Avocado-Basil Pesto Penne with Shrimp
Avocado-Basil Pesto Penne with Shrimp pairs velvety avocado and fresh basil for a lush, herb-forward sauce that clings to every piece of pasta. Juicy shrimp add sweet, briny contrast, while lemon and Romano bring brightness and a salty lift. Serve for a weeknight dinner or a casual weekend meal when you want creamy comfort without a heavy sauce.
- Prep10 mins
- Cook15 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Avocado-Basil Pesto Penne with Shrimp, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 56 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 8 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 53 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 42
- Heart Health
- 75
- Metabolic
- 36
- Digestive
- 24
- Inflammatory
- 29
- Performance
- 36
- General Wellness
- 1
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
- 2
Add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until mostly cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.
- 3
Add shrimp to the pot and cook until bright pink on the outside and the meat is opaque, 2 to 3 minutes; the penne should be fully cooked by then.
- 4
While the penne cooks, combine avocado, basil, 2 tablespoons Romano cheese, garlic, and lemon juice in a food processor; season with salt and pepper.
- 5
Process until smooth.
- 6
Add olive oil and pulse until creamy.
- 7
Remove the blade from the food processor; stir the diced tomatoes into the pesto.
- 8
Drain the penne and shrimp, then return them to the pot.
- 9
Add the pesto, season with salt and pepper, and stir to coat.
- 10
Garnish each serving with the remaining Romano cheese.
- Calories 443.46 kcal High 22%
- Protein 14.84 g Good Source 30%
- Carbohydrate 35.85 g 13%
- Total Fat 26.37 g High 34%
- Saturated Fat 7.03 g High 35%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 82.07 mg High 27%
- Sodium 212.39 mg Moderate 9%
- Dietary Fiber 4.97 g Moderate 18%
- Total Sugars 2.13 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 248.06 mg Moderate 19%
- Iron 1.05 mg Low Source 6%
- Potassium 279.03 mg Low Source 6%
- Vitamin A 37.09 mcg Low Source 4%
- Vitamin C 24.82 mg Good Source 28%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Citrus 🍊
- Shellfish 🦐
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
About This Recipe
Avocado Basil Pesto Penne with Shrimp is made with 10 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 25 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Avocado, Cherry Tomato, Fresh Basil, and Garlic. Each serving provides about 443.46 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Avocado-Basil Pesto Penne with Shrimp made of?
- The main ingredients are Avocado, Cherry Tomato, Fresh Basil, Garlic, Lemon. The full list of 10 is above.
- How long does it take to make Avocado-Basil Pesto Penne with Shrimp?
- About 25 mins in total: 10 mins to prepare and 15 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 443.46 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Avocado-Basil Pesto Penne with Shrimp easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 10 ingredients and 10 steps.
- Is Avocado-Basil Pesto Penne with Shrimp healthy?
- Avocado-Basil Pesto Penne with Shrimp has an easyChef Pro health score of 41/100. Per serving, it provides 443.46 calories and 14.84 g of protein, or 30% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 212.39 mg (9% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 7.03 g (35% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, Shellfish, Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Tomatoes and Garlic, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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