Pasta may be off the table if you’re cutting carbs, but there are plenty of low carb pasta alternatives! Low carb keto shrimp scampi with zucchini noodles is the perfect example. It’s quick and easy with common ingredients, ready in just 25 minutes, and packed with flavor. With fresh garlic, butter, lemon juice, and parsley, it’s not just the most delicious way to make shrimp scampi keto… in my book, it’s the most delicious version of this dish, period. The added veggies and low carbs in zucchini shrimp scampi are just added bonuses.
What Is Shrimp Scampi?
Shrimp scampi is an Italian-American pasta dish with shrimp, cooked in a garlic butter sauce. Sometimes, the scampi sauce also includes white wine, but I opted for broth instead. I think it turns out a lot more flavorful.
Why Is It Called Shrimp Scampi?
Scampi are actually tiny crustaceans similar to lobster. Italians used to saute them in olive oil, garlic, and white wine. Later, Italian cooks in the United States replaced the scampi with shrimp, but kept both names, and added pasta somewhere along the way. So, shrimp scampi, as it’s commonly known today, was born. [*]
Is Shrimp Scampi Keto Friendly?
With it’s wheat noodles, traditional American shrimp scampi is a pasta dish and is not keto friendly. However, this shrimp scampi with zucchini noodles is definitely keto friendly! With just 5 grams net carbs per serving, it makes a great keto dinner or lunch.
How To Make Keto Shrimp Scampi
This healthy shrimp scampi with zucchini noodles is ready in less than 30 minutes! It may be simple, but it’s just as tasty (and way more wholesome!) than the carb-filled version. Here’s how to make shrimp scampi keto friendly with zoodles:
Salt zucchini noodles. This step is vital to ensure that you don’t end up with soggy zucchini noodles!
Saute shrimp. Heat oil in a large pan and saute shrimp without moving, until the edges start to turn opaque and bottom starts to brown. Flip and saute until cooked through. Set aside and cover to keep warm. Save pan!
Saute aromatics. Add another tablespoon of oil to the same pan and add garlic and shallots. Saute until browned.
Make low carb shrimp scampi sauce. Add broth and scrape the bottom to deglaze. Simmer until volume has reduced by half. Stir in butter and lemon juice. Bring to a simmer, season with salt and pepper and stir in fresh parsley.
Cook zucchini noodles. Squeeze the zoodles gently to release any additional water and add noodles to pan, cooking just until hot.
TIP: Don’t try to squeeze the noodles too hard, or they’ll get mushy.
Finish best low carb shrimp scampi. Stir shrimp back into pan, toss with zoodles, and serve.
Can You Make Shrimp Scampi With Zucchini Noodles Ahead?
If you want to prep zucchini noodles ahead, check out this guide to zoodles for all the details. The best way to prep things ahead for zucchini shrimp scampi is to spiralize the noodles, but wait to cook them until right before serving. The noodles can get soggy or watery as they sit, so best to cook them and eat immediately.
How To Store Low Carb Shrimp Scampi
Store any leftover low carb shrimp scampi in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. Reheat just until hot in a hot skillet.
More Zucchini Noodle Recipes
If you like this keto shrimp scampi recipe, you might also like some of these other zucchini noodle recipes:
How To Make Zucchini Noodles – This is the ultimate guide guide to zoodles! Everything you need to know to prep, make, and serve zucchini noodles. Zucchini Noodle Salad – This easy salad has bright and savory flavors – it’s like a pasta salad without the carbs! Zucchini Alfredo – Yes, even zoodles can be turned into alfredo and it’s delicious! Cheesy Zucchini Casserole – Ok, technically not zoodles, but such a great way to eat zucchini. It’s rich and cheesy and hard to stop eating.
Spiralizer – The fastest way to make a pile of zoodles for low carb shrimp scampi. Can also use it for just about any veggie noodles. Hand Spiralizer – Also a great options to make shrimp scampi zucchini noodles with a smaller footprint. Not quite as fast, but works well! Hard Anodized Skillet – This is set is great quality, for even heat distribution and great browning. The sizes are the ones I use most in the kitchen.
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