A fast and easy weeknight dinner recipe, the whole family will love this lemony, garlicky, shrimp and broccoli penne pasta recipe.
This dish is the perfect culmination of my family: it has pasta for my husband, shrimp for my boys, and broccoli for me. Add in the fact that it’s quick, tasty, and doesn’t dirty a lot of dishes? Sign me up! If you don’t often cook seafood at home, I still urge you to try this Shrimp and Broccoli Penne. It might just convert you to cooking shrimp or fish more often!
Ingredients
- Penne pasta: I like penne for being bite-sized, but you can use whatever pasta you have on hand.
- Shrimp: To make things easier, they can often be bought peeled and deveined from the store. Shrimp are small, plump bites of buttery, tender protein.
- Garlic: Nutty, earthy, and cooks to be sweet and aromatic.
- Broccoli: Low in calories, high in fiber, iron, potassium, and vitamins, broccoli is a great vegetable to include in your daily meals.
- Lemon: This recipe uses both the juice and zest of a lemon, adding a bright, acidic, fresh flavor to the meal.
- Parmesan cheese: Nutty and somewhat fruity in flavor, its a hard cheese that pairs wonderfully with pasta dishes.
- Olive oil: A light, heart healthy oil to help dress and sauce the dish in place of butter.
How to Make Shrimp and Broccoli Penne
Start your shrimp and broccoli penne by washing and cutting your broccoli. You can use just the broccoli florets, but I love using the stalk as long as its cut into bite sized pieces.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente.
Add the broccoli to the pot of pasta about 4 minutes before finished and cook to a bright green color. Then drain and set both broccoli and pasta aside.
While the pasta and broccoli are cooking, you can pat dry and season your shrimp with salt and pepper.
Then heat some olive oil in a pan and add the garlic, sautéing until aromatic, no more than 30 seconds. Add the shrimp and sauté until pink, about 3-4 minutes.
Once shrimp is cooked, add the reserved pasta and broccoli to the pan.
Drizzle with remaining olive oil and fresh lemon juice.
Add the fresh lemon zest, and I also like to add more freshly grated garlic.
Finish with the freshly grated parmesan cheese before tossing everything together, making sure it’s all evenly coated with the sauce and warmed through.
Serve with additional parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, and fresh parsley. Enjoy your Shrimp and Broccoli Penne!
Easy Substitutions
- Don’t like seafood? Don’t worry, you can swap the shrimp out for chicken, or even sausage.
- Make it gluten-free. Use a gluten-free pasta and this dish is celiac friendly.
- Swap the veggie. Instead of broccoli, use zucchini, carrots, or leafy greens.
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to peel shrimp before cooking?
It definitely saves you time, and will make the dish easier to eat. However leaving the shell on while you cook actually adds to the flavor, and helps protect the meat from getting overcooked.
Should I soak shrimp before cooking?
Soaking your shrimp in a brine before cooking can help to keep them moist and prevent them from overcooking. Submerge your shrimp in water with a few tsp of salt and chill for about 30 minutes before cooking if you’d like, but it’s not required to get good shrimp at home.
How long does cooked shrimp last?
For this dish in particular, keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days.
More Seafood
- New England Baked Scallops with Panko
- Easy Pan Seared Salmon
- Broiled Whitefish with Mango Salsa
- Mediterranean Sautéed Shrimp
- Baked Dijon Salmon
Eat It, Like It, Share It!
Did you try this shrimp recipe? The next time you make it, snap a picture and share it to your socials! Tag@thelemonbowland #thelemonbowl so we can admire and share your meal.
A hit for the whole family, my Shrimp and Broccoli Penne will make dinner easy and delicious.
Your fork is waiting.
Shrimp and Broccoli Penne
4.16 stars average
A fast and easy weeknight dinner recipe, the whole family will love this lemony, garlicky, shrimp and broccoli penne pasta.
PREP: 10 minutes mins
COOK: 20 minutes mins
TOTAL: 30 minutes mins
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ServingsServes: 4
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces whole wheat penne (cooked according to package instructions)
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil (divided)
- 1 pound raw shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 4 cloves garlic (grated)
- 2 large heads broccoli – cut into florets (about 4 cups)
- 1 juice and zest of lemon
- parmesan cheese (minced parsley or basil and red chili flakes – to serve)
- chili flakes and parmesan cheese (optional garnish)
Instructions
Cook pasta according to package instructions, adding the broccoli to cook during the last 3 to 4 minutes. Strain and set aside.
Pat shrimp dry with paper towel then sprinkle evenly with salt and pepper.
Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and heat for 30 seconds to release aroma then add the shrimp.
Sauté shrimp in the pan until they turn pink, just 3-4 minutes total, being careful not to overcook.
Add reserved pasta and broccoli to the pan with the shrimp. Stir in remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Toss well and add more salt or pepper to taste.
Serve with parmesan cheese, minced herbs, and red chili flakes.
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Nutrition
Calories: 445kcal | Carbohydrates: 47.7g | Protein: 32.2g | Fat: 17.7g | Saturated Fat: 1.8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 155mg | Sodium: 754mg | Fiber: 6.1g | Sugar: 0.4g
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Hi, I’m Liz!
Hey there, I’m Liz Della Croce and I’m thrilled to have you here! My aim is to motivate and ignite your passion for cooking amazing meals for your loved ones. I believe in the power of real, wholesome ingredients that are bursting with flavor and won’t break the bank. Whether it’s a traditional Lebanese recipe from my family or a culinary creation from across the globe, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to discover that nutritious food can be exciting, affordable, and easy to prepare.
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