For busy weeknights, Healthy Zucchini Noodles with Shrimp One Skillet Dinner is fast, delicious, and so much better than takeout. We spiced this zucchini noodle recipe up with Peri Peri sauce for some added spicy heat.
You can never have too many delicious zucchini recipes in your collection. From baking to zucchini burgers, we love this summer squash.
We all need fast and easy meals we can get on the table, especially on busy weeknights. Takeout is so expensive, and most of the time we are totally disappointed with the quality and taste of the food. Don’t get me wrong, we do get takeout now and again (like when I want a nice variety of sushi), but for the most part, we ALWAYS cook at home.
Zucchini pasta is so fun to make. This easy shrimp and zucchini noodles dinner comes together in a few minutes. I always have shrimp in the freezer. They are great to thaw in a hurry. Heat a wok (or any pan), sauté your ingredients, and in minutes dinner is on the table. It’s a great way to clean out any extra veggies kicking around in the fridge.
I am SUCH a carb lover, there is not a pasta, bread, potato or rice dish this girl won’t eat. Unfortunately, we are not meant to consume that many carbs (sad but true).
Have you eaten zucchini noodles or “zoodles”? They are so much fun. Gluten free, healthy and easy on the carbs.
Did you know zucchini is also called courgette? I remember Jamie Oliver referring to it that way and I had no clue what he was talking about. Looked like a zucchini to me.
When growing season is here, you REALLY need lots of zucchini recipes to use up the haul. They seem to grow crazy fast. One day they are small, and you go back in a couple of days to the garden (well I don’t since I’m not a gardener), and that little summer squash is now the size of a bowling pin.
Once hubby brought home this MASSIVE zucchini a friend gave him. I grated it, put it in bags and froze it. Did you know frozen zucchini works great in zucchini muffins? The best part is that you don’t have to blanch it, just grate and freeze.
Yes, you can bake lots of wonderful things with zucchini, but then we are back to the carb issue. Last year I bought a *spiralizer to make noodles from zucchini. My very first experiment was Greek Zoodle Salad. OMG, this has now become one of our favourite summer salads.
Once you get started making zucchini pasta, you will be addicted. One skillet dinners are so easy to make. I know your family would love Mexican zucchini any night of the week.
Besides things like this low carb shrimp recipe, zucchini noodles make a great garnish, like in zucchini gazpacho. If you get the tri-blade spiralizer as I did, you can make refrigerator zucchini pickles too.
HOW TO MAKE ZUCCHINI NOODLES
Do you eat zucchini noodles (or any veggie noodle)? Not only are they healthy, they really are fun and easy to do. You can make them ahead of time (like 2-3 days) and have them ready and in the fridge. Perfect for throwing together this healthy zucchini recipe for dinner.
There are several ways to make your noddles:
- spiralizer
- julienne peeler
- mandoline
- hand-held spiralizer
My preferred method is with a spiralizer. I have used the mandolin, and it did work well. Hubby always has a fit when I bring this out. He is scared I am going to slice off part of my finger. Can you tell we watch LOTS of cooking shows? So, since he is so paranoid, it gave me a GREAT reason to get a new kitchen gadget. WIN for me (and hubby is more relaxed).
BEST WAY TO COOK & EAT HEALTHY ZUCCHINI NOODLES
These noodles (or you can make ribbons too) are REALLY easy to work with.
They can be:
- sautéed (like in this recipe)
- simmered (like in broth for soup)
- raw (like in salads)
- and even microwaved or baked
This recipe uses the sauté method. With the zucchini noodles and shrimp, I added leeks, red peppers, spinach, and Peri Peri sauce. YOU can make this with whatever ingredients YOU like. Give it a try and see. Healthy Zucchini Noodles with Shrimp One Skillet Dinner takes the stress out of making dinner.
If you love this one-skillet meal, give Corned Beef and Potatoes Skillet a try. The perfect alternative to the traditional corned beef and cabbage.
What is your favourite way to enjoy delicious zucchini noodles?
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Healthy Zucchini Noodles with Shrimp One Skillet Dinner
Ingredients
- 5 ounces leeks (thinly sliced)
- 8 ounces red pepper (thinly sliced)
- 1 pound zucchini (made into noodles)
- 1 pound shrimp (fresh or thawed from frozen)
- 4 ounces spinach
- ¼ cup Peri Peri sauce
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
Instructions
- Prepare your veggies and set aside. Get your shrimp (cleaned or thawed) and ready to cook. Set aside.**NOTE** Zucchini noodles can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for 1-2 days in a ziplock bag.
- Heat a wok or frying pan over medium-high heat. Add oil and heat.
- Add the sliced leeks. Cook until soft (about 5 minutes).
- Add sliced red peppers. Cook for approximately 2 minutes.
- Add Peri Peri sauce, and mix to combine.
- Add shrimp and cook approximately 2 minutes.
- Add zucchini noodles and cook approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Add spinach and cook for 1 minute.
- Remove from heat.
- ENJOY!!
Nutrition Information
Notes
Krissy Allori
One can never have to many healthy and easy recipes! Looks great!
Homemade & Yummy
No you can NEVER have too many great recipes!!
Anne
Mmmmi this looks good. I love that it’s a one pan meal
Homemade & Yummy
Yes one pan meals are great, especially for busy weekdays/nights.
Julie
This looks so good! Question: is there a reason you keep the tails on while cooking the shrimp and serve them tails on? Does it add to the flavor? I feel like it would be much easier to eat a bite with the tails removed, but maybe it’s important to keep them on.
Homemade & Yummy
No there is not a particular reason, feel free to remove them. That is how they are in the bag, and I usually eat shrimp with my fingers. So picking them up with the tails is just easier for us.
Kat Jeter
Yum!! I love zoodles and shrimp because they are so quick and easy to make. I’ve been eating low carb for a few years now and I am looking forward to adding this recipe to my rotation.
Homemade & Yummy
It does make it easier to get away from the carbs for sure. Hope you give this recipe a try.
Stacey
Everything about this sounds so delicious! I love the zucchini noodle substitution. This would be perfect for a last minute dinner party … or anytime! Love it.
Homemade & Yummy
Yes it is quick and easy for any night of the week. ENJOY!!
lauren
You had me at one skillet! Love when a dish is full of good stuff and doesn’t require a mess! A nice, light, low carb dinner.
Homemade & Yummy
This one really comes together so quickly. Hope you give it a try.
Veronika's Kitchen
Every time I see these beautiful recipes, I think about getting a spiralizer) I think the time has come and I am ordering it right now!) greate recipe!
Homemade & Yummy
They are a fun kitchen gadget. I did a lot of research before I finally decided on the OXO Good Grips. Works awesome!!
Matt Kearns
I have yet to try using a spiralizer, but just may get myself one to try out this recipe! I love seafood and the shrimp look cooked perfectly in this dish. Well done!
Homemade & Yummy
Thanks so much…hope you give this delicious recipe a try soon.
prasanna hede
What a great looking dish! wonderful dinner fix,plus I need to get a spiralizer now.shrimp is my favorite..would love to give this a try.
Homemade & Yummy
YES….get a spiralizer you will LOVE it. I have a couple of links at the bottom of the post….I use the OXO Good Grips…and it is fantastic.