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Shrimp Pasta with Broccoli – Ready in Less Than 30 Minutes!

This creamy shrimp pasta with broccoli has a velvety parmesan cheese sauce that is light but still comforting.

It is full of flavor and easy to put together.  The dish is colorful to look at and only takes about 15 minutes to get it on the table.

Combining shrimp with pasta gives a lovely delicate flair to the dish that makes it perfect for any special occasion.

In the time that it takes to boil your spaghetti, the rest of the dish comes together in a non stick pan.  

It will soon become one of your favorite pasta recipes.

Pasta with shrimp and broccoli.

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What's for dinner tonight? Shrimp pasta with broccoli in a creamy cheese sauce that is full of flavor but light in calories. Get the recipe on The Gardening Cook. 🥠🌿🧀 Click To Tweet

Making creamy shrimp pasta with broccoli

This dish is comfort food at its best. My collection of getting dinner on the table in 30 minutes (or less) just got a new member!

I have a bumper crop of broccoli in my garden and this recipe is a great way to use some of it!

I chose parmesan Reggiano cheese because it has so much flavor. You can use a small amount and still have lots of yummy cheesy taste. This helps to keep the calories down while delivering a great taste.

This dish has a bit of an Alfredo flavor going but the base of the sauce is made with chicken broth  instead of cream, with just a small amount of great tasting cheese.

It works out at less than 600 calories a serving which is quite low for a cheese and pasta based recipe.

broccoli head with onions and garlic.

Broccoli, garlic and onions gives the recipe a lot of healthy freshness. You can use either normal pasta or the whole grain version if you are looking for extra fiber.

My fresh herbs are growing well right now, so I added fresh basil, oregano, and thyme to give the dish a hint of Italian flavor. If you don’t have fresh herbs, you can use 1 tablespoon of dried Italian seasoning instead.

But why don’t you have fresh herbs growing? They are ridiculously easy to grow! You can grow them on a deck or inside on a sunny kitchen window.

Both oregano and thyme are  perennial herbs that come back each year, but the basil is an annual that needs a new plant each spring.

Fresh herbs add so much more flavor to a dish. You just can’t get the same taste with dried herbs, since they lose flavor quickly once opened.

Fresh basil, oregano and thyme on a counter top.

There is so much to do this time of the year, that it’s wonderful to have a great tasting recipe that is so quick to make.

And the flavor of this shrimp pasta? Oh, my, yes! It is creamy and fresh with a velvety sauce that compliments the shrimp beautifully.

Shrimp on a fork in front of a shrimp pasta with broccoli dish.

I love that this recipe is versatile. Use what you have in your pantry. I have had the dish with both fettuccini and spaghetti and my family loved both versions.

Want more vegetables? I’ve also made this dish with mushrooms and we love it, as well.

The recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight, but also great for any special occasion.

Pin this shrimp pasta with broccoli recipe

Would you like a reminder of this delicious pasta recipe with shrimp? Just pin this image to one or your cooking boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later.

Shrimp, pasta and broccoli in a bowl and fork with shirmp with words reading shrimp pasta with broccoli.

Admin note: this recipe for shrimp pasta appeared on the blog in April of 2013. I have updated the post to add a recipe card with nutritional photos, all new photos and a video for you to enjoy.

What toppings do you like to use on creamy pasta dishes?  Please leave your ideas in the comments below.

Yield: 4

Shrimp Pasta with Broccoli

Shrimp pasta with broccoli in a blue and white bowl.

This shrimp pasta with broccoli is a filling and tasty meal that is ready in a flash.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 17 minutes

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces uncooked pasta (I have used both spaghetti and fettuccini and both work well.)
  • 2 cups of broccoli florets
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 pound uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon fresh basil
  • 1 teaspoon of fresh thyme
  • 1 tablespoon fresh oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon of cracked black pepper
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan Regiano cheese, divided
  • 1 tablespoon of butter
  • Cracked black pepper to finish

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta according to package directions.
  2. Meanwhile, sauté the broccoli florets and onion in olive oil in a large non stick skillet until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer.
  3. Add the shrimp, broth and fresh herbs. Bring to a boil.
  4. Reduce heat; and cook for 4-5 minutes or until sauce is slightly thickened and shrimp turn pink.
  5. Stir in 1/4 cup of the cheese and the butter.
  6. Drain the pasta and toss with shrimp mixture. Sprinkle with remaining the cheese.
  7. Finish with cracked black pepper if desired.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 589Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 265mgSodium: 1785mgCarbohydrates: 56gFiber: 5gSugar: 4gProtein: 41g

Nutritional information is approximate due to natural variation in ingredients and the cook-at-home nature of our meals.

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Tony

Monday 18th of September 2023

Your shrimp with broccoli recipe is almost identical to mine, except that in lieu of of chicken broth I use fresh clam juice along with the clams.

Carol Speake

Monday 18th of September 2023

Sounds tasty!

Vanessa

Sunday 8th of January 2023

The first step in your recipe says to add the mushrooms...there's no mushrooms listed. :)

Carol Speake

Monday 9th of January 2023

Hi Vanessa. Thanks for pointing out my oversight. I have made the dish with mushrooms instead of broccoli, too and had them on the brain. I have fixed the recipe card.

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