Keto Orange Peel Shrimp

Name: Keto Orange Peel Shrimp
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 cups Chicken Broth; 2 tsp Orange Extract; 4 cloves Garlic; 1 tbsp Unseasoned Rice Vinegar (Unseasoned); 1 tbsp Soy Sauce (or Coconut Aminos. You can add up to 1 more additional tbsp of soy sauce or coconut aminos at the end if you wish. ); ⅓ cup Keto Brown Sugar Replacement; 1 tbsp Pure Sesame Oil (optional); 1 tsp Ground Ginger; ¼ tsp Xanthan Gum; 1 lb Shrimp

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This keto orange peel shrimp is inspired by the sweet and savory orange shrimp you might order at P.F. Chang’s. Tender shrimp are coated in a glossy orange sauce with garlic, ginger, sesame, and just enough sweetness, while orange extract and a brown sugar substitute keep the recipe low carb.

keto orange shrimp in a bowl with cauliflower rice

Serve it with Keto Fried Rice and Air Fryer Green Beans for an easy takeout-style meal. If you like sweet and tangy shrimp dinners, try my Keto Sweet and Sour Shrimp next.

Why Make This Recipe

Sweet and savory: The orange, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and sesame give the sauce plenty of flavor.
Keto-friendly orange sauce: Orange extract adds concentrated citrus flavor without using orange juice.
Quick-cooking shrimp: Once the sauce is ready, the shrimp only need a few minutes to cook.
Easy to customize: Add red pepper flakes if you want a little heat.

Ingredients Needed

Shrimp: Use raw, peeled and deveined shrimp. Thaw frozen shrimp before adding them to the sauce.
Chicken broth: Forms the base of the orange sauce.
Orange extract: Gives the sauce concentrated orange flavor without adding orange juice.
Garlic: Fresh garlic adds savory flavor to the sauce.
Unseasoned rice vinegar: Adds acidity to balance the sweetness.
Soy sauce: Adds saltiness and umami. Coconut aminos also work.
Brown sugar substitute: Sweetens the sauce while keeping the recipe low carb.
Sesame oil: Adds a toasted sesame flavor that works well with the orange sauce.
Ground ginger: Complements the orange and garlic.
Xanthan gum: Thickens the sauce so it coats the shrimp.
Red pepper flakes: Optional for a sweet and spicy finish.

How to Make Keto Orange Peel Shrimp

Make the orange sauce

Add the chicken broth, orange extract, garlic, rice vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar substitute, sesame oil, and ginger to a skillet. Whisk everything together and bring the mixture to a boil.

Let the sauce reduce

Turn the heat down to medium-low and let the sauce simmer. As it cooks, the liquid will reduce slightly and the orange, garlic, and ginger flavors will become more concentrated.

Thicken the sauce

Slowly whisk in the xanthan gum. Give it a moment to thicken before deciding whether the sauce needs anything else. You want it thick enough to lightly coat a spoon without becoming gummy.

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Cook the shrimp

Add the raw shrimp once the sauce is ready. Cook them just until they turn opaque and curl into a loose C shape. Since shrimp cook quickly, keep a close eye on them so they stay tender.

Recipe Tips

Use raw shrimp: Pre-cooked shrimp can become rubbery while warming in the sauce.
Thaw frozen shrimp first: Excess water can thin the orange sauce.
Stick with orange extract: It provides concentrated citrus flavor without the sugar and extra liquid that orange juice would add.
Add xanthan gum gradually: A small amount goes a long way, and adding too much can make the sauce overly thick.
Finish the sauce before adding the shrimp: This keeps the shrimp from overcooking while you wait for the sauce to reduce.
Taste before serving: Add a little more soy sauce or coconut aminos if you want a more savory finish.
Add heat to taste: Red pepper flakes work well when you want sweet and spicy orange shrimp.

What to Serve With Keto Orange Peel Shrimp

For a takeout-style dinner, spoon the shrimp and extra orange sauce over Keto Fried Rice.
For a vegetable, add Air Fryer Broccoli or Air Fryer Green Beans. Either one gives you an easy way to round out the meal without needing another stovetop dish.

If you like the sweet and tangy flavors in this recipe, my Keto Sweet and Sour Shrimp is another takeout-inspired shrimp dinner to try.

Storage and Reheating

Store: Keep leftover shrimp and sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Reheat: Warm the shrimp gently in a skillet over low heat just until heated through. Cooking them for too long can make them tough.
Make ahead: Prepare the orange sauce ahead of time and refrigerate it separately. Reheat the sauce, then cook the shrimp in it when you’re ready to serve.

FAQs

Can I use frozen shrimp?

Yes. Frozen raw shrimp work well. Thaw them completely and drain off any excess water before adding them to the sauce.

Can I make this with chicken instead?

Yes. Cut boneless chicken into bite-sized pieces and cook it completely in a skillet before adding it to the finished orange sauce. Chicken takes much longer to cook than shrimp, so don’t use the shrimp cooking time.

Why does this recipe use orange extract instead of orange juice?

Orange extract provides concentrated citrus flavor without adding the sugar and extra liquid found in orange juice. That makes it especially useful for this keto version of orange peel shrimp.

Can I use orange juice instead?

This recipe was developed with orange extract, so orange juice isn’t a direct substitute. It would add more liquid and sugar and change the consistency of the sauce.

Is orange peel shrimp spicy?

Not necessarily. The sauce is sweet and savory as written. Add red pepper flakes if you want a sweet and spicy version.