Keto shrimp scampi with kelp noodles delivers the buttery, garlicky richness of the classic in about thirty minutes. Shrimp bake in a garlic butter sauce with Dijon, lemon, and parsley, then everything pours over light, crisp kelp noodles. It's fast, elegant, and lands at just over a gram of carbs per serving.
Craving the rich, buttery, garlicky goodness of a classic shrimp scampi but sticking to a low-carb lifestyle? I’ve got you. This Keto Shrimp Scampi recipe swaps traditional pasta for light, crisp kelp noodles, delivering all the decadent flavor without the carbs. It’s an incredibly fast, elegant, and satisfying meal that will transport you straight to a seaside Italian restaurant. Get ready to fall in love with this simple, 30-minute dish that proves healthy eating can be absolutely delicious.
Ingredients
• ½ cup / 113g (4 oz) butter or macadamia nut oil
• 1 tablespoon / 15g (0.53 oz) Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon / 15ml fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon / 3-4 cloves chopped garlic
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 1 pound / 450g (15.9 oz) medium raw shrimp, shell on recommended for flavor
• 1 (12-ounce / 340g / 12 oz) bag kelp noodles
Instructions
1. Directions
2. Prepare the kelp noodles according to the package directions. A thorough rinse is essential. Once prepared, place them in a large, beautiful serving dish and set aside.
3. Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C).
4. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the butter, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, garlic, and parsley. Stir until the butter is completely melted and the are well combined. Remove from the heat.
5. Arrange the shrimp in a single layer in a shallow baking dish. Pour the garlic butter mixture evenly over the shrimp.
6. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the shrimp are pink, opaque, and cooked through. Be careful not to overcook them.
7. Pour the entire contents of the baking dish—the shrimp and all of the delicious butter sauce—over the prepared kelp noodles. Toss gently and serve immediately.
Nutritional Information
• A Healthier Scampi
• This recipe offers a significant nutritional advantage over traditional versions.
• TRADITIONAL SCAMPI (per serving, with gluten-free rice noodles): 512 Calories, 24g (0.85 oz) Fat, 25g (0.88 oz) Protein, 45g (1.59 oz) Carbs, 1g (0.04 oz) Fiber
• “HEALTHIFIED” KETO SCAMPI (per serving, with kelp noodles): 320 Calories, 24g (0.85 oz) Fat, 24g (0.85 oz) Protein, 1.1g (0.04 oz) Carbs, 0g (0 oz) Fiber
Pro Tips
• For easier eating, you can peel the shrimp before baking, leaving the tails on for a classic look. However, cooking with the shells on imparts a deeper, more robust flavor into the sauce.
• Rinse kelp noodles thoroughly under cold water to remove their natural briney scent. For a softer, more pasta-like texture, soak them in warm water with a splash of lemon juice for 10-15 minutes before using.
• Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the butter sauce for a touch of heat, or a splash of dry white wine (like Pinot Grigio) for a more complex, traditional scampi flavor.
• Don’t let any of that garlic butter sauce go to waste! Serve with keto-friendly garlic bread or a side of steamed asparagus for dipping.
FAQ
Q: What are kelp noodles and what do they taste like
A: Kelp noodles are a low-carb, gluten-free pasta alternative made from seaweed. They have a neutral taste and a crisp texture. Rinsing them thoroughly, as the recipe suggests, removes any briney scent and allows them to perfectly absorb the rich garlic butter sauce.
Q: Can I use a different low-carb noodle instead of kelp noodles
A: Yes, if you don’t have kelp noodles, you can easily substitute them with other keto-friendly options like zucchini noodles (zoodles), spaghetti squash, or even serve the scampi over a bed of cauliflower rice.
Q: Should I cook the shrimp with the shells on or off
A: For the best flavor, we recommend cooking the shrimp with the shells on. The shells impart a deeper, more robust seafood flavor into the garlic butter sauce. For easier eating, you can peel them before baking, leaving just the tails on for a classic look.
Q: How can I add more flavor to this keto scampi
A: To enhance the flavor, you can add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the butter sauce for a bit of heat. For a more traditional scampi taste, add a splash of dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio, to the sauce before pouring it over the shrimp.
Pro Tips
- Rinse the kelp noodles thoroughly under cold water to remove their natural briney scent; for a softer, pasta-like texture, soak them in warm water with a splash of lemon juice for 10-15 minutes.
- Cook the shrimp with the shells on for a deeper, more robust flavor in the sauce — or peel them before baking, leaving the tails on for easier eating.
- Bake the shrimp just 12-15 minutes at 450°F/232°C until pink and opaque; overcooked shrimp turn rubbery fast.
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the butter sauce for heat, or a splash of dry white wine like Pinot Grigio for a more traditional scampi note.
- Serve with keto-friendly garlic bread or steamed asparagus so none of the garlic butter sauce goes to waste.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are kelp noodles and what do they taste like?
A low-carb, gluten-free pasta alternative made from seaweed, with a neutral taste and crisp texture. Rinsing removes the briney scent so they absorb the garlic butter sauce.
Can I use a different low-carb noodle instead of kelp noodles?
Yes — zucchini noodles, spaghetti squash, or a bed of cauliflower rice all work as keto-friendly alternatives.
Should I cook the shrimp with the shells on or off?
Shell-on gives the garlic butter sauce a deeper seafood flavor. For easier eating, peel the shrimp before baking but leave the tails on.
How can I add more flavor to this keto scampi?
A pinch of red pepper flakes brings heat, and a splash of dry white wine such as Pinot Grigio adds a traditional scampi complexity.
Recipe card below.
More Recipes You’ll Love
Keto Shrimp Scampi with Kelp Noodles
Ingredients
Method
- Directions
- Prepare the kelp noodles according to the package directions. A thorough rinse is essential.
- Once prepared, place them in a large, beautiful serving dish and set aside.
- Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C).
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the butter, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, garlic, and parsley.
- Stir until the butter is completely melted and the are well combined.
- Remove from the heat.
- Arrange the shrimp in a single layer in a shallow baking dish.
- Pour the garlic butter mixture evenly over the shrimp.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the shrimp are pink, opaque, and cooked through. Be careful not to overcook them.
- Pour the entire contents of the baking dish—the shrimp and all of the delicious butter sauce—over the prepared kelp noodles.
- Toss gently and serve immediately.
- Rinse kelp noodles thoroughly under cold water to remove their natural briney scent. For a softer, more pasta-like texture, soak them in warm water with a splash of lemon juice for 10-15 minutes before using.
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the butter sauce for a touch of heat, or a splash of dry white wine (like Pinot Grigio) for a more complex, traditional scampi flavor.
- Don't let any of that garlic butter sauce go to waste!
- Serve with keto-friendly garlic bread or a side of steamed asparagus for dipping.
