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You are here: Home » Recipes » Entrees

15 Minute Healthy Shrimp Scampi Recipe

Updated: Nov 20, 2024 · Published: Sep 3, 2010 by Lacey Baier · This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission. · 13 Comments

Jump To Recipe!

This easy, flavorful, and healthy Shrimp Scampi recipe comes together in just 15 minutes!  Enjoy it with low-carb zucchini noodles for the easiest and most delicious healthy shrimp dinner ever!

15-Minute Healthy Shrimp Scampi | This easy, flavorful, and healthy Shrimp Scampi recipe comes together in just 15 minutes! | A Sweet Pea Chef this RECIPE

I am definitely a girl who likes her lemons. Whether it's in my lemonade, squeezed over some halibut picatta with asparagus, in a honey lemon salad dressing or even in my glass of ice water, I will love it.

Dustin, however, isn’t usually a big fan of lemon (despite what he’d probably tell you).  He likes lemon to play a minor role in a dish, as opposed to having a dish bursting with tart lemony goodness.  Therefore, I usually wind up not making many dishes that involve lemon at our house.  However, the urge has just been too strong lately.  The floodgates have opened.

Fortunately, I have a go-to 15-minute healthy shrimp scampi recipe that never disappoints.  Each time I make it, I’m shocked at how quickly it actually comes together.

Great for a weeknight dinner or even an amazing lunch, this healthy shrimp scampi recipe is perfect whenever you need to prep a fast meal for you and your family.

The best thing about this healthy shrimp scampi, besides the fact that’s a very easy to make clean dish, is that I get to enjoy the lemony flavor I love so much.

Spiralizer spiralizing fresh zucchini in order to make zucchini noodles for the healthy shrimp scampi recipe.
Bowl of spiralized zucchini noodles, ready to be added to the skillet and cooked in order to make the healthy shrimp scampi recipe.

Is Shrimp Scampi Healthy?

The majority of shrimp scampi out there is, unfortunately, not a very healthy meal.  The shrimp is sautéed in quite a lot of butter and salt, and then it's accompanied by a lot of refined pasta. So the short answer to “is shrimp scampi healthy?” is, "Not usually." 

But that doesn't mean we can't enjoy a healthy, lightened-up version of shrimp scampi.  There are two major ways we transform your typical shrimp scampi into this healthy shrimp scampi recipe, which include:

  • Replace the high amounts of butter with olive oil (and use less of it!)
  • Replace the pasta with lower carb, higher fiber zucchini noodles
Large skillet with cooked zucchini noodles and shrimp scampi with a hand using a pair of tongs to grab some of the noodles and shrimp to serve.

How To Make Zucchini Noodles (With or Without a Spiralizer)

For the longest time, I didn't own a spiralizer.  After deciding to buy one, I must say they are pretty awesome and definitely make the best, most consistent, and uniform zucchini noodles out of all the options.  I own this one and use it often.  There are several ways to make zucchini noodles.

That being said, there are other ways to make zucchini noodles without a spiralizer.

You can...

  • use a vegetable peeler and create long fettuccine-like noodles
  • use a paring knife to cut the noodles into more rustic, thicker noodles
  • use a kitchen grater to create short, rice-like zucchini noodles by shredding the zucchini lengthwise

Can It Be Prepped Ahead?

While this healthy shrimp scampi recipe takes only 15 minutes from start to finish, it can also be made ahead of time, which is awesome.

We have had it as part of our meal prep during the week by storing them in these meal prep containers.  If you know you’re going to be reheating this shrimp scampi later, try to not cook the zucchini noodles that much because they’ll for sure cook and get tender when reheated.

Close up image of the shrimp scampi, with cooked shrimp, which has been seasoned with sea salt, garlic, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Also cooked are the freshly spiralized zucchini noodles.

How To Make Shrimp Scampi Without Wine

Traditionally, shrimp scampi is made with wine. However, you can make shrimp scampi without wine very easily if you want.

Here’s how to make shrimp scampi without wine:

  • Substitute low-sodium chicken broth for wine like I did. This will add extra flavor to the dish and deglaze the pan.
  • Use water instead of wine or chicken broth, but keep in mind the dish will lack in flavor so maybe add another pinch of sea salt.
  • Use shrimp stock. To make shrimp stock, all you have to do is simmer shrimp shells in water. Drain and discard the shells and voila, another flavorful way to make shrimp scampi without wine.

What to Serve With Shrimp Scampi

If you're wondering what sides to serve shrimp scampi with, I have some tasty ideas for you.  In restaurants, shrimp scampi often comes alongside a bunch of pasta.  Pasta, sadly, isn't the best option if you're looking to eat healthier, since it often contains high amounts of empty carbs and not a lot of protein, fiber, or nutrients.  Fortunately, there are many options that are super tasty that we can still enjoy as a side to shrimp scampi.

Side view of the 15 minute healthy shrimp scampi which has been garnished with fresh parsley and is ready to eat.

Reheating Instructions

One easy way to reheat shrimp scampi is to pop the entire meal right into the microwave and reheat them for a couple minutes until heated through. 

You can also toss together in a hot skillet until heated through.  The idea is to heat everything through as quickly as possible without overcooking the shrimp and making the zucchini noodles too mushy.

3 HEALTHY SHRIMP DISHES

I have 3 healthy shrimp recipes I think you’ll like just as much as you like this healthy shrimp scampi recipe.

An overhead image of a serving of Creamy Garlic Tuscan Shrimp made with shrimp, garlic, yellow onion, low sodium chicken broth, sun dried tomato strips, unsweetened almond milk, baby spinach, parmesan, arrowroot starch and parsley served with sweet potato noodles.

CREAMY GARLIC TUSCAN SHRIMP

It only takes 30 minutes to make delicious Creamy Garlic Tuscan Shrimp for dinner and I can guarantee the sweet potato noodles will make you forget about pasta sides for a while.

Spicy Shrimp Tacos | Clean, delicious, and so amazingly amazing :) | A Sweet Pea Chef

SPICY SHRIMP TACOS

Every now and then I like to spice up my meals. By that I mean I like to indulge in spicy food that is healthy and incredibly delicious. Just like these Spicy Shrimp Tacos are.

The spicy shrimp are topped with fresh pico de gallo and a creamy avocado cilantro lime sauce and wrapped in homemade tortillas. For your information, these shrimp tacos don’t make a great lunch or dinner. They make a perfect lunch or dinner.

CRISPY BACON-WRAPPED SHRIMP JALAPENO POPPERS

I’m tellin’ ya – try this Crispy Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp Jalapeno Poppers recipe with the creamy cilantro lime dipping sauce and watch them disappear as fast as you made them.

Crispy Shrimp Jalapeno Poppers Recipe | A delicious and dairy-free jalapeno poppers recipe

They are the perfect high-protein appetizer, and have the perfect delicious combination of crispy, crunchy, chewy, salty, and limey goodness flavors. 

Healthy Shrimp Scampi Recipe | This easy, flavorful, and healthy Shrimp Scampi recipe comes together in just 15 minutes! This Healthy Shrimp Scampi recipe with zucchini noodles is the easiest and most delicious healthy shrimp dinner you’ll ever try! | A Sweet Pea Chef

15-Minute Healthy Shrimp Scampi

Lacey Baier
This easy, flavorful, and healthy Shrimp Scampi recipe comes together in just 15 minutes! This Healthy Shrimp Scampi recipe with zucchini noodles is the easiest and most delicious healthy shrimp dinner you’ll ever try!
4.43 from 7 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 15 minutes mins
Course 30 Minute Meal, Clean Eating. Gluten-Free, Easy Weeknight Dinner, Paleo, pasta, Seafood
Cuisine Easy
Servings 4
Calories 183 kcal

*This post may contain affiliate links for products I use often and highly recommend.

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 lb. large shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1 tsp. sea salt
  • ½ tsp. black pepper
  • ¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • ½ lemon, zested
  • ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 lb. zucchini noodles,* spiralized (approx. 2 large zucchinis)
  • ¼ cup Italian parsley, chopped
  • 2 tbsp. freshly grated parmesan

Instructions
 

  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat.
  • Add the shrimp, sea salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes, and sauté for 4-6 minutes, until the shrimp begin to brown and are no longer translucent.
  • Add the garlic to the pan and cook for one minute, stirring frequently.
  • Add the chicken broth, lemon zest, lemon juice, and zucchini noodles.
  • Bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute, just until the shrimp are completely opaque and cooked through and the noodles are softened, coated with the garlic-lemon sauce, and warmed through.
  • Sprinkle with parmesan and parsley and serve.

Video

Notes

* I use a spiralizer to make my zucchini noodles but there are other ways to make zucchini noodles without a spiralizer, including the following:
  • use a vegetable peeler and create long fettuccine-like noodles
  • use a paring knife to cut the noodles into more rustic, thicker noodles
  • use a kitchen grater to create short, rice-like zucchini noodles by shredding the zucchini lengthwise

Nutrition

Serving: 1 entreeCalories: 183 kcalCarbohydrates: 8 gProtein: 25 gFat: 6 gSaturated Fat: 1 gCholesterol: 286 mgSodium: 903 mgPotassium: 467 mgFiber: 2 gSugar: 4 gVitamin A: 634 IUVitamin C: 44 mgCalcium: 199 mgIron: 3 mg
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Tag @asweetpeachef on Instagram so we can check it out.

This post contains affiliate links for products I use regularly and highly recommend.

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    4.43 from 7 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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  1. Gina Pareti

    January 07, 2021 at 8:34 pm

    I am really interested in this recipe but why is there so much sodium in this recipe? Im looking for a recipe low in sodium but when i saw the nutritional facts it says 2746mg.

    Reply
    • Lacey Baier

      January 08, 2021 at 9:41 am

      Good catch! There was an error in the calculation, which has been fixed. You can always remove or limit the salt added to the recipe further to reduce in recipes, too 🙂

      Reply
      • Peggy

        September 22, 2024 at 6:53 pm

        Made this tonight and it was perfect. I added my zoodles with the garlic and tossed. Then proceeded with liquid. I also cheated with a handful of whole wheat pasta. This will replace my old recipe with butter. Thank you

  2. Jeremy J Marenger

    January 16, 2020 at 6:28 pm

    3 stars
    I don't know but it came out terrible for me. The zuchinnis I had were pure mush and water. And all I could taste was lemon.

    Reply
    • Lacey Baier

      January 08, 2021 at 9:40 am

      You likely overcooked the zucchini - it cooks very, very fast as noodles and doesn't require much time at all.

      Reply
  3. healthy shrimp recipes

    November 24, 2018 at 11:49 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe was delish testy and juicy i am loving it thanks for sharing

    Reply
  4. Cat

    October 03, 2018 at 7:08 pm

    5 stars
    This was so tasty, especially for how simple the ingredients are and how quick it took to make. Such a good go-to recipe to make when you're busy but want something very flavorful, fresh and healthy.

    It seemed like quite a lot to me the amount of zucchini and shrimp so I made less, but it does cook down smaller so I would go with the recommended amount next time.

    Definitely will be making this more!

    Reply
  5. Dustin

    May 03, 2017 at 10:20 pm

    5 stars
    Shrimp scampi sounds super good.

    Reply
    • Lacey Baier

      September 28, 2017 at 9:59 pm

      Right? So delicious and in just 15 minutes!!!

      Reply
  6. Lisa Y

    May 02, 2011 at 7:54 am

    What constitutes "good" olive oil?

    Reply
    • Lacey Baier

      May 02, 2011 at 9:56 am

      Very good question, Lisa! I recommend checking out this article for further information on that issue. If you have a chance to visit a store to do some olive oil tasting (like I talked about in this post) to pick out your own oils and to get more educated about olive oil, I highly recommend it. Let me know if you have any further questions. 🙂

      Reply
  7. Marisol Rohrbach

    September 03, 2010 at 3:04 pm

    Very nice. I'm going to give it a try. Wish me luck!

    Reply
    • Lacey Baier

      September 03, 2010 at 3:17 pm

      Good luck, Marisol! I bet it'll turn out great!

      Reply

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15-Minute Healthy Shrimp Scampi | This easy, flavorful, and healthy Shrimp Scampi recipe comes together in just 15 minutes! | A Sweet Pea Chef
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