If you are a seafood lover, this pesto shrimp meal prep recipe will provide extra deliciousness to your day! Our lip-smacking sheet pan arugula pesto shrimp meal prep recipe contains two ingredients, and everything else cooks on one pan. Zucchini and shrimp are a great combo and go-to meal when you don't have much cooking time. Because the flavors are irresistible and it's not a complicated dish, you can cook this meal after a long day working, with the kids, or running errands.
Fun fact: Did you know arugula is healthier than most veggies because it's high in magnesium, calcium, and potassium?
Fresh arugula is blended with macadamia nuts for an herby pesto that dresses up shrimp. Baked on a sheet pan with zucchini, this under 20-minute meal is one everyone should have in their meal prep rotation!
How long will Sheet Pan Arugula Pesto Shrimp Meal Prep last for?
Arugula pesto shrimp can last for 3-4 days in the refrigerator when properly stored. To maximize the taste and freshness, wrap nicely using heavy-duty aluminum foil or use shallow and airtight high-quality containers.
Can Sheet Pan Arugula Pesto Shrimp Meal Prep be frozen?
Sheet pan arugula pesto shrimp freezes perfectly! For easy reheating, store this shrimp meal prep recipe in a glass meal prep container. Otherwise, use a freezer-friendly, BPA free plastic storage container. And, don’t cook the zucchini and squash all the way through. Doing so will result in soggy veggies when thawed. You can keep arugula pesto shrimp frozen for up to 12 months.
Sheet Pan Arugula Pesto Shrimp Meal Prep Ingredients:
- 1 lb. shrimp, cleaned and deveined
- 1 cup arugula, fresh
- ½ cup raw macadamia nuts
- â…› cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 medium zucchinis, sliced into coins
- ½ tsp. garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
How do you make Sheet Pan Arugula Pesto Shrimp Meal Prep?
We love this pesto shrimp meal prep because, like all sheet pan meals, the oven does most of the work. The only time you spend cooking is for about 10 minutes to prep the food. If you don’t have or need a new sheet pan, we recommend our Good Cook® essential sheet pan.
When you’re ready to get cooking, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line your sheet pan with parchment paper. We need a large cooking area for the food, so opt for at least a 9 x 13 inch sheet pan. You need to give your food enough space to cook evenly in the oven and on the sheet pan. Slice some zucchini and place it onto the lined sheet pan first. Arrange them and sprinkle with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. For the pesto, place the arugula, macadamia nuts, and extra virgin olive oil into a blender or food processor. Then, blend the ingredients on high until smooth. You may need to add some extra virgin olive oil as needed to meet the desired consistency. Bring the shrimp and pesto together by tossing them in a mixing bowl together. Remember to save one-quarter of the pesto for the shrimp once it cooks. Now that our shrimp is nicely coated with pesto, arrange them in an even layer on the sheet pan with the zucchini and squash. Bake your sheet pan arugula pesto shrimp for 22 minutes until the shrimp turns pink.
How to portion Sheet Pan Arugula Pesto Shrimp Meal Prep?
Sheet pan arugula pesto shrimp meal prep fits adequately in a one compartment meal prep container. Arrange the zucchini and shrimp in layers before you can put the extra pesto on the shrimp as you desire.
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Other tips for making Sheet Pan Arugula Pesto Shrimp Meal Prep:
- For maximum ease, buy deveined, pre-peeled, raw, and frozen shrimp. You can also use frozen shrimp, but ensure to thaw it in the refrigerator overnight.
- Letting the shrimp bathe in the herby pesto for a few minutes or even hours before getting started in the oven gives the shrimp extra flavor.
- You can substitute arugula with radicchio, escarole, or watercress if you don't enjoy arugula’s peppery bite.
- If you crave that heat and nutty flavor, crushed red pepper and sesame seeds will offer the best garnish option.
- For a five-star presentation at dinnertime, leave the shrimp tails intact.
- Serve this pesto shrimp meal prep recipe with a side of cauliflower rice and sweet potatoes. You can also forego this and make everything easy and tasty by adding extra veggies like steamed green beans.
Sheet Pan Arugula Pesto Shrimp Meal Prep
Ingredients
- 1 pound Shrimp
- 1 cup arugula fresh
- ½ cup raw macadamia nuts
- â…› cup olive oil
- 2 medium zucchini sliced into coins
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Prepare a large sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Place the sliced zucchini’s in a layer on the sheet pan. Sprinkle with garlic powder, salt and pepper.
- In a blender, place the arugula, macadamia nuts and extra virgin olive oil. Blend on high until smooth. Add additional olive oil as needed to meet desired consistency.
- Place the shrimp in a mixing bowl with the pesto, reserving a ¼ of the pesto for after baking.
- Coat the shrimp well with the pesto then transfer to the sheet pan and place in an even layer.
- Bake at 350 F 20-22 minutes until shrimp are pink.
- Remove from the oven and place in meal prep containers. Place the extra pesto over the shrimp as desired.
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