This Keto Shrimp Scampi makes the perfect quick and delicious low carb dinner recipe! With tender, buttery shrimp swimming in a flavorful garlic and parsley sauce, served over delicate ribbons of spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles, this dish is a healthy meal the entire family will love!
Introduction
Shrimp scampi was a go-to recipe for weeknights or gatherings in my pre-keto life. This keto shrimp scampi recipe makes all the adjustments so you don’t have to figure it out! Now, this updated version offers a delightful, low-carb alternative that doesn't compromise on taste or satisfaction. Whether you're following a ketogenic diet or simply looking for a lighter, healthier meal, this shrimp scampi recipe is a winner.
Why This Recipe Works
There is so much winning in this keto shrimp scampi scenario - seriously delicious, super easy, and incredibly healthy. This easy keto shrimp scampi recipe requires just one large skillet and you mostly just dump the ingredients in. No advanced cooking skills are required. Using zoodles, rather than pasta, this rich and delicious dish can be made in around 30 minutes. The recipe requires just a few simple ingredients and one-pan, you’ll easily be able to make this restaurant-quality dish at home.
- Quick and Easy: This dish comes together in minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
- Low-Carb and Keto-Friendly: By swapping traditional pasta for spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles (zoodles), this recipe fits seamlessly into a ketogenic or low-carb lifestyle.
- Healthy and Delicious: Packed with protein and healthy fats, this shrimp scampi is both nutritious and incredibly flavorful.
- Versatile: Easily adaptable to suit your preferences and dietary needs.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to create this delectable keto shrimp scampi:
- Shrimp: I used 16/20 or 13/15 size shrimp. They were peeled and deveined and have the tail-on, but keeping the tail-on is optional.
- Olive Oil
- Butter: I’m using salted butter, but you could use unsalted butter if you prefer
- Shallot: I sliced this thinly and prefer the mildly sweet flavor of it over regular onions.
- Garlic: I used minced garlic cloves, which you can do with a knife or garlic press.
- Pinot Grigio: I typically buy the cheapest option to cook with. That said, if you don’t have Pinot Grigio, use Sauvignon blanc or whatever dry white wine you may have.
- Lemon Juice: I prefer fresh lemon juice, but the bottled kind also works.
- Natural Ancient Sea Salt
- Black Pepper
- Red Pepper Flakes: this adds a small amount of spice. You can feel free to omit this if you wish.
- Parsley: I used finely chopped fresh parsley. You can use dried parsley if you’re in a pinch, but the flavor is not as bold as fresh for this dish.
- Spaghetti Squash or Zucchini Noodles (Zoodles): The base of the dish, providing a low-carb alternative to traditional pasta.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps to create your own keto shrimp scampi:
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1. Prepare the Base (Zoodles or Spaghetti Squash):
- For Zoodles: Peel and devein your shrimp. You can spiralize the zucchini using a manual spiralizer, or if you want to get fancy, there are also electric spiralizers. Use fresh, spiralized zucchini for the best taste and texture. Season the zoodles with salt and pepper.
- For Spaghetti Squash: If using spaghetti squash, roast or microwave until tender. Once cooked, shred the squash with a fork to create spaghetti-like strands.
2. Make the Shrimp Scampi Sauce:
- Heat a large skillet to medium heat.
- Add olive oil, shallots, and fresh garlic to a pan and cook until translucent.
- Add Pinot Grigio, salted butter, and lemon juice to the pan and allow to reduce by half.
- Mix in parsley, red pepper flakes, sea salt, and black pepper and stir. This will become a delicious garlic butter sauce.
3. Cook the Shrimp:
- Add in the raw shrimp and cook until pink (about 2-3 minutes or 1-2 minutes per side). Remove the pan from the heat. Adjust the cooking time depending on your shrimp: I use jumbo shrimp, but if you use large shrimp or another smaller shrimp, or pre-cooked shrimp, they will need to cook less. Watch for the shrimp to become opaque with an “open C” shape. For pre-cooked shrimp, you just want to heat it through.
4. Combine and Serve:
- For Zoodles: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add the seasoned zoodles.
- Add the shrimp and sauce to the zoodles or spaghetti squash.
- Toss to combine, ensuring the noodles are coated in the flavorful sauce.
- Serve immediately, garnished with extra parsley if desired.
Tips and Variations
- Wine Selection: Use a wine that you could drink: I do not recommend ”cooking wine” as those don’t taste as good. As we all know, shrimp scampi includes white wine. In this recipe, I’m using Pinot Grigio. Pinot Grigio is a dry white wine and is naturally low in carbs. I use wine in this dish and in cooking generally because it adds a great flavor. A crisp, white wine such as Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc works great in this recipe.
- Alcohol-Free Option: Add Chicken Broth instead of Wine: If you are on Whole30, then you should be sure to omit the white wine because one of the rules of Whole30 is no alcohol. Use an equal amount of chicken stock or broth. Use No Sugar Added Chicken Stock
- Dairy-Free Option: Use Ghee instead of Butter: As I mentioned in my easy Whole30 dinner recipes post, one of the common substitutes for butter is ghee.
- Spice It Up: For an extra kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce to the sauce.
- Add Vegetables: Sauté other low-carb vegetables like spinach, mushrooms, or bell peppers along with the shallots and garlic for added nutrients and flavor.
- Cheese: While not strictly traditional, a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese can add a delicious, savory element to the dish.
Serving Suggestions
This Keto Shrimp Scampi is a Low-Carb Meal Starter: pair this easy main dish with your favorite low-carb side dishes like spaghetti squash noodles for a garlicky and buttery shrimp meal.
- Surf & Turf: Believe it or not, Shrimp Scampi pairs well with steak. In fact, the sauce can be used in place of compound butter. I enjoy this dish with steak to make the ultimate surf & turf.
- Double the Sauce: You could also double the shrimp scampi sauce and have this with vegetable noodles.
- Family-Friendly: Or, if your non-keto family just has to has their pasta - no problem, just make the keto shrimp scampi as is, then serve yours over a keto friendly veggie noodle and theirs on the traditional kind. We’re 100% about solutions and preventing family mutiny over here.
Nutritional Information
This Keto Shrimp Scampi recipe has 3 g net carbs. The nutrition facts come from entering the recipe ingredients into Spoonacular API, a database of food ingredients. They may vary for any recipe based on the exact product used. The keto sweeteners I use have 0g net carbs & are not included because sugar alcohols do not impact most people.
Other Keto Shrimp Recipes
- Keto Shrimp Cakes are seasoned with fresh garlic and lemon. Every crunchy bite is zesty and delicious!
- Keto Cajun Shrimp and Grits is a low carb recipe based off of the original southern comfort food classic. Spicy shrimp and bacon sit on top of buttery, cheesy cauliflower grits.
- Keto Jambalaya is made with a delicious a combination of Andouille sausage, chicken, shrimp and vegetables in a flavorful, creamy, spicy sauce.
Storing Leftovers
Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.
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