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Shrimp Pasta With Butternut Squash Sauce

This post is sponsored by The Shrimp Council

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As autumn settles in, comfort foods are suddenly on the mind. And I’m starting to crave all things orange! To satisfy both cravings, I had a pasta party featuring this shrimp pasta with a smoky, cheesy butternut squash sauce.

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This recipe is not super heavy – there is no cream in the sauce. Richness comes from bacon and parmesan cheese, but the bulk of the dish is nutritious butternut squash, spices and lighter shrimp. A few tablespoons of nutritional yeast amp up the cheese factor and bring lots of B vitamins along for the ride. Use whole wheat pasta for extra fiber.

I boiled a squash from my neighbor’s garden and pureed it myself in this shiny new Cuisinart Elemental 8-Cup Food Processor (new to stores June 2014). The Shrimp Council and Cuisinart have partnered to give one away to a lucky reader – scroll down to win one for yourself! It’s a bit smaller and much lighter in weight than the one we have, so it’s actually easier to use.

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If you’re short on time, however, you could easily use canned squash or pumpkin and cut this recipe time in half : )

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Let’s get cookin’!

Ingredients

Boil 2 cups of cubed squash for about 15 minutes until fork tender.

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Drain the squash and puree it along with 3/4 of a cup of veggie broth until smooth. You could use a food processor or a blender – just make sure you add enough liquid to puree. {Side note: my squash was huge, so I cooked about twice as much squash to make extra puree for a butternut squash soup later this week! That’s why I have so much.}

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To get the recipe going, cook your bacon and shrimp one after the other in a skillet, allowing the shrimp to cook in the bacon grease so they get nice and crispy! Don’t overcrowd the pan or you’ll get wimpy shrimp – I cooked mine in batches.

Sizzle…

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Be sure to pat the shrimp dry so they aren’t too water logged when you add them to the bacon grease!

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Once both are cooked, set aside.

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Cook your pasta – ooo la la! I went with fresh pasta for extra pizzazz but you could easily use dried. Just be sure to scale back by about a third, according to Real Simple!

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Turn your skillet heat back to low and add in your garlic. I didn’t wash my skillet so that the bacon and shrimp brown bits would provide lots of flavor and the fat still in the skillet would serve as my cooking oil for the garlic.

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Once your garlic is fragrant and beginning to brown, add 3 cups of butternut squash puree, plus your parmesan, nutritional yeast, smoked paprika, nutmeg, salt and pepper.

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Add the cooked pasta and toss to coat

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For a garnish, I added some fresh thyme

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And gently mixed in the shrimp and bacon.

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And there you have yourself a fancy pasta dish loaded with cheesy squash sauce, succulent shrimp and crispy bacon!

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But let’s be real – it’s not that fancy, it’s just gooood : )

Print Pin

Shrimp Pasta with a Butternut Squash Sauce

This pasta is as comforting as it comes, but there's no cream involved. Bacon and Parmesan add richness and shrimp and butternut squash lighten things back up. Use canned butternut or make your own puree. Serve with a side salad!
Servings 4 Servings
Author Kath Younger

Ingredients

  • For the butternut squash puree
  • 2 cups prepped and cubed butternut squash
  • 3/4 cup vegetable broth
  • Recipe
  • 3 cups butternut squash puree homemade or premade
  • 1 pound of fresh pasta or 1/3 less dried pasta
  • 4 slices bacon chopped into small pieces
  • 1 pound of shrimp
  • 2 big or 4 small garlic cloves
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tbsp nutritional yeast or use more Parmesan
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 2 pinches nutmeg
  • Salt and pepper to taste about 1/4 tsp each
  • Fresh thyme to garnish optional

Instructions

  • To make butternut squash puree
  • First boil squash for about 15 minutes or until fork tender. Then drain and puree in a food processor or blender (being careful of steam) with about 3/4 cup vegetable broth (use less and add more if you need it!) until smooth.
  • Recipe
  • Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package. Drain and set aside.
  • Cook bacon in a medium high skillet. Remove and set aside.
  • Pat shrimp dry with paper towel. Cook shrimp in bacon grease on medium heat until brown, about 2 minutes per side. Set aside.
  • Add garlic to same skillet over low heat and cook for about a minute, until fragrant and brown.
  • Add 3 cups of butternut puree (you will likely have a little extra leftover if you made your own).
  • Add paprika, Parmesan, nutritional yeast, nutmeg, salt and pepper.
  • Stir to combine.
  • Add pasta and toss into the sauce.
  • Transfer pasta into serving bowl or dinner bowls and top with shrimp and bacon.
  • Garnish with any fresh herbs you like, if you choose.

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To win a Cuisinart Elemental 8-Cup Food Processor for your own kitchen, leave a comment with your favorite shrimp pasta recipe and follow our social media accounts for extra entries.

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There are more giveaways on the Eat Shrimp Facebook page so head there for more chances!

Thanks to The Shrimp Council for sponsoring this post.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  8. Em says

    Hi Kath, I’m curious about your cooking method for the squash. I’m in Australia and for as long as I can remember, the advice from our nutritionists has been to steam vegetables wherever possible rather than boiling them, to retain maximum nutrients. I know you did use some of the cooking broth, but it seems to me a lot of the vitamins would still be leached out and antioxidants destroyed through a 15-minute boil. (I wouldn’t boil any vegetable for that long apart from potatoes.) I know nutritional content is important to you, so it seemed an unexpected cooking choice. Is the different technique a cultural difference, or has the scientific wisdom changed? Thanks in advance!

    Reply

  9. Lexi says

    My favorite shrimp pasta dish is fettucini alfredo with shrimp. I try to lighten it up a bit by making it at home and using a mixture of light cream and milk from our dairy… but I definitely don’t skimp on the parmesan or shrimp 😉

    Reply

  22. Jeri says

    My family loves shrimp Alfredo. The last time I made it, I actually made the noddles from scratch. It was really good. Still trying to master the sauce from scratch.

    Reply

  23. Molly says

    This recipe looks delicious. I love the versatility of shrimp. I usually just toss an assortment of whatever vegetables I have on hand with shrimp, olive oil and a fresh herbs.

    Reply

  27. Caitlin Restivo says

    This dish looks so tasty, can’t wait to try it!! Not really a pasta dish, but I like eating shrimp with spaghetti squash.

    Reply

  28. Angela Hale says

    My favorite shrimp dish is shrimp and grits! Years ago I found a recipe in a Southern Living magazine that used poblano peppers and bacon and it is a perfect compliment to shrimp!

    Reply

  32. Alissa says

    Oh wow, this looks and sounds A-mazing! I rarely make shrimp, since my hubs won’t eat fish or seafood, but there is this lemon-yogurt pasta (better than it sounds ;)) I make that I will occasionally add shrimp to.

    Reply

  34. Sally says

    Pioneer Woman has an awesome shrimp curry dish that I am obsessed with – I swear I make it several times a month. I love shrimp – it is so versatile!

    Reply

  48. Tierney S says

    My favorite shrimp pasta dish is one that has shrimp, linguini, whole crushed tomatoes, and feta cheese. It is so good!

    Reply

  49. Kathryn says

    I am about to be in my first apartment and am looking for a good food processor! Have you enjoyed this one so far?

    Reply

  51. Dana @ fresh simple five says

    My favorite shrimp pasta dish is shrimp scampi with linguine. Although this dish looks like it could become a favorite!! Just bought my first butternut squash of the season and have been loving in it salads all week.

    Reply

  52. Jenny L says

    My favorite shrimp dish is… well, anything with shrimp! 🙂
    LOVE how this looks, can’t wait to try it out this weekend!

    Reply

  60. Jamie says

    I love making a simple Mediterranean shrimp pasta dish, saute shrimp in olive oil and lemon juice and toss with fresh tomatoes, wilted spinach, crumbled feta and kalamata olives.

    Reply

  61. Anonymous says

    I’m not a fan of shrimp or bacon but I think I’m going to make this without them! Fresh pasta is always better 🙂

    Reply

  63. Whitney Wall says

    Oh man, I can’t wait to make this dish! I love shrimp, bacon, and butternut squash!! My favorite shrimp dish we have been making recently is homemade shrimp fettuccini Alfredo with broccoli and scallops. Yumm!!

    Reply

  67. Michelle says

    I love making a greek-style shrimp scampi, with lots of lemon, feta, and dill. But can’t wait to try this one!

    Reply

  71. Patty says

    Gluten intolerance means little to no pasta for me but I love shrimp with spaghetti squash in place of pasta loaded with garlic, olive oil, red pepper flakes, spinach and parm on top!

    Reply

  84. Emma says

    I guess *this* is my favorite shrimp pasta recipe, since I don’t have any shrimp pasta recipes!

    Every time you have a giveaway, I’m reminded that I never see a followup congratulating the winners! I hope all the giveaways actually happen! There are so many of them, but as far as your readers are concerned, entering is like throwing a note in a bottle into the ocean – that’s the end of the story.

    Reply

  86. Lindsay says

    my mom makes a great bowtie pasta, shrimp and broccoli dish with a light cream sauce (also good with salmon and peas)!

    Reply

  89. Bobbie says

    I don’t like shrimp 🙁
    I do think your recipe looks awesome. I would just make it with no meat or maybe do chicken instead.

    Reply

  94. Stephanie says

    Shrimp scampi is my favorite shrimp and pasta dish although I like shrimp stirfry better 🙂 Who am I kidding? I love all things shrimp (and pasta)!

    Reply

  95. Amy says

    I love shrimp, but not so much pasta. I do love butternut squash though. I cut it and roast it. I can eat a huge squash myself! I also roast the seeds.

    Reply

  96. Abby says

    I am allergic to shrimp but that dish looks amazing.
    I make something similar with sundried tomatoes, butternut and pasta.
    Yumm!

    Reply

  100. Courtney H says

    Love shrimp Alfredo (homemade of course!) or just shrimp with linguini and a little parmesean cheese and lemon juice!

    Reply

  106. Heather says

    Shrimp and Grits isn’t technically a Shrimp Pasta dish but nothing beats a bowl of S&G from The Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill, NC!

    Reply

  107. Megan says

    I love shrimp in a spicy marinara sauce! Love this recipe Kath – you do a great job of creating simple, but gourmet-looking meals!

    Reply

  108. Anonymous says

    I love shrimp with whole wheat linguini, fresh arugula, Parmesan cheese, lemon, and Olive oil, with toasted pine nuts.

    Reply

  111. Martha says

    I have a Cuisinart mini chopper that I love and use for all sorts of recipes, but now with a family I find myself needing a full-scale food processor. The 8-cup would be such an awesome Xmas present to myself! Thanks, Kath!

    Reply

  115. Emma says

    As a girl originally from Baltimore, I need Old Bay on my shrimp. I like to make a creamy shrimp pasta dish that includes old bay, kind of like shrimp salad with pasta! Also, tarragon and lemon is always nice with shrimp if I’m making something lighter. This looks like an excellent fall dish!

    Reply

  117. Anne Weber-Falk says

    I like it simple. Angel hair pasta tossed with some oven roasted shrimp, olive oil and parmesan cheese. A little salt and pepper to taste and it’s perfect.

    Reply

  122. Elizabeth says

    Omg – in my world, butternut squash and pasta are best friends! But usually the pasta was on the outside and the squash was the filling…now it’s the squash’s turn to embrace the pasta! 🙂 Shrimp is just a bonus addition to the party that will be happening in my mouth!

    Reply

  130. Katherine says

    Last week I made Bobby Flay’s shrimp and cheesy grits with bacon. Amazing! I will definitely give this recipe a try. I have a butternut squash on my counter that I need to use up and my kids love shrimp and pasta.

    Reply

  131. Sara Anderson says

    I’ve actually never made a shrimp pasta! My favorite in a restaurant was a shrimp pasta with a vodka sauce.

    Reply

  132. Tonya says

    I just love shrimp that’s properly seasoned and steamed just right! Not overdone, not underdone. Strangely enough, my blue collar boss does it best! At our annual work cookouts his shrimp is THE STAR!

    Reply

  133. Melissa says

    My favorite way to eat shrimp is cold with cocktail sauce – nothing fancy!

    And yay for another ‘pre-cooking, ingredient line up’ picture – I don’t know why, but I just really like it! 🙂

    Reply

  142. Kate says

    This isn’t my all-time favorite but it’s the easiest! Pound of cooked pasta. Pound of shrimp sauteed in some butter. Add warm vodka sauce to the shrimp and serve over the pasta. Done! And delicious.

    Reply

  143. Cyn says

    Shrimp Parm with fresh Mozzarella!

    Sometimes it’s difficult to know what is the healthiest and most ecologically friendly purchase to make when buying shrimp.
    I use Seafood Watch as a reference, but was wondering if you have a specific recommendation.

    Thank you for your recipe- looks delicious!

    Reply

    • KathEats says

      I look for wild caught USA (per Seafood Watch – love them). I can usually find some fresh and frozen at Whole Foods from the US.

      Reply

  147. jill says

    Shrimp, pesto, pine nuts, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, baby spinach, and goats’ cheese. I actually love this on a pita and grilled in the oven, but it’s also fantastic over pasta!

    Reply

  148. Pat says

    Oh gosh, I don’t think there’s many ways I don’t like shrimp! 🙂 I don’t like it in a red sauce, as it gets overpowered. My favorite is probably fettucini alfredo with shrimp though. But you can’t beat them sauteed. Alaska (where I live) has amazing shrimp!

    Reply

  151. Alyssa H. says

    I haven’t had a shrimp dish in quite some time, but I used to love the shrimp scampi at Olive Garden 🙂 This looks amazing though!

    Reply

  154. Rachel says

    My roommate has a mini food processor and I recently used it to make twice baked thai sweet potatoes with shrimp. I could definitely use a bigger food processor though!

    Reply

  159. Allison says

    I love shrimp and any kind of pasta! This recipe looks amazing! My favorite shrimp dish is my mom’s Shrimp Poblano Chili. Yum!

    Reply

  164. Ames says

    I love shrimp but gave it up for years because of the terrible bycatch issues associated with the industry. That is until I learned about the Oregon bay shrimp industry’s sustainability awards. Bay shrimp are tiny, but I’m sure they’d still be delicious in this recipe!

    Reply

  165. Laurie says

    I eat a plant-based diet so I make a delicious vegan version of this butternut sauce and add broccoli over pasta. It is my daughters’ favorite dish!

    Reply

  167. Elisabeth says

    Actually…I hate shrimp…ha. Wish I liked them, but I do love making pasta with a squash sauce. There’s an Ellie Krieger squash mac n cheese I really like.

    Reply

  178. Emily says

    My fav shrimp pasta dish is shrimp scampi!! I had it for the first time when I was a kid in Jamacia (lucky!) and I have loved it ever since.

    Reply

  180. Madelyne says

    Hi Kath 🙂 Love shrimp plain but personal fave is making my own salsa with canned tomatoes, red onion (I know what you are thinking but you can’t taste them really!), green peppers, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce and garlic and tossing the shrimp and some spelt pasta in the salsa. MMMMMM! Yummy and simple 🙂 Keep up the awesome recipes!

    Reply

  189. Brandi Robertson says

    I love the combo of squash and shrimp! I never would have paired it! As far as recipes go, any pasta with shrimp and a light sauce (scampi, especially) is a win in my book!

    Reply

  204. Megan says

    My favorite pasta dish is my family’s Clam Spaghetti recipe, a lighter white sauce with garlic, onions, parsley, clams and lots of parmesan! My mom adapted it from a cookbook decades ago and it continues to be our family’s go-to pasta recipe.

    Reply

  207. Rachel says

    10,000 points for cooking with the bacon grease. That’s awesome 🙂

    My current favorite shrimp recipe is a bang bang shrimp copycat that I found. It’s seriously identical to Bonefish.

    Reply

  212. Denise says

    At the moment, this looks like my favorite pasta dish even though I haven’t tried it yet! Anything with butternut squash and cheese is up my alley!

    Reply

  214. Victoria says

    That sounds so tasty! My mother-in-law made this delicious shrimp, angel hair, butter, garlic thing last time we visited; so good!

    Reply

  215. margaret franks duncan says

    shrimp scampi over angle hair pasta,any thing shrimp I would eat & I’m am going to try this one!!

    Reply

  216. Jen says

    This looks delicious, Kath! I always roast my squash before trying to slice and dice because I fear for my fingers! How do you cube before cooking?
    I don’t often make pasta, but I LOVE spaghetti squash and zucchini. Some garlicky sauteed shrimp with roasted zucchini over spaghetti squash is my fave shrimp “pasta.”

    Reply

  217. Sarah says

    What might be another protein to use if I don’t like shrimp? Do you think another seafood like scallops or salmon would work, or should I stay safe and just do chicken? Thanks!

    Reply

  220. Katie M says

    I’ve never had shrimp in my pasta, but I expect I’d enjoy it with a tomato-y red sauce, spinach, bell peppers, and linguine.

    Reply

  221. Rachel says

    This looks delicious! My favorite shrimp pasta dish is simple: shrimp, cooked pasta, olive oil, sambal and Parmesan cheese 🙂

    Reply

  223. Cheryl says

    I used williams and Sonoma squash puree and scallops, as they were on sale, and it was delicious! A great fall pasta dish.

    Reply

  228. Melissa @ HerGreenLife says

    Ooooh, perfect timing — we just decided we needed to replace our food processor because the slice/grate blade doesn’t work at all (we would just replace the blade, but it’s an old, cheap model and that feature never really worked well). We do lots of purees with squash from our garden. Fingers crossed!

    Reply

  235. Kayleen Richardson says

    My favorite shrimp pasta has always been alfredo, but I’m excited to try this and see how it compares!

    Reply

  236. Gauri says

    This looks delicious – must try soon. What software do you use to create the beautiful picture of your ingredients with the labels?

    Reply

  238. Alexa P. says

    Normally not the biggest fan of squash, but this looks good with the parm, bacon and shrimp Going to have to try this soon!

    Reply

  239. Sara says

    I love shrimp in pasta, and I love butternut squash in pasta, but I never thought to put them together! Great idea!! Can’t wait to try it.

    Reply

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