15 prawn pasta recipes to make for dinner

There’s something utterly irresistible about the elegant simplicity of prawn pasta — the sweet, briny pop of shellfish gently mingling with a silky, al dente noodle and a sauce that’s sometimes whisper-light, sometimes boldly spiced. Our curated collection of prawn pasta recipes celebrates exactly that: a harmony of sea-fresh flavours and Italian-inspired technique.

Whether you’re after a zippy weeknight dinner or aiming to impress at your next dinner party, you’ll find something here to suit the mood. Choose from bright, no-fuss pasta tossed in olive oil, white wine and chilli — or lean into something more luxurious, like ravioli filled with green-king prawns in a rich bisque. For lovers of heat, there’s fra diavolo sauce spiked with tomato and chilli, brought to life with plump prawns and bucatini or penne.

Each dish in this collection showcases a different side of prawn pasta: vibrant, delicate or bold. Dive in, pick your recipe, and let these pasta dishes transport you to an unforgettable coastal kitchen.

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The best prawn pasta recipes

Pendolino’s spaghetti con pesce d’acqua dolce (spaghetti with freshwater fish)

Light, fresh and full of flavour. This is the perfect summer pasta meal.

Fried cavolo nero gnocchi with peppered prawns and pancetta

Fried cavolo nero and peppered prawn gnocchi with pancetta

Pan-fried comfort and coastal richness with a hit of green — this is a top gnocchi recipe for seafood lovers and flavour seekers alike.

fast prawn linguine is the best of all dinner ideas

Prawn linguine with semi-dried tomatoes and olives

A summery prawn pasta that’s a no-fuss midweek meal? Yes please.

Vesuvio with prawns, white wine and tomato

Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for Vesuvio with prawns, white wine and tomato.

Linguine with tomato, prawns and rocket

Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for fast linguine with tomato, prawns and rocket.

A black plate holding fettuccine, prawns and chunks of tomato, with a black fork and spoon to the side.

Wafu pasta: Fettuccine with prawns, tomato and sake-soy butter

An umami-packed combination that just works.

Prawn yiouvetsi

A classic Greek dish of prawn, risoni, oregano and fennel. What’s not to love?

Two colourful bowls filled with paccheri pasta, tomatoes, prawns and herbs

Summer paccheri with prawns, tomato and pickled chilli

Add some cooked crab or lobster meat to this weeknight favourite and transform it into a luxe dinner party entertainer.

Bucatini with prawn fra diavolo

Bucatini with prawn fra diavolo recipe – For fra diavolo sauce, preheat oven to 200°C. Toss ingredients together in a roasting pan and roast until tender and starting to caramelise at the edges (40-45 minutes).

Al Dente’s prawn ravioli

A very luxe pasta indeed.

One Ford Street’s spelt maltagliati with tiger prawns and shellfish sauce

One Ford Street’s spelt maltagliati with tiger prawns and shellfish sauce.

Penne with prawns and fra diavolo sauce

Prawns, pasta and big whack of chilli. Sometimes it pays to play with fire.

Mitch Orr’s squid-ink gnochetti Sardi with prawns and ’nduja

Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for squid-ink gnochetti Sardi with prawns and ’nduja by Mitchell Orr from 121BC, Sydney.

Philipa Sibley’s spaghettini, prawns, charred corn, green chilli, black garlic

Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for spaghettini, prawns, charred corn, green chilli, black garlic.

Prawn and tomato gnocchetti Sardi

Australian Gourmet Traveller pasta recipe for prawn and tomato gnocchetti Sardi.

The Gourmet Traveller Team

Gourmet Traveller is Australia’s trusted authority on food, travel and luxury lifestyle, bringing the latest news and trends to life through quality journalism, enticing recipes and evocative photography. For more than 55 years, it has been inspiring and informing Australians with the best in cooking, dining, travelling and shopping. Our critics bring the expertise of years of critical eating, drinking and writing to the table. Plus, as the country’s leading title in the luxury sector, Gourmet Traveller works closely with Australia’s leaders in the travel and hospitality industries to give our readers exclusive access. The Gourmet Traveller legacy is one of trust, prestige and relevance.

Rebecca Mitchell Contributor

Rebecca Mitchell is an Australian freelance journalist and digital editor. A former Senior Writer at Marie Claire and ELLE, Rebecca brings a wealth of experience in luxury lifestyle and prestige brands to Gourmet Traveller. Her love of travel, fashion, film, and art continues to inspire her work.