Pesto Cheese Shrimp Bites

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I am all about easy and delicious appetizers. These tasty Pesto Cheese Shrimp Bites are the perfect recipe to serve at your next party.

This is a sponsored post. Opinions are 100% my own.

I am always up for a party? Mainly because I love to either be the hostess with the mostess or bring something to share if we are guests. These Pesto Cheese Shrimp Bites are an easy and elegant appetizer to serve at your next gathering. They are perfect to serve any time of the year. Do you love RITZ Crackers as much as I do? I love these crackers. They are not just for snacking! You can create so many simple garnishes to top them with.

My RITZpiration behind this recipe comes from my beloved herb garden where I make sure I grow plenty of basil. A simple basil pesto gives this appetizer a refreshing spring taste. I would be lost without my herb garden. Herbs add such wonderful flavor to recipes. Planting an herb garden is the first thing I do once the weather warms up. No room for an herb garden? Container gardening is the perfect solution. Try planting your herbs in larger pots and place them on your deck.

To make a simple pesto, add fresh basil leaves, garlic, and pine nuts to a food processor. If you have a nut allergy, leave the nuts out. Slowly drizzle in some olive oil and mix until smooth. This recipe only calls for a few tablespoons. You can store any remaining pesto in a food storage container in the refrigerator. Pesto is perfect to add to pasta for a quick meal.

I mixed a few tablespoons of the pesto with some light cream cheese. Spread some of the pesto cheese on the RITZ Crackers. Top with some sautéed (or grilled) shrimp.

Aren’t these the perfect little bites. Top each shrimp with some chopped basil for some extra flavor. I love to get creative in the kitchen.

5 from 1 vote

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Pesto Cheese Shrimp Bites

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

5 mins

Total Time

20 mins

 

These EASY tasty Pesto Cheese Shrimp Bites are the perfect recipe to serve at your next spring party.

Course: Appetizer

Servings: 24 Appetizers

Author: Melissa Russo

Ingredients

• RITZ Crackers
• 24 medium shrimp cleaned, deveined with tails removed
• 4 ounces light cream cheese
• ½ teaspoon minced garlic
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup fresh basil leaves
• ¼ cup pine nuts
• Olive Oil
• Basil finely chopped for garnish
• ¼ teaspoon Garlic Powder

Instructions

1. Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat.
2. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Season shrimp with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Cook until pink, turning once. Remove from pan and set aside.
3. To make pesto, add basil leaves and pine nuts to a food processor. Turn on and slowly drizzle in olive oil until pesto is smooth.
4. In a medium bowl, add light cream cheese, minced garlic, salt and pepper (to taste) and about 1 heaping tablespoon of the pesto. Beat until smooth.
5. Spread one teaspoon of the pesto cheese filling on top of a RITZ Cracker. Top with a grilled shrimp. Garnish with chopped basil.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.