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. Raw zucchini is so easy to work with. Have you tried Zucchini Caesar Salad? The classic Caesar salad ingredients with the addition of zucchini slices.
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 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?
Don’t forget to sign up for my WEEKLY NEWSLETTER and grab your FREE printable. If you prefer, get PUSH NOTIFICATIONS instead when new content is posted. CLICK the PURPLE BELL on the bottom right of this page.
Shrimp and Zucchini Noodles
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 and serve.
Nutrition Information
Notes
Tamara Andersen
We are watching our carbs too, and have found the spiralizer to be a great tool in our kitchen. I have done a shrimp and zoodle recipe too. Shrimp are the perfect addition because they can be quick thawed and require only a few minutes cooking time. I love raw zoodles for salads too! I need to get some peri peri sauces and give this a try!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes I always have shrimp in the freezer. So easy to put into dishes…and delicious and healthy too.
Nicole
Love how simple this is. What a fabulous way to use zucchini noodles. We love our zucchini noodles too and I’m always looking for new ideas to pair them with. I love the shrimp addition.
Homemade & Yummy
Shrimp works well in this recipe. Keeps you full and satisfied….and pairs the the zoodles. A fun and delicious recipe for sure. Hope you give it a try.
Paige
I totally hear you about the carbs and noodles. I bet you don’t even miss them in this dish!this looks easy and tasty!
Homemade & Yummy
This is a fun dish….and with all the shrimp it keeps you full.
Jersey Girl Cooks
This is a great idea! I can’t wait to try this!
Homemade & Yummy
It is a fun and delicious recipe for sure.
Emily
I love one-pan dinner even better if they are quick and healthy, this looks so delicious!
Homemade & Yummy
Yup…and so much better than takeout ALL the time.
Megan Marlowe
I am not a huge pasta fan to be quite honest, but zoodles, I’m all in! I just so happen to have zucchini and have shrimp in my freezer, I always have it on hand too, so this is happening this week in my kitchen. I love the flavors and it’s made all in one pan?! come to mama!
Homemade & Yummy
I know…I always have shrimp in the freezer too. One pan dinners are the best on busy weeknights for sure.
Dana
Zucchini noodles and shrimp go so well together! I think the addition of a protein like shrimp is super important too, because in my experience, zucchini noodles aren’t very substantial and I’m always still hungry after. Which always just makes me feel like an oinker. Haha. But adding that protein just creates a whole meal that’s filling but feels light! Lovely recipe!
Homemade & Yummy
HAHAH….well eat up…these are healthy and delicious for sure.
Amy Nash
Zucchini noodles are the best! I love pasta as well but seriously hardly even miss it because zucchini noodles are such a great replacement that are so much healthier. I way prefer them over spaghetti squash in that way. This dish sounds fantastic with the shrimp and peri peri sauce!
Homemade & Yummy
It really is a fun and delicious way to enjoy healthy, nutritious zucchini….and it was a great excuse to get a new kitchen gadget for sure.
Amanda
I bought a spiralizer and I definitely don’t use it enough! These zucchini noodles with shrimp and veggies look like such an easy and satisfying, healthy dinner! Really gets me in the mood for the warm weather, too. What a great dinner to start making the most of produce at the spring markets!
Homemade & Yummy
This is a fun way to make veggie noodles for sure. Lots of great things to make all summer long. Hope you give this a try.
Heather
This is absolutely gorgeous! I am always looking for healthy recipes and those zucchini noodles are amazing! And peri peri sauce?? Yum! My husband bought me a spiralizer and I haven’t used it yet … I just broke it out and will be making this dish this week.
Homemade & Yummy
They are fun to use….hope you give this a try. You will want to keep that fun little gadget out for sure.
Veena Azmanov
I love simple easy and quick stir fry recipes like this. And of course with my favorite shrimp. That zoodle is my most recent favorite. Love using these instead of noodles. Perfect for busy weekdays
Homemade & Yummy
I know, zoodles are fun to make for sure…and super easy.
Sarah
Somehow I still haven’t tried making veggie noodles! I need to- I always end up with too many zucchini. This is brilliant, and I love the shrimp!
Homemade & Yummy
Is the perfect way to use all the zucchini …. not to mention healthy too.
Priya Srinivasan
What a colorful,c arb free meal!! i m so in love with these veggies noodles! i m looking for buying a spiralizer and posts like these make that want more strong!! Healthy, hearty and a colorful plate!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes….get a good spiralizer (links below the post) and you will have fun in the kitchen.
Sara
What a gorgeous dish. One skillet meals often save dinner for my too busy with baseball season family!
Homemade & Yummy
Yup they are handy, and so much more affordable than takeout…not to mention MORE delicious too.
Veena Azmanov
What an AMAZING idea. I LOVE how easy and delicious this is. This is absolutely fantastic. One of my favs! I definitely want to try it! Thank you for the recipe! YUM!
Homemade & Yummy
Hope you give it a try….I know you have the spiralizer!!