Delicious and Easy Keto Shrimp Pasta Recipes

Enjoying pasta on a ketogenic diet might seem impossible, but with a few clever substitutions, you can indulge in creamy, flavorful shrimp pasta without the carb overload. This article explores several keto-friendly shrimp pasta recipes, offering options from creamy Alfredo to spicy tomato-based sauces, all while keeping the carb count low.

Keto Creamy Tuscan Shrimp Pasta

This recipe offers a delightful low-carb, dairy-free creamy pasta featuring shrimp, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach. Ready in just 15 minutes, it's a satisfying and quick meal solution. The best part? It all cooks in one skillet, minimizing cleanup.

Ingredients:

• Shrimp (Trader Joe's Argentinian Red Shrimp recommended)
• Sun-dried tomatoes
• Canned coconut cream (or heavy cream for a dairy option)
• Hearts of palm linguine (or zucchini noodles, cauliflower rice)
• Spinach
• Kosher salt

Instructions:

1. Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes.
2. Thaw frozen shrimp in cool water, press out moisture, and season with kosher salt.
3. Add sun-dried tomatoes (with oil) and coconut cream to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes until the sauce reduces and thickens.
4. Add shrimp to the sauce and cook for 2 minutes on each side.
5. Add hearts of palm linguine (squeeze out extra moisture beforehand) and toss to coat.
6. Add spinach and toss until just wilted. Season with kosher salt to taste.
7. Transfer to a plate and serve warm.

Recipe Notes:

• Shrimp: Trader Joe's Argentinian Red Shrimp is a favorite due to its quality and convenience.
• Coconut Cream: Canned coconut cream provides the thickest sauce with minimal coconut taste. Heavy cream can be substituted for a dairy option.
• Hearts of Palm Linguine: This is a preferred keto-friendly pasta alternative that doesn't become watery. Zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice can also be used.

Keto Shrimp Alfredo

This low-carb and Keto Shrimp Alfredo Recipe is a fast 10 minute meal that’s a healthy dinner option. This recipe uses fresh asparagus and a homemade Alfredo sauce for a delicious meal the whole family will enjoy with only 1 gram of carb per serving.

Ingredients:

• Butter
• Shrimp (wild-caught recommended)
• Asparagus
• Cream
• Parmesan Cheese
• Parsley (optional garnish)

Instructions:

(Instructions were not provided in the original text, but follow common sense).

1. Melt butter in a skillet.
2. Add asparagus and cook until tender-crisp.
3. Add shrimp and cook until pink and opaque.
4. Pour in cream and add Parmesan cheese. Stir until the sauce thickens.
5. Garnish with parsley and parmesan cheese.

Side Dish Suggestions:

• Keto Pasta (spaghetti squash, zucchini noodles, or Zero Carb Pasta)
• Cauliflower rice
• Sautéed Vegetables (broccoli, bell peppers, onions)
• Steak

Keto Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles

This fresh and simple keto shrimp scampi with zucchini noodles is a twist on a seafood classic. The rich and creamy butter sauce, combined with lemon, garlic, and white wine, elevates the dish to a next-level meal.

Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers

Ingredients:

• Avocado Oil
• Unsalted Butter
• Raw Shrimp
• White Wine (Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio recommended)
• Garlic
• Lemon Zest
• Zucchini Squash (spiralized)
• Fresh Parsley
• Onion powder
• Sea salt
• Black pepper

Instructions:

1. Heat avocado oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add the shrimp and cook for 2 minutes on one side, then flip and cook for another minute.
3. Add white wine, garlic, lemon zest, onion powder, sea salt and black pepper. Stir and allow mixture to come to a full boil. Continue cooking until sauce has thickened and reduced by a third of its original volume, about 5 minutes.
4. Add the zucchini noodles to the skillet and stir them into the sauce.
5. Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley, and a sprinkle of fresh grated parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes, and enjoy!

Tips and Substitutions:

• Use ghee instead of butter.
• Replace butter with more avocado oil for a dairy-free option.
• Substitute white wine with 1 cup of chicken broth mixed with one tablespoon of fresh lemon juice.

Spicy Shrimp "Pasta" with Zucchini Noodles (Whole30 Compliant)

For those seeking a Whole30-compliant option, this spicy shrimp "pasta" uses zucchini noodles tossed in a zesty tomato garlic sauce. It’s a quick and healthy way to enjoy low-carb pasta.

Ingredients:

• Large shrimp (21-25 per pound)
• Zucchini
• Red pepper flakes
• Marinara sauce (Rao’s Marinara recommended for Whole30)
• Capers
• Fresh Italian parsley
• Olive oil
• Onion
• Garlic

Instructions:

1. Toss the shrimp with salt and pepper in a large bowl and set aside.
2. Spiralize the zucchini into noodles.
3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced onion and sauté for 3 to 5 minutes until softened.
4. Add garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds until fragrant.
5. Stir in the marinara sauce and capers and bring everything to a simmer.
6. Add the seasoned shrimp to the sauce in a single layer. Cook for about 2 minutes and then flip the shrimp over. Continue simmering the shrimp in the sauce for another 2 to 3 minutes or until the shrimp is fully cooked.
7. Transfer the cooked shrimp to a clean platter. Add the zucchini noodles to the sauce in the pan. Toss and stir until the zucchini noodles are softened and warmed through.
8. Divide the sauced zucchini onto four plates. Garnish with fresh Italian parsley.

Notes:

• Shrimp doesn’t reheat well, so it’s best to cook this dish right before eating.
• Frozen shrimp is a convenient option for quick dinners.

Keto Shrimp Alfredo with Zoodles

This recipe uses zucchini noodles (zoodles) to replace traditional pasta, making it a delicious and low-carb alternative.

Ingredients:

• Zucchini
• Butter
• Shrimp
• Black pepper powder
• Italian seasoning
• Garlic
• Parsley
• Heavy whipping cream
• Parmesan cheese

Instructions:

1. Spiralize the zucchini into noodles.
2. Dry roast the zoodles in a heated pan with salt to draw out excess water, then set aside.
3. Cook shrimp in butter with black pepper powder and Italian seasoning, then set aside.
4. Melt butter in the same pan, add garlic and parsley, then stir in heavy whipping cream, black pepper powder, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan cheese.
5. Add the shrimp and zoodles to the Alfredo sauce, mix well, and enjoy.

Cajun Shrimp Alfredo with Palmini Noodles

This recipe combines a creamy Alfredo sauce with a Cajun twist, using Palmini noodles as a low-carb pasta alternative.

Ingredients:

• Shrimp
• Olive oil
• Butter
• Cajun seasoning
• Parmesan cheese
• Palmini noodles
• Garlic

Instructions:

1. Season shrimp with salt and pepper.
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp and cook for 1 to 2 minutes per side, or until they turn pink. Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside.
3. Heat the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Whisk in the Cajun seasoning and parmesan cheese.
4. Drop the Palmini noodles into the boiling water and continue to boil for 2 or 3 minutes to get the noodles hot.
5. Add Palmini noodles and shrimp to the sauce, toss to combine.

Notes:

• Other protein options include seared scallops.

Creamy Low Carb Shrimp Pasta with Heart of Palm Noodles

This dairy-free main dish features tender shrimp coated in a light and zesty sauce and then tossed with a healthy pasta alternative that is made from the heart of palm.

Ingredients:

• Raw Shrimp, peeled & tails off
• Veggie or Seafood Broth
• Unsweetened Almond Milk
• Nutritional Yeast
• Onion
• Minced Garlic
• Seasonings like: Salt, Italian Seasoning, and Black Pepper
• Palmini Angel Hair noodles

Instructions:

1. Boil the pasta for 15 minutes and drain well. Set aside.
2. Spray a large skillet with cooking spray and add the chopped onions and minced garlic. Sauté the onions on low heat until slightly tender.
3. Add in the veggie or seafood broth, almond milk, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and Italian Seasoning, and simmer on low for 5 minutes.
4. Whisk in the Nutritional Yeast and the low carb thicker of your choice. Whisk well and taste for seasonings. Add more if needed.
5. Add in the Palmini Angel Hair Pasta and combine well.

Heart of Palm Noodles

Palmini noodles are made from 100% Hearts of Palm, a white vegetable obtained from the center of specific varieties of palm trees. These noodles have a very mild to neutral flavor so it works well in recipes where the sauce can be the star

Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide

Alternatives to Heart of Palm Noodles:

• Spaghetti Squash
• Zucchini Noodles
• Other Vegetable Noodles

Easy Keto Shrimp Alfredo

This Keto Shrimp Alfredo is an easy low-carb dinner perfect for a weeknight! This recipe uses cooked, thawed shrimp, so really all you’re having to cook up is a delicious 5-ingredient Alfredo sauce.

Ingredients:

• Cooked, thawed shrimp
• Butter
• Heavy cream
• Parmesan cheese
• Italian seasoning
• Garlic

Instructions:

1. Heat a large, deep skillet over medium heat, then add butter and melt.
2. Reduce heat to medium low and pour in the heavy cream. Then add parmesan and Italian seasoning while you continue stirring.
3. Add salt and pepper to taste and stir until the sauce becomes thick and creamy.
4. Add cooked shrimp and cook 3-4 more minutes.

Serving Suggestions:

• Roasted Broccoli
• Cacio e pepe Zoodles

Choosing Your Keto Pasta

When following a keto diet, traditional pasta is off-limits due to its high carbohydrate content. Fortunately, several alternatives allow you to enjoy pasta-like dishes without derailing your ketogenic goals. Here are some popular options:

• Zucchini Noodles (Zoodles): Made by spiralizing zucchini, these are a readily available and versatile option.
• Spaghetti Squash: When cooked, the flesh of spaghetti squash separates into strands resembling spaghetti.
• Cauliflower Rice: While not technically a noodle, cauliflower rice can serve as a base for pasta sauces.
• Heart of Palm Noodles: Made from the inner core of palm trees, these noodles have a mild flavor and a slightly crunchy texture.
• Other Vegetable Noodles (Voodles): A variety of vegetables can be spiralized into noodles, including summer squash, cucumber, broccoli stems, and more.

Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto

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