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Shrimp Zucchini Pasta (Easy and Healthy Recipe!)

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This Shrimp Zucchini Pasta recipe is bursting with amazing buttery lemon garlic flavor. It is an easy and healthy meal that is perfect for lunch, dinner, or meal prep. Perhaps best of all, it is ready from start to finish in just 20 minutes!

Overhead view of Shrimp Zucchini Pasta in white bowls on a black background.

Why You’ll Love This Shrimp Zucchini Pasta Recipe

This easy-to-make recipe features a winning combination of butter, garlic, and shrimp tossed with zucchini pasta. If you are not familiar with zucchini pasta or noodles, aka “zoodles”, they are basically noodles that are made from cutting zucchini into long, thin strands. Zucchini noodles are a great gluten-free alternative to regular pasta and are also a bit lighter to eat.

What I love about this dish is that it is rich and flavorful, but is still fresh and light because it isn’t made with heavy, calorie-laden pasta. The other great part about this recipe is that it is made in one pot. That means only minimal clean-up is required once you are done cooking. ♡

Why You Should Definitely Eat More Shrimp

Here are some of the health benefits of shrimp:

  • High-protein: Shrimp is rich in protein and low in calories, so it is the perfect food for people who are watching their weight.
  • Nutrient-dense: It is packed with vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins B3 and B12, phosphorous, copper, selenium, and magnesium.
  • Low-fat: Shrimp is low in saturated fat and is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which is great for heart health. Although shrimp is high in cholesterol, that number actually has very little effect on your blood cholesterol level.

Pro Tip: It’s a good idea to stock up on frozen shrimp when it is on sale (that’s what I always do). It thaws very quickly and is a fantastic go-to to have in your freezer when you want a fast and easy meal, like this one!

Click here to learn more about my favorite healthy resources and products!

Very close-up overhead view of Shrimp Zucchini Pasta.

Tips for Making Shrimp Zucchini Pasta

Here are some of my top pointers to use when you’re whipping up this recipe at home:

  • Prep beforehand: Have everything prepped before you start cooking. This recipe cooks FAST, so there’s no time to prep ingredients as you go along. Having all your ingredients ready to go before you put anything in the pan will also help to ensure that nothing overcooks, because you want the shrimp to be succulent and juicy. Over-cooked shrimp is tough, rubbery, and not very pleasant to eat.
  • Cook in butter and oil: The shrimp is cooked in both oil and butter in this recipe, to prevent the butter from burning. You can use only butter if you prefer, but just be aware that it will start to brown while the shrimp is cooking.
  • Use large shrimp: I prefer using jumbo shrimp or prawns in this, because they are big, juicy, and perfect for this recipe.
  • Buy wild shrimp: If you can find wild-caught shrimp, you should definitely use that. Wild shrimp has better flavor and is much healthier for you than farm-raised seafood. To learn about my favorite places to get wild-caught shrimp and other seafood from, check out this post I wrote: The Best Wild-Caught, Sustainable Seafood Delivery Companies.
  • Don’t overcook: Be careful not to overcook your zucchini noodles, because they can get mushy. Remember to turn off the heat before adding the zoodles to the pan and then just toss with tongs to combine.

Be sure to use my tips above, to ensure this shrimp zucchini noodles recipe turns out perfect every single time!

Close-up overhead view of Shrimp Zucchini Pasta in a white bowl on a black background.

Shrimp Zucchini Pasta Recipe Recommendations

Here are some kitchen tools I recommend using to make this recipe:

  1. Spiralizer – This is the spiralizer I own and love! It is generally known as the top industry spiralizer. It is so easy to use and creates perfect zoodles every time!
  2. Julienne and Vegetable Peeler – If you don’t want to buy a spiralizer, you can use the Julienne side of the peeler to slice the zucchinis into long, thin ribbons. An advantage of using this tool is that it is less expensive and easier to store than a spiralizer.

I highly recommend using the items listed above for best results.

More Easy Seafood Dinner Recipes

Looking for more simple seafood inspiration? Here are some of my favorite recipes:

If you make this Shrimp Zucchini Pasta recipe, let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating ★ below, because I love hearing from you. 🙂

Shrimp Zucchini Pasta (Easy and Healthy Recipe!)

Overhead view of Garlic Shrimp Zucchini Noodles in white bowls on a black background.
This Shrimp Zucchini Pasta recipe is perfect for lunch, dinner, or meal prep. It is an easy and healthy recipe that is ready in 20 minutes!
Alia Kay
5 from 8 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Main
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 214 calories

Ingredients

  • 2 medium zucchinis
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 pound large shrimp, shelled and deveined
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Instructions

  • Spiralize the zucchini using a spiralizer and set aside. Alternatively, you can use a julienne peeler to cut the zucchini into noodles.
  • Heat the olive oil and butter in a large nonstick frying pan over medium heat.
  • Add the garlic and chili flakes. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  • Add the shrimp and a pinch of salt. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the shrimp is pink and opaque.
  • Turn off the heat. Stir in the lemon juice.
  • Add the zucchini noodles and toss to combine. Serve warm.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Shrimp Zucchini Pasta (Easy and Healthy Recipe!)
Amount per Serving
Calories
214
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
11
g
17
%
Saturated Fat
 
4
g
25
%
Cholesterol
 
300
mg
100
%
Sodium
 
941
mg
41
%
Potassium
 
346
mg
10
%
Carbohydrates
 
3
g
1
%
Sugar
 
2
g
2
%
Protein
 
24
g
48
%
Vitamin A
 
410
IU
8
%
Vitamin C
 
24.1
mg
29
%
Calcium
 
183
mg
18
%
Iron
 
2.8
mg
16
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notes

  1. Be careful not to overcook your zucchini pasta, because they can get a bit mushy. Remember to turn off the heat before adding the zucchini noodles to the pan and then just toss with tongs to combine.
  2. For best results, I recommend using wild-caught, sustainably-harvested shrimp in this recipe.
  3. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to two days or in the freezer for up to three months.
Keyword Shrimp Zucchini Pasta

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Rate This Recipe:




5 from 8 votes (2 ratings without comment)

12 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This is the perfect weeknight dinner for a family, Alia! I love using spiralized veggies. Sometimes I mix them with regular pasta, although it is more work than just using one or the other. But this dish sounds so yummy with just the zucchini! It looks so spring-y, too!

    1. Aww thanks so much Laura!! ♥ Mixing spiralized veggies with regular pasta is a great idea! That way you don’t really notice that you are eating vegetables, they just blend in to the pasta! Smart lady 😉

  2. 5 stars
    This is such a delightful zoodles recipe! So simple and yummy! Zoodles are always light on the tummy and much better than regular pasta!

  3. 5 stars
    Hey Alia! I love shrimp and your recipe looks mouthwatering. I love your pictures as well. I can’t wait to make this garlic shrimp zoodles recipe. Thanks for sharing, and please keep sharing your new recipes and beautiful ideas with us!

  4. 5 stars
    Oh Alia…this looks so delicious. I love zucchini noodles and adding shrimp must make it taste so good. This I have got to try. So yum 🙂

  5. 5 stars
    Hey Alia! Another noodle lover here. I really enjoyed reading your recipe above. I’ll try this in the upcoming days for my kids. One more thing, you’ve used really nice photos in your recipe. Thanks for the idea.