Add the shrimp and cherry tomatoes to the skillet and sauté until shrimp are pink and tomatoes begin to blister.
- Add white wine, lemon juice, and oregano. Increase heat to medium-high and simmer 1–2 minutes until the wine reduces slightly.
- Remove the pan from heat and add one pat of cold butter. Shake or stir to emulsify, then add remaining butter pats one at a time until incorporated.
- Toss the sauce with the drained pasta, adding a splash of reserved pasta water if needed. Serve topped with fresh basil and Parmesan.
Nutrition Information (per serving)
Calories: 228 • Total Fat: 11g • Saturated Fat: 4g • Cholesterol: 84mg • Sodium: 510mg • Carbohydrates: 20g • Fiber: 1g • Protein: 12g
Nutrition data is an estimate. Consult a trusted source if you need precise information for medical reasons.