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Lemon-Basil Pesto Shrimp with Spaghetti

Spaghetti is tossed with a fresh basil pesto brightened with lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, and a touch of salt, then paired with tender shrimp and crisp sugar snap peas. Crushed red pepper adds gentle heat, making this quick pasta a fresh, colorful choice for a weeknight dinner or relaxed lunch.

  • Prep15 mins
  • Cook25 mins
  • Serves6
  • DifficultyEasy
Lemon-Basil Pesto Shrimp with Spaghetti

easyChef Pro health score

Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Lemon-Basil Pesto Shrimp with Spaghetti, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.

46 Health Score
Glycemic ImpactFair
54 / 100
Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
Nutritional DensityPoor
15 / 100
Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
Energy DensityFair
57 / 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.

66
Heart Health
67
Metabolic
29
Digestive
35
Inflammatory
48
Performance
41
General Wellness
  1. 1

    Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 12 minutes; drain.

  2. 2

    Blend basil, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and salt in a blender until smooth.

  3. 3

    Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir sugar snap peas in the hot oil until tender, about 5 minutes. Add shrimp and red pepper; continue cooking until the shrimp are bright pink on the outside and the meat is no longer transparent in the center, about 5 minutes. Stir basil sauce into the shrimp mixture and remove from heat; spoon over spaghetti to serve.

About This Recipe

Lemon Basil Pesto Shrimp with Spaghetti is made with 10 ingredients and serves 6. It takes about 40 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Fresh Basil, Garlic, Lemon Juice, and Olive Oil. Each serving provides about 270.51 kcal, and is a good source of protein.

Recipe Questions

What is Lemon-Basil Pesto Shrimp with Spaghetti made of?
The main ingredients are Fresh Basil, Garlic, Lemon Juice, Olive Oil, Red Bell Pepper. The full list of 10 is above.
How long does it take to make Lemon-Basil Pesto Shrimp with Spaghetti?
About 40 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 25 mins to cook.
How many calories are in one serving?
One serving provides about 270.51 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
Is Lemon-Basil Pesto Shrimp with Spaghetti easy to make?
This recipe is rated easy, with 10 ingredients and 3 steps.
Is Lemon-Basil Pesto Shrimp with Spaghetti healthy?
Lemon-Basil Pesto Shrimp with Spaghetti has an easyChef Pro health score of 46/100. Per serving, it provides 270.51 calories and 17.31 g of protein, or 35% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: saturated fat at 1.17 g (6% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, Shellfish, Wheat, Gluten 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.

How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products

easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.

The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.

Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.

For recipes, changing an ingredient, quantity or serving size changes the nutrition and may change the score. Remix the recipe in easyChef Pro to calculate fresh nutrition and scores for the version you actually make. Product scores are based on the nutrition and serving information associated with that specific product.

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