Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta with Shrimp, Peppers + Asparagus

February 24, 2021

Do you ever hear ingredients and it just sounds too yummy you HAVE to make something with them?? That’s how this recipe came to be! I officially want to make this every Friday for Lent! It’s AMAZING!
Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta with Shrimp, Peppers + Asparagus
Add it to your meal plan mama!

INGREDIENTS:
1 Bell Pepper (I grabbed Red + Orange and used half of each.)
3 TB Heavy Whipping Cream
Prego Sauce: Tomato Basil Garlic (You could get another brand..just make sure it’s tomato basil!)
1 Box Ziti (Or Penne if you like that- my kids love Ziti!)
1 Bag of Small Cooked Shrimp
2 TB Butter
Salt+ Pepper
1 Bag Birds Eye Steamfresh Asparagus Spears

My ideal recipe, with a house full of kids, is semi-homemade! I’m in a season of taking any shortcut I can that helps me get a delicious comfort food recipe on the table! You could easily use fresh asparagus but I wanted to take this little shortcut and it’s worth it to make it come together even quicker. I enjoy cooking… but only so much. haha. Is that you too?

STEPS:
1. If you have frozen shrimp, put them in a bowl in the sink with running water to thaw them out quickly.
2. Slice up your peppers! When cutting the peppers I slice both ends off, then use my knife to easily cut the inside part out.

3. Put your pasta water on to boil AND put 2 TB butter in your big sauté pan.
I love recipes that take one pan…but if they have to take two…It’s the best when they work up at the same time easily!

4. Pop your asparagus into the microwave to steam.

5. Toss your peppers into the pan to soften up a little. Add your thawed shrimp shortly after – I got the cooked kind so I didn’t need it in the pan long. Obviously if you get raw shrimp make sure you cook them before moving on!

6. Add your pasta sauce and 3 TB of the Heavy Whipping Cream into your sauté pan. Stir to combine.
This sauce combo was SOOOO delicious. But you can’t really go wrong with these ingredients. ;)

7. Next up, your pasta should be done so just take a slotted spoon to transfer from the pot to your sauté pan!

8. Slice up your asparagus spears – careful they can be hot. Just dump them right from the bag to your cutting board.
They are already a pretty good size so just slice one time down the middle and toss them into the pan!

9. Gently stir to combine, salt and pepper to taste and you are good to go!

I had some of the ziti pasta on the side, without sauce, for my picky eaters. But they all ended up wanting this except for Hunter!(3.)
It’s nice though to make ONE dinner that everyone can enjoy- with sauce or without.
AND besides my cutting board… these are the only dirty dishes!

I hope you give this recipe a try. I had never had shrimp with this type of pasta sauce but it makes so much sense and it tasted incredible. The creamy basil taste with the shrimp and veggies mmmmm delish! If you’re looking for some meatless meals I can’t rave enough about this one. I wasn’t sure what the kids would think about the asparagus and peppers but they just work perfectly in the sauce and with the shrimp. Everyone loved it and I know you will too!

You can check out more of my easy mom-life friendly recipes here.
I love sharing recipes that taste delicious and homemade…but are also REALISTIC with this season of mom life I’m in! I need recipes that come together easily. Comfort food is my favorite type of recipe to make and I’m always sharing the favorites here on the blog and Instagram!

Also, if you are on the hunt for a good pan, these Carote ones are my favorites we found on Amazon. (Ben got me one…and then we ordered more, and got rid of all of the other pans we had, because these are the best!

Thanks for stopping by!