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This easy Keto Garlic Shrimp Scampi Recipe is perfect if you’re looking for a quick meal. With just a few ingredients and one-pan, you’ll easily be able to make this restaurant-quality dish at home. I include tips for how to make Shrimp Scampi for Keto, Paleo, Low-carb, Atkins, and Whole30. I also give side dish recommendations like keto risotto and spaghetti squash.
Why Make Keto Shrimp Scampi
Shrimp Scampi is one of those dishes that is naturally perfect for keto, low carb, and Whole30. It has just a few simple, all-natural ingredients, healthy fat, and a protein.
However, if you’re keto, Whole30, or low carb, there are some substitutes and things to keep in mind when having this dish. I’m including tips in this recipe that will help you stay on track.
Ingredients Needed
- 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 mild sweet flavor of it over regular onions.
- Garlic: I used minced cloves, which you can do with a knife or garlic press.
- Pinot Grigio: I typically buy the cheapest option to cook with. I do not recommend ”cooking wine” as those don’t taste as good.
- Lemon Juice: You can use the juice of a fresh lemon or the bottled kind.
- 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.
How to Make Shrimp Scampi
- Heat a medium skillet to medium heat. Add olive oil, shallots and 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.
- Add in the shrimp and cook until pink (2-3 minutes). Remove the pan from the heat.
Top Tips & FAQs
What is the best keto-friendly wine for this dish?
As we all know, shrimp scampi includes white wine. Depending on the wine that you choose, this could mean unintentionally loading your dish with carbs.
In this recipe, I’m using Pinot Grigio. Pinot Grigio is a dry white wine and is naturally low in carbs. Each serving (~1/2 cup) adds about 3g net carbs to the dish.
Can I make Keto Shrimp Scampi without wine?
I use wine in this dish and in cooking generally because it adds a great flavor. If you would like to omit the wine from this dish, an easy substitute for the white wine is chicken stock or broth.
Substitutes for Whole30
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.
As mentioned above, you’d simply use an equal amount of chicken stock or broth. Besides the wine, another important thing to be aware of is added sugar that chicken stock or broth.
Use No Sugar Added Chicken Stock
Since Whole30 requires you to omit all forms of added sugar, make sure that sugar is not in your stock or broth ingredients.
Use Ghee instead of Butter
As I mentioned in my easy Whole30 dinner recipes post, one of the common substitutes for butter is ghee. Since this dish uses butter, then you might consider replacing the butter.
How many carbs are in Garlic Shrimp Scampi?
This Keto Shrimp Scampi recipe has 3g net carbs. It also does not have any added sugar or flours to thicken the sauce.
At Red Lobster, this dish has 7g net carbs.
How does this Shrimp Scampi compare to Red Lobster Garlic Shrimp Scampi?
There is really no comparison between homemade dishes and those picked up while out. Besides tasting better, you get to control all of the ingredients and their quality.
This recipe is super flavorful, but also a better version of the Red Lobster Garlic Shrimp Scampi because:
- It tastes AMAZING
- Has 3g fewer carbs per serving
- Has 100 fewer calories per serving
Wine, butter, olive oil, garlic, parsley and spices.
Recipes to Enjoy This With
The Ultimate 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.
Cauliflower Rice Risotto or Vegetable Noodles
I made this dish during Valentine’s Day and served it with Keto Risotto.
You could also double the sauce and have this with vegetable noodles. As examples, you could pair this with air fryer spaghetti squash or make zucchini noodles.
Keto Garlic Bread
The Shrimp Scampi sauce would also taste perfect with my recipe for Parmesan Bread Bites. You might also try these almond flour biscuits.
Dessert
If you want an easy keto dessert to pair with this, I’d highly recommend Easy Keto Cheesecake Brownies or my Low Carb Carrot Cake.
More Keto Shrimp Recipes
If you try this recipe, please stop back and leave it a star rating and/or a review in the comments. Stay connected & share photos of your creations with me & others on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!
Easy Keto Garlic Shrimp Scampi
Use DRDAVINAHS at checkout to save on some equipment & ingredients!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp Olive Oil
- 4 tbsp Butter, or unsalted butter
- 1 large Shallot, sliced thinly
- 5 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup Pinot Grigio, or No Sugar Added Chicken Broth
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
- 1/2 tsp Natural Ancient Sea Salt
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
- 1/4 tsp Red Pepper Flakes, or more to taste
- 1 lb Shrimp, I used 16/20
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Heat a skillet to medium heat.
- Add olive oil, butter, shallots, and garlic to the pan and cook until translucent (~3 minutes)
- Add Pinot Grigio, lemon juice, and seasonings to the pan and stir. Allow it to reduce by about half (~5 minutes).
- Add in the shrimp and parsley. Cook until the shrimp turns pink (~3 minutes). Remove the pan from the heat.
Nutrition Details
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. This is provided as a courtesy, but you can do your own calculations if you wish!
