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Spinach Pesto Pasta with Grilled Shrimp

This creamy Spinach Pesto Pasta with Grilled Shrimp is made with goat cheese, packed with nutrients and topped with smokey grilled shrimp. It’s the ultimate pesto pasta dish!

Goat Cheese Spinach Pesto Pasta with Grilled Shrimp

SOooo.. Monday… Oh Monday.

That was kind of a long day.

I got a call from Mike at like 4pm Monday afternoon.

He told me that he had gotten in a bad car accident, that he was rear ended. The back of his car was all bent and caved in. He was fine. But that the cops were on the way. That he had to go, but would be home soon because he could still drive.

Pesto Pasta in a bowl with tongs

Ughh… heart was pounding. Glad he was ok, but still. No one wants to get a call that someone you love was in a bad accident.

The police showed up on the scene, talked to both parties, did their reports, and let them go.

Only problem was, Mike’s car now no longer started.

Goat Cheese Spinach Pesto Pasta with Grilled Shrimp in a serving dish

He drives a big Toyota Tundra Truck so the impact of the collision was absorbed in the huge bed of his truck and then moved along the side of the car. The shock of the impact popped out things from the dashboard as well as the door power control board {the one that controls your lock/unlock and windows}. Somehow the impact also messed up something with the car computer so it no longer worked, it just all of a sudden stopped.

Pesto being added to pasta in a bowl

After Mike finally got home we thought most of the “fun” was done. Except he was starting to feel pain in his neck and back as well as a slight headache so we decided that it would be best to go to an Urgent Care Facility to have him checked out just to make sure everything was ok.

That led to us getting home around 10pm.

Top view of Goat Cheese Spinach Pesto Pasta with Grilled Shrimp in a bowl

The next day we learned that most likely his car will be totaled. 🙁 Major bummer … we don’t have any car payments. Also major bummer because we have to buy a new car for me this year as well, my car has broken down 3-4 times already in the past 2 months.

So… all in all. Looks like we will be getting 2 cars in 2014. Not by choice, but by default. 🙁 Booo….

Top view of Goat Cheese Spinach Pesto Pasta with Grilled Shrimp in a serving dish

Ok, are you ready to get off the debbie downer train with me and onto the deliciousness train?

All aboard! {ok, kinda cheesy… I know.. but hey.. just go with it ok?}

Why I Love This Delicious Pasta Recipe

I’m sure you know by now that I am a lover of pesto. It is a great and easy way to add fresh flavor to a dish and literally takes like 3 minutes to make.

Today I decided to mix it up a bit and instead of the typical basil pesto I went with a nutrient rich Spinach base, a creamy tangy goat cheese, and fresh lemon. Added it to some whole wheat pasta and then topped the dish with Grilled Shrimp.

This dish is literally done in 25 minutes and tastes so fancy, perfect for dinner guests or just a quick weeknight meal with family.

Close-up of Goat Cheese Spinach Pesto Pasta with Grilled Shrimp in a bowl

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A Bowl of Goat Cheese Spinach Pesto Pasta with Grilled Shrimp

Goat Cheese Spinach Pesto Pasta with Grilled Shrimp

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  • Author: Krista
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Grill
  • Cuisine: American

Description

This creamy Spinach Pesto Pasta with Grilled Shrimp is made with goat cheese, packed with nutrients and topped with smokey grilled shrimp. It’s the ultimate pesto pasta dish!


Ingredients

Scale
  • Goat Cheese Spinach Pesto:
  • 2 cups of spinach, packed
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1/4 cup of pine nuts, toasted
  • 1/2 cup of olive oil
  • salt & pepper
  • 1 teaspoon of lemon zest
  • juice of half a lemon
  • 1 teaspoon of honey
  • 3 oz of goat cheese
  • Pasta:
  • 1lb. of fettuccini pasta
  • 1 lb. of large shrimp, deveined and shells off
  • olive oil
  • salt & pepper

Instructions

  1. In a blender, add spinach, garlic, pine nuts, lemon zest, lemon juice, honey, salt & pepper. Blend for 30 seconds.
  2. Add in olive oil and goat cheese. Blend until smooth. Store in refrigerator.
  3. Bring a large pot of water to add a boil and add in 1lb. of pasta {i used fettuccini}. Cook until al dente, will tell you on box label how long.
  4. Heat grill to medium high heat.
  5. Season large shrimp with olive oil, salt, & pepper.
  6. Place on grill and cook for 2-3 minutes per side.

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10 comments on “Spinach Pesto Pasta with Grilled Shrimp”

  1. Avatar photo
    Raquel Aguilar

    Reminds me of a Peruvian recipe, Tallarines Verdes. I’ll have to try it with goat cheese, This looks delicious!

    1. Thanks so much Raquel, you will love it with the goat cheese. Adds a creamy and tangy element to the dish! 🙂

  2. Goat cheese and pesto are two of my favorites! Do you think this would work with half basil/half spinach?

  3. Avatar photo
    Cindy @ Pick Fresh Foods

    Yikes, thank goodness your husband was badly injured. That sounds like quite a hard rear hit for things to pop out of the dash. We had both of our cars paid off and then mine started giving me troubles, so we bite the bullet and just bought a new one. Nice new car, but not excited about a new payment.
    Well, this dish looks amazing. I love the combination of spinach and goat cheese!

    1. Totally agree! Such a blessing that he is ok but not excited about adding a car payment to the budget. 🙂 So glad you liked the recipe Cindy, thanks for stopping by and the sweet comments girl!

  4. Avatar photo
    Mike@TheIronYou

    I love ‘regular’ basil pesto, but I really LOVE spinach pesto. And it goes so well with shrimp, a perfect combo.
    I’m deffo going to make this using zucchini noodles. Great recipe Krista!