Shrimp Scampi
Shrimp Scampi is the perfect quick, low-carb dinner! This delicious keto meal covered in a decadent butter sauce is ready in just 10 minutes and has under 3 carbs per serving for a simple dish you can pair with nearly anything.
Shrimp Scampi
This keto Shrimp Scampi is perfect for a fancy weeknight dinner! This low carb dinner cooks in only 10 minutes, is made in one pan, and tastes absolutely delicious. Tender shrimp is covered in a creamy white wine sauce the whole family will love. It feels indulgent while still being quick and easy enough for a hectic day. You’ll love how versatile it is, and leftovers are perfect for adding to tons of other dishes!
This keto meal is decadently buttery, lemony and has just 2.3 net carbs per serving. This no fuss meal is perfect for busy nights that you want to add a little flair to. This impressive dish is so easy to prepare and it’s even great for keto meal prep. With only ten minutes and simple ingredients, you can have a wonderful meal on the table with almost no cleanup!
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- Quick & Easy – You don’t need any unusual or super expensive ingredients in this speedy 10-minute recipe! Even if you forget to set the shrimp in the fridge to thaw overnight, you can usually have them defrosted in a bowl of cool water in 15-20 minutes, still making it possible to have this on the table in 30 minutes or less.
- Super Versatile – If you’re meal prepping for the week, this is an easy protein to use in a variety of ways. Eat it as your main one night with a side salad, then spoon it atop your favorite pasta (or zoodles) another night. It’s great with so many different side dishes, you could enjoy it several different ways in one week.
- Low-Carb & High-Protein – While the butter sauce tastes rich and indulgent, the macros make this recipe fit well into many different types of diets!
Ingredients
Here’s a quick overview of what you will need for this easy keto dinner. Find exact measurements in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Shrimp – Large, deveined, and shells off. Leaving the tails on or removing them is all a personal preference. Leaving the shells on adds more flavor and moisture to the dish, gives you a little “handle” to hold the shrimp while eating, and generally makes the shrimp look larger and more impressive. If you do not intend to eat the shrimp on its own but instead spoon it over pasta or a side, you may want to take the tails off.
- Extra virgin olive oil and unsalted butter – This mixture gives us the best blend of flavor. Feel free to replace the olive oil with avocado oil or your favorite mild cooking oil. If you are using salted butter instead, do not add any additional salt until you’ve tasted it.
- Garlic – Freshly minced will provide the best flavor, but store-bought jarred garlic will work on a busy day.
- Kosher salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes – This amps up the flavor and complements the taste of the shrimp and the sauce. If you don’t like any heat, feel free to omit the pepper flakes (or increase them if you like it hot!).
- White wine, lemon juice, and heavy cream – These ingredients create a silky, rich sauce that will coat every inch of your juicy shrimp. I recommend a nice, dry wine (like a sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, or crisp, unoaked chardonnay) for the best flavor. If you do not like to cook with alcohol, you can replace with seafood broth or a veggie broth, but you won’t get the same traditional scampi flavor.
How to make Shrimp Scampi
This easy shrimp recipe only requires a large skillet and a spatula or spoon! Just follow this step-by-step guide to make this simple keto dish.
Sauté
First, you’ll heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter. When the butter has melted, sauté your garlic for about 30 seconds or just until fragrant. Add the thawed shrimp in a single layer (it will shrink a lot) and sprinkle with salt, pepper and Italian seasoning.
Make the sauce
Cook the shrimp 1-2 minutes, then turn. Add the wine and allow the liquid to reduce over the next 2-3 minutes. Add more butter, lemon juice, red pepper flakes and heavy cream. Cook an additional minute or so until the liquid thickens and the shrimp has cooked through.
What to serve with Shrimp Scampi
This high-protein dish goes with nearly everything! It’s fantastic as your main course with a simple arugula salad and a couple Keto Cheddar Garlic Biscuits. Serve it on pasta, zoodles or spaghetti squash. for another way to enjoy it. If you like a creamier base, enjoy it with cauliflower risotto or keto grits!
For sides, try Smashed Brussels Sprouts, Air Fryer Asparagus, or Cheddar Roasted Broccoli! For dessert, add some Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars, Keto Chocolate Sugar Cookies, or a No Bake Cheesecake.
Tips for the Best Shrimp
- Be careful to not overcook your shrimp. You want them to just be pink.
- While it’s not traditional, adding heavy cream makes for a creamier, more filling sauce.
- Switch it up by adding roasted garlic instead of raw garlic! Be careful to not let it cook too long before adding the shrimp to avoid it burning.
- For an easy way to make it spicier or add a different flavor, marinate the shrimp in a flavored olive oil (like a red chili, basil, or garlic olive oil) for a few hours before patting dry and cooking according to instructions.
Shrimp Scampi FAQs
Yes! This dish is naturally low carb, keto and gluten free. Enjoy a generous serving of this keto shrimp dinner for only 2.3 net carbs!
Scampi are very small crustaceans that are technically in a different family than shrimp- but Italian cooks in the US replaced the scampi for shrimp in this classic dish, and the name was morphed into ‘Shrimp Scampi’. Shrimp Scampi is defined by the way you cook the shrimp- it’s prepared in a wine sauce and then cooks for a short period of time. This brings out the flavor in the shrimp while complimenting the simple flavors in the sauce.
Keto Shrimp Recipes
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Scampi (keto + low carb)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter, not all used at once
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 pound thawed shrimp, shells removed
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 cup white wine, chicken or vegetable broth will also work
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream*, optional
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter. When the butter has melted completely add the garlic and saute about 30 seconds.
- Add the thawed shrimp in a single layer (it will shrink a lot) and sprinkle with salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. Cook the shrimp 1-2 minutes, then turn. Add the wine and allow the liquid to reduce over the next 2-3 minutes.
- Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, lemon juice, red pepper flakes and heavy cream if using. Cook an additional minute or so until the liquid thickens and the shrimp has cooked through.
