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Pesto Spaghetti Squash with Sautéed Shrimp

Pesto Spaghetti Squash with Sautéed Shrimp is a flavorful, nutrient dense healthy low-carb paleo friendly dinner recipe that happens to also be Whole30 compliant! Plus, it’s ideal for anyone who enjoys big filling meals that come with health benefits!

Bowl of pesto spaghetti squash with sautéed shrimp on top.

Truth: I can eat meals like this every day of my life and never tire of it.

Flavor? Check.

Plenty of protein? Check.

Filling complex carbohydrates to make me feel full and satisfied? Check, check, check!

This Pesto Spaghetti Squash with Sautéed Shrimp is so easy to prepare, is loaded with nutrients and leaves you feeling energized!

Clean eating at its finest!

It is ideal for those who love lots of flavor, enjoy lower carbohydrate meals, or just anyone who is into spaghetti squash, shrimp, or pesto sauce!

Fact Check: spaghetti squash tastes like spaghetti.

No it does not.

However, I find spaghetti squash to be incredibly filling and satisfying! Plus, I think it has lovely texture and I enjoy the naturally sweet flavor. It’s a beautiful canvas for any and all flavors!

Spaghetti Squash with Pesto and Sautéed Shrimp

Ingredients for Pesto Spaghetti Squash and Sautéed Shrimp:

The ingredients needed for this recipe are super simple! One big spaghetti squash, shrimp, garlic, oil for cooking, and pesto sauce fixings (basil, parsley, pine nuts, parmesan cheese). BOOM! That’s it!

You can change up your pesto options by making my classic Basil Pesto Sauce or go wild with my Roasted Beet Pesto

Looking to save some time? Use store-bought pesto sauce instead of homemade pesto!

Get a load of this:

How to Make Spaghetti Squash with Pesto and Sautéed Shrimp:

Begin by roasting the spaghetti squash. If you’ve never done this, follow my instructions on How to Roast Spaghetti Squash.

While the spaghetti squash is roasting, make the pesto sauce (or use store-bought) in your food processor.

Spaghetti Squash with Pesto and Sautéed Shrimp

Look at that steam shot! I want to live in this bowl.

Sauté the shrimp in a large skillet (I like using a cast iron skillet for sautéing shrimp).

Once the shrimp is finished cooking and the spaghetti squash has been spaghettied, add the pesto sauce and the roasted spaghetti squash to the sauté pan with the shrimp, and heat everything together.

Serve it all up with fresh squeezed lemon juice and pine nuts.  You can absolutely grate up some parmesan cheese on top too!

Pesto Spaghetti Squash with Basil-Parsley Pesto and Pan-Seared Shrimp in a bowl with a blue napkin to the side

 

For my meal preppers out there, you can make the pesto sauce up to 5 days ahead of time, and you can also cook the spaghetti squash up to 5 days in advance. Sometimes making recipes in parts like this helps to reduce the workload.

Although I really must say, this magical meal is so easy to make any night of the week!

Enjoy this Pesto Spaghetti Squash with Sautéed Shrimp during winter squash season (fall and winter) or year round whenever you can locate a spaghetti squash!

Over and out.

My cookbook, Paleo Power Bowls, is now available! CLICK HERE to check it out. Thank you for your support!

If you make this recipe, please feel free to share a photo and tag me at @The.Roasted.Root on Instagram!

More Healthy Spaghetti Squash Recipes:

Enjoy this healthy dinner on repeat!

Bowl of pesto spaghetti squash with sautéed shrimp on top.

Pesto Spaghetti Squash with Sautéed Shrimp

Spaghetti Squash with Basil-Parsley Pesto and Sautéed Shrimp is a clean, delicious low-carb dinner recipe. Also paleo and whole30!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
3 Servings

Ingredients

Basil-Parsley Pesto Sauce:

  • ½ cup tightly packed basil leaves
  • ½ cup tightly packed parsley leaves
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/3 cup pine nuts
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
  • ½ cup avoocado oil, see note*

For the Shrimp:

  • 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil, see note*
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

For Serving:

Instructions

Roast the Spaghetti Squash:

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Chop the tip and the tail off of the spaghetti squash, and stand the squash up-right on a cutting board. Carefully cut the squash in half length-wise - gravity will help you chop from top to bottom.
  • Use a spoon to scoop the seeds out of each of the halves.
  • Rub about a tablespoon of olive oil over the flesh of each half. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.
  • Place both halves cut-side down on a baking sheet.
  • Roast the squash for 45 to 50 minutes or until the flesh is tender. Remove from oven and allow squash to cool about 10 minutes.
  • When the squash is cool enough to handle, use a fork to gently scrape the flesh, releasing spaghetti-like stands. Do this until both halves of the spaghetti squash are scraped clean and place the “spaghetti” into a large serving bowl and set aside.

Prepare the Basil-Parsley Pesto Sauce:

  • Add all ingredients for the pesto sauce to a small blender (or food processor) and blend until it reaches desired consistency. I blended mine until smooth.

Sauté the Shrimp:

  • In a large skillet, heat the oil to medium.
  • Carefully place the shrimp on the hot skillet, and add the garlic.
  • Allow shrimp to cook until it begins to plump and turn pink, about 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Flip shrimp to the other side and allow it to cook an additional 1 to 2 minutes, or until cooked through.
  • Lower the heat to medium-low, and add the pesto sauce and prepared spaghetti squash. Fold everything together and cook until everything is hot.
  • Serve heaping portions with pine nuts, fresh lemon wedges, and grated parmesan cheese.

Notes

*Use grapeseed oil, almond oil, or olive oil if you're okay with recipe not being Whole30

Nutrition

Serving: 1(of 3) - Calories: 579kcal - Carbohydrates: 44g - Protein: 48g - Fat: 26g - Fiber: 10g - Sugar: 17g
Course: Main Dishes
Cuisine: American
Keyword: healthy dinner recipe, healthy spaghetti squash recipes, homemade pesto sauce, low carb dinner recipes, paleo dinner recipe, pesto spaghetti squash, sautéed shrimp, whole30 recipes
Servings: 3 Servings
Calories: 579kcal
Author: Julia
collage for spaghetti squash for pinterest
Recipe Rating




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Sara

Monday 14th of January 2019

Made this tonight and even the kids liked it! I thought it was delicious! I was not sure how the pesto was going to turn out with the addition of parsley, but it was fantastic. I will put this in my dinner rotation!

Jennifer Dedrick

Saturday 30th of September 2017

Looks amazing. I have an allergy to raw garlic, what do you suggest as a replacement? Thanks :)

Amy

Wednesday 5th of November 2014

Do you use raw pine nuts or toasted?

Jody Hopkins

Sunday 26th of October 2014

Made your yummy recipe tonight, because I had a large bunch of Parsley ( instead of the cilantro my husband thought he was buying for salsa ). Delicious pesto...even without Basil. The squash was huge so we only used part of each half. Had the remainder for dessert...with fresh maple syrup. Mmmm. Thanks for "saving me".

Julia

Monday 27th of October 2014

You got it, Jody! I'm so happy you enjoyed the meal. I never thought of using spaghetti squash for dessert - I MUST try this!! xo

Kelli H (Made in Sonoma)

Wednesday 15th of October 2014

Made this last night for Whole 30 Day 9 dinner. It was SO good. I left off the cheese of course, but it was spectacular. I'm definitely going to be repeating this. Loved the pesto, too with the flat leaf parsley addition.

Julia

Wednesday 15th of October 2014

Kelli, I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe!!! It's so simple, yet so filling and enjoyable. Definitely a great recipe for clean eating, fo sho! Thanks for the feedback, love! xoxo

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