This Trottole Pasta Recipe with Tomato Sauce and Shrimp is a 30 minute meal you need to try! Top this red sauce and shrimp pasta with a touch of fresh basil and parsley to make it a weeknight favorite.

Why I love this recipe

This is a delicious recipe that is super easy to make and tastes like an Italian restaurant. It works as a main dish since it includes shrimp. All you need is a simple salad and crusty Italian bread!

Trottole Pasta Recipe with Tomato Sauce and Shrimp

Italian cuisine is known for its simple ingredients and bold flavors. This pasta recipe checks all the boxes with simplicity and superb taste. This is a loved recipe we often make in my Italian kitchen (cucina)! This is one of my absolute favorite easy recipes.

If you love shrimp, try these recipes: Shrimp Scampi Pasta Recipe (with Fettuccine) Orzo Pasta with Shrimp, Sun-dried Tomatoes, and Artichokes and Shrimp and Broccoli Pasta in Cream Sauce, and Squid Ink Pasta Recipe with Shrimp and Cherry Tomato Sauce.

Ingredients for Trottole Pasta with tomato sauce and shrimp

You can make this restaurant-worthy pasta dish with a few pantry staples and fresh ingredients.

• 1 recipe for Classic Italian Tomato Sauce (Sugo al Pomodoro)
• Shrimp
• Trottole pasta
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Garlic cloves
• White wine
• Red pepper flakes
• Fresh basil
• Fresh parsley
• Salt and black pepper to taste

See the recipe card for quantities.

How to make Trottole pasta with tomato sauce and shrimp (step by step)

This recipe is so easy to make. If you make the tomato sauce ahead of time all you have to do it cook the shrimp and pasta at the last minute and there you have an easy dinner with little effort.

Tools: Here is the pasta utensil I use for all my pasta recipes and more!

How to cook shrimp in tomato sauce

For this recipe, we want to cook the shrimp perfectly as they are the main part of the sauce. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Dry- make sure to pat the shrimp dry, so they get a nice sear and stay tender when they finish cooking in the sauce.
• Season- sprinkle shrimp with salt and pepper before searing them to get the flavor in them right away.
• Sear- searing the shrimp first gives them a nice crust to keep tender throughout the rest of the cooking process.
• Deglaze- adding white wine to the pan helps all the delicious garlic and chili flake seasoning infuse into the tomato sauce.
• Sauce- let the shrimp finish cooking, at a simmer, in the tomato sauce as the flavors really marry and come together for the final dish!

Where to buy trotolle

I am lucky to find my trottole pasta at my local grocery store in Salt Lake City, Utah. If you have trouble finding it, get it delivered through Amazon! I love to say “trottole”- make sure to roll that “r” for the real Italian pronunciation.

More sauces that pair well with Italian trotolle pasta: use ground beef to make ragu, or beef short ribs for bolognese sauce. Use this Easy Italian Sausage and Peppers Recipe (Skillet) to add with the pasta for an easy meal.

Read this article about pairing pasta shapes with sauces.

Substitutions for trottole pasta and shrimp

Use these substitutions to meet your dietary needs.

• Gluten Free- use gluten free pasta instead of wheat.
• Vegetarian – swap the shrimp for firm tofu.

Variations

After trying the original recipe the first time you can try these variations to mix it up and see how you like it!

• Herbs- add aromatic herbs such as thyme and oregano for an extra flavor boost.
• Creamy- change it up and swap the red sauce for white sauce or homemade béchamel sauce.
• Cheesy- in Italy we do not serve red sauce and seafood with cheese. If you like add some parmigiano cheese (parmesan cheese). Even try a little feta cheese!
• Easy– if you are short on time you can even use your favorite pre-made jar marinara sauce.
• Onion- add a half of a chopped yellow or red onion for variety.
• Deluxe – add cooked Italian sausages to this recipe to add more protein.
• Kid friendly – leave out the chili flakes to cut the spice or adjust accordingly for little eaters.

If you love seafood try these recipes: Spaghetti Frutti di Mare (Seafood Pasta), Italian Seafood Salad (Insalata di Mare Antipasto), and BEST Seared Scallops with Lemon Butter Sauce.

How to store leftover pasta

After pasta cools store in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-5 days.

Here are a few airtight containers that work well for storing leftover pasta dishes, and more: Pyrex different sizes, Snapware different sizes, Glasslock oven safe, and Rubbermaid Takealongs.

Trottole pasta FAQ’s

More recipes for you:

• Squid Ink Pasta Recipe with Shrimp and Cherry Tomato Sauce
• Crispy Baked Cod with Panko Recipe
• Gemelli Pasta Recipe with Tomatoes and Mascarpone
• Italian Pink Sauce Pasta Recipe (Tomato Cream)
• Easy Italian Sausage and Peppers Recipe (Skillet)

Enjoy this easy and absolutely scrumptious trottole pasta and shrimp meal.

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