Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta Salad
A fresh and zesty pasta salad featuring tender shrimp, cherry tomatoes, and a lemon garlic dressing, perfect for a light meal or side dish.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 8 oz pasta (bowtie, rotini, or penne)
Shrimp
- 1 lb shrimp peeled and deveined
Dressing
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 each lemon zest
- 1 each lemon juice
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
- 0.5 tsp chili flakes (optional)
Vegetables
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 0.5 cup cucumber diced
- 0.25 cup red onion finely chopped
Cheese (optional)
- 0.25 cup feta or parmesan cheese (optional)
Fresh herbs
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente (8-10 minutes). Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet, cook garlic for 30 seconds, then add shrimp, season with salt and pepper, and cook 2-3 minutes per side until pink. Let cool slightly.
- Whisk lemon juice, lemon zest, olive oil, salt, pepper, and chili flakes to make dressing.
- Combine pasta, shrimp, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and parsley in a large bowl. Pour dressing and toss to coat.
- Add cheese if desired, then chill for 20-30 minutes before serving.
Notes
For extra flavor, add more herbs or a squeeze of fresh lemon before serving.