Keto shrimp scampi over zoodles
August 8, 2026 · 3 min read
Shrimp scampi is a five-minute sauté dressed up as a restaurant plate: shrimp seared in garlic butter, a splash of wine and lemon to deglaze, a shower of parsley. Drop the pasta and lay it over zucchini noodles instead — a spiralizer turns four zucchini into a tangle of noodles in a minute — and the whole thing lands around 5g net carbs a serving while the garlic-butter sauce carries every bit of the flavor.
Two moves keep it from going soupy. Pat the zoodles dry before they hit the pan, and add them at the very end for a quick toss rather than a full cook — they release water fast, and a minute in the sauce is plenty.
Ingredients
- 4 medium zucchini, spiralized into noodles
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 3 tablespoons butter, divided
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Steps
- Spiralize the zucchini, then set the noodles on a clean towel and pat off the surface moisture so they don't water down the sauce later. Pat the shrimp dry and season with the salt and pepper.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the butter and the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add the shrimp in a single layer and cook about 1 to 2 minutes per side, until pink and just opaque. Move them to a plate.
- Lower the heat to medium. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook 30 seconds, then pour in the wine and lemon juice, scraping up the browned bits. Simmer 2 minutes to reduce, then swirl in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter until the sauce turns glossy.
- Add the zucchini noodles and toss 1 to 2 minutes, just until warmed and coated. Return the shrimp, fold in the parsley, and serve right away.
How it comes together
Makes 4 servings — read left to right; each column combines what's behind it.
PrepPat the zucchini noodles dry after spiralizing — surface water is what turns scampi soupy.
| 1 lb · 455 g large shrimppeeled and deveined | Sear the shrimp | Toss the zoodles and finish | |
| 3 tbsp · 42 g butterdivided — 1 to sear, 2 for the sauce | |||
| 2 tbsp · 27 g olive oil | |||
| ½ tsp salt | |||
| ¼ tsp black pepper | |||
| 5 garlic clovesminced | Build the garlic-butter sauce | ||
| ½ tsp red pepper flakes | |||
| ¼ cup · 60 g dry white wineor chicken broth | |||
| 2 tbsp · 30 g fresh lemon juice | |||
| 4 medium zucchinisspiralized | |||
| 3 tbsp fresh parsleychopped |
Scaling adjusts quantities only — cooking times and pan sizes may need judgment. Grams are rounded for the kitchen.
Notes and swaps
No wine? Chicken broth deglazes just as well, with a squeeze more lemon to bring back the brightness. Shirataki noodles or spaghetti squash stand in for zucchini if you'd rather; both stay low-carb, though spaghetti squash runs a touch higher. For more heat, double the red pepper flakes. Larger shrimp look impressive but cook slower, so give them an extra minute a side and watch for the color to turn.
The macros here are an estimate. Tell Copper Keto Companion "shrimp scampi over zoodles" and it works out the net carbs on the portion you actually plate.
FAQ
Is shrimp scampi keto? Classic scampi is served over pasta, which isn't keto. The shrimp, garlic, butter, and lemon sauce are already low-carb, so swapping in zucchini noodles keeps the dish at about 5g net carbs a serving.
How many carbs are in zucchini noodles? A medium zucchini runs about 3g net carbs, mostly from a small amount of natural sugar. Four spiralized zucchini split across four servings adds roughly 3g net carbs per plate.
Can I use frozen shrimp? Yes. Thaw them fully and pat them very dry before searing, or they'll steam instead of browning and dilute the sauce.
Why are my zoodles watery? Zucchini is mostly water, and heat pulls it out. Pat the raw noodles dry, add them at the end, and toss for only a minute or two so they warm without collapsing.
What can I serve alongside? A green salad, roasted asparagus, or garlic-parmesan broccoli all keep the plate low-carb and round out the meal. For more on reading a recipe fast, see read a recipe at a glance, and browse the keto hub for more low-carb dinners.