This Keto Low-Carb Creamy Garlic Shrimp Alfredo is a rich, indulgent dish that’s packed with flavor—without the carbs! Juicy, pan-seared shrimp are coated in a velvety garlic parmesan Alfredo sauce, making every bite irresistibly creamy. Served over zucchini noodles, spaghetti squash, or your favorite pasta alternative, this dish is a perfect way to enjoy a comforting, restaurant-quality meal while staying on track.
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Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s a quick and satisfying option for busy weeknights or an elegant low-carb dinner!
Table of Contents
Why Readers Love This Recipe
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
O-M-Gina this recipe is so quick, easy and tastey!! I made it as the recipe states and it was delicious. Then I played around with it by adding a few other seasonings/herbs. I still can’t believe how fast and easy this recipe is! Thank you so much for sharing this!!
~Rosie
Key Ingredients
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Zucchini – Used as a low-carb pasta alternative, zucchini noodles (zoodles) provide a light, fresh texture that pairs perfectly with the creamy Alfredo sauce. They absorb flavors well and keep the dish keto-friendly without the heavy carbs of traditional pasta.
- Kosher Salt – Helps draw out excess moisture from the zucchini to prevent watery noodles. It also enhances the overall flavor of the dish.
- Olive Oil – Used for sautéing the shrimp.
- Shrimp – The star protein! Shrimp is high in protein, low in carbs, and cooks quickly, making it a perfect addition to this creamy dish. It also adds a slightly sweet flavor that complements the rich Alfredo sauce.
- Garlic Cloves – Fresh garlic infuses the dish with a deep, savory aroma and classic Italian flavor. It enhances the sauce and pairs beautifully with shrimp.
- Unsalted Butter – Used for sautéing garlic and building the Alfredo sauce, butter adds richness and depth of flavor. Unsalted butter allows better control over the salt levels in the dish.
- Heavy Cream – The foundation of the Alfredo sauce, heavy cream makes it ultra-rich and creamy while keeping it keto-friendly with zero carbs.
- Cream Cheese – Adds extra creaminess and helps thicken the sauce, making it silky smooth.
- Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese – Aged Parmesan cheese melts into the sauce, adding a bold, nutty, and salty flavor. Using freshly grated cheese ensures a smooth, lump-free consistency.
How to Sweat Out Zucchini Noodles (Zoodles) & Why
This step is important, because if skipped, the pan will be filled with water and create more of a soup. It's happened to me, and trust, you don't want it! This steps also gives the zucchini a consistency and texture that is close to pasta.
- Salt the Zoodles – Place your spiralized zucchini noodles in a colander and sprinkle 1-2 teaspoons of salt over them. The salt draws out moisture.
- Let Them Sit – Leave them for 15-30 minutes to allow the excess water to release.
- Pat Dry – After sitting, use paper towels or a clean kitchen towel to press and absorb the moisture.
- Optional: Quick Sauté – For extra firmness, lightly sauté the zoodles in a dry pan (no oil) over medium heat for 1-2 minutes before adding sauce.
This simple step ensures your zoodles stay firm, soak up flavor, and don’t dilute your creamy Alfredo sauce!
How to Make Keto Shrimp Alfredo
Simple and easy to follow!
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Sweat out the zucchini to remove excess moisture.
- Heat a skillet on medium-high heat. Add olive oil, shrimp, and minced garlic. Cook each side of the shrimp for 1-2 minutes until bright pink.
- Remove the shrimp from the skillet and set aside on a plate.
- Add butter to the skillet on medium heat. Allow the butter to partially melt and then add chunks of cream cheese, Parmesan reggiano, heavy cream, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper to taste.
- Stir continuously until the cheese has melted.
- Add the shrimp and zucchini noodles to the pan. Stir to coat the zucchini. Cook until the zucchini softens.
Do The Noodles Taste Like Pasta?
No. The shape provides a nice substitute for a dish like this, but nothing tastes like bread or pasta....but bread and pasta.
What Side Dishes to Pair
Cauliflower Mash
Air Fryer Roasted Green Beans
Roasted Garlic Brussels Sprouts
Zucchini Pasta Salad
How to Store
Store zoodles separately to prevent them from getting soggy. Refrigerate the dish for up to 4 days in an air tight container.
How to Reheat
Stovetop (Best Method): Reheat gently over low heat, stirring frequently. Add a splash of heavy cream or broth to restore the sauce’s creaminess.
Microwave: Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, to prevent the sauce from separating.
Avoid High Heat. Overheating can make the shrimp rubbery and cause the sauce to break.
Freezer Tips
Shrimp and dairy-based sauces don’t freeze well, as they can become grainy or separate when reheated. Alfredo sauce alone can be frozen in a separate container for up to 2 months.
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More Keto Alfredo Recipes
Keto Low Carb Fettuccine Chicken Alfredo
Keto Low Carb Chicken Alfredo Fathead Pizza
Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash Alfredo
Click here for a complete listing of Keto Low-Carb Recipes.
Keto Low-Carb Shrimp Alfredo
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds zucchini, spiralized the number of zucchini will vary based on size, this is about 4-5 zucchini
- ¼-1 teaspoon kosher salt Adjust to suit the amount you need to dry out the zucchini.
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound shrimp peeled and deveined
- 3-4 garlic cloves Minced
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ cup heavy cream If you prefer a lot of cream sauce, try ¾ cup
- 4 oz cream cheese Cut into small chunks.
- ½ cup grated Parmesan reggiano cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes Optional
- ½ -1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning Optional
Instructions
- Line a sheet pan with paper towels. Place the zucchini noodles on the paper towels. Sprinkle with the ¼ teaspoon of salt. Allow the zucchini to sit for 30 minutes to sweat out excess water.
- Heat a skillet on medium-high heat. Add the olive oil, shrimp, and minced garlic. Cook each side of the shrimp for 1-2 minutes until bright pink.
- Remove the shrimp from the skillet and set aside on a plate.
- Add the butter to the skillet on medium heat. Allow the butter to partially melt and then add the chunks of cream cheese, Parmesan reggiano, heavy cream, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper to taste.
- Stir continuously until the cheese has melted. The cream cheese may take some time to dissolve.
- Add the shrimp and zucchini noodles to the pan. Stir to coat the zucchini. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the zucchini softens.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition Data
Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
Cas says
Lovely recipe..thank you !
staysnatched says
Glad you enjoyed it!
Gabriela Robles says
Easy to make and so delicious! Thank you for the tip on sweating the zoodles so I didn’t have soupy sauce. Next time I’m going to splurge and add bigger shrimp for more protein.
staysnatched says
Yes! I always go with bigger shrimp.
KB says
My husband and I make this at least twice a month for MONTHS now. Please do your self a favor and make this ASAP. Literally EVERYTHING you need to know is laid out for you and it’s so simple to make. We love to add crawfish in for that extra seafood protein. Amazing job as always, Brandi.
staysnatched says
I love the crawfish idea!
Kimberly Smith says
This looks incredible! I really need.tongive it a try!!!
staysnatched says
Let me know what you think!
Monique Bradley says
THANK YOU SO MUCH for the tip about draining the zucchini noodles! It made a huge difference in my recipes.
staysnatched says
It truly makes a difference!
Anonymous says
I am using spaghetti squash.. instead of zucchini
staysnatched says
Nice!
Megan says
Just made this and it was delicious! My picky husband even said I could make it again.
staysnatched says
I love to satisfy a picky eater!
Schyler says
OH MY GOSH! I've been eying this recipe ever since I saw it posted on instagram. I made it for the first time tonight and it was AMAZING! I didn't have heavy cream so I just used milk and it still came out super yummy, I'll definitely try with the heavy cream next time to see the difference. There is so much flavor packed into this and the zucchini noodles are so light! 10/10 would recommend!!!!
staysnatched says
Wonderful! So glad you enjoyed it!
Kinsey Richmond says
I love zucchini, and I love Alfredo. Combining them just makes sense. I wish I would’ve found this recipe sooner! I love it!
staysnatched says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Tiffany says
Once again @staysnatched did not disappoint with this decadent, yet light, alfredo recipe. It was so good, and I thought I was only making it for myself, but my husband tried it and he really liked it. This is a man who cares nothing for zoodles or lighter versions of dishes. Thank you for sharing such detailed instructions in your recipes. So easy to make if we just read everything! What recipe I make next?
Tiffany says
Once again @staysnatched did not disappoint with this decadent, yet light, alfredo recipe. It was so good, and I thought I was only making it for myself, but my husband tried it and he really liked it. This is a man who cares nothing for zoodles or lighter versions of dishes. Thank you for sharing such detailed instructions in your recipes. So easy to make if we just read everything! What recipe will I make next?
staysnatched says
Yay! Maybe the peanut butter cookies?
Kandice Roberts says
I feel like there are many recipes out there that are marketed as “easy” and “quick” but then end up taking way longer than expected. This one was actually SO quick and easy!! I loved that everything could be cooked in the same pan, which saved time cleaning up, too. And, on top of that, it was absolutely delicious! I already can’t wait to have my leftovers for dinner tomorrow.
staysnatched says
Yay so glad you enjoyed it!
Emily says
We tried this recipe last weeknd for dinner and it was so delicious and easy to make!!! My fiance and I both loved it and will keep it in the rotation
staysnatched says
I'm glad you can keep it in the rotation.
Amy Hegg says
I love this recipe. It's honestly so easy and it's super easy to modify to your liking. For those who consider themselves a beginner in the kitchen, this one is hard to mess up 🙂
staysnatched says
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it.
Laura says
Wow, this recipe surprised me! I had never had zoodles before, and I had a bag of frozen zoodles I steamed and used with this recipe. This dish is delicious and so simple and quick to make. I also used cooked frozen shrimp that I had thawed and just heated it in the pan with oil and garlic during that step. So so good! Will probably make again this week!
staysnatched says
This is one of my favorite recipes!
Lexi says
I've tried a few different types of these recipes in the past but this on is THE BEST. All the extra tips helped make this the best dish it could be. I loved every bite and not too soupy for me even after I reheated my leftovers. The amount of creaminess really helped combat any excess water. Thanks for the recipe!!
staysnatched says
You’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Beatriz says
Delicious Recipe, Thank you
staysnatched says
You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Alysa says
One of my favorite keto meals since discovering this recipe! Much appreciated 🙂 love love love it
staysnatched says
Yay! I'm glad you enjoy it.
Amazing Weightloss says
Amazing recipe!
staysnatched says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Cat G says
I always come back to this sauce for my shrimp. It’s heavenly!
staysnatched says
Yay! It's such a great sauce.
Robyn says
Hands down one of the best zoodle recipes I've made. Have made this at least once a month since finding this recipe in June! Sweating out the zucchini on paper towel has been a game changer as i always used a colander before and always had watery dishes. Have definitely used this tip for other recipes! I've been emailing the link to this recipe to everyone I know because I need to share with others how damn delicious this dish is!!
staysnatched says
Thank you for sharing the recipe!
Amanda says
Amazing! So easy and so tasty!! My kiddos even loved it. ❤️
staysnatched says
Yay! That's so wonderful to hear!
Kate says
So glad I read this recipe with the tip about salting and draining the zucchini! This was my first time making zoodles, and I was afraid I'd hate it really. But this turned out so well! The other recipe about zoodles said to not salt them until they were cooked and on your plate, so the two techniques were very different. But I think I much rather sweat and soften them.
Full disclosure, I'm not a big fan of cream cheese in Alfredo, so I used another recipe for that (an old favorite) that just has butter, garlic, heavy cream, and parmesan. Added the drained and well dried noodles to the sauce for the last few mins, and it did water the sauce a little bit, but the sauce is so thick it didn't much matter. Added the shrimp on before serving as they're pone to over cooking.
Tip from me: if you have white pepper around it goes great on Alfredo! More depth than black pepper and pairs quite well.
staysnatched says
Thanks for sharing!
Tisa says
I used this recipe tonight with dinner except I already had organic spinach pasta and I used that instead of the zoodles, it was perfect! I will be utilizing this recipe at least once a month. Thank you for such easy instructions along with the tips!
staysnatched says
You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Linda says
This is so delicious. Thank you for sharing this.
staysnatched says
You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Beth says
I love this! I was just wondering, how many TOTAL carbs would this meal be?
staysnatched says
Enter the brand of the ingredients you used into a Macros Calculator. I personally use MyFitnessPal.
Candice says
Amazing! Thank you!
staysnatched says
Wondeful. I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Grumpy McGee says
The exact recipe I am looking for! Thanks Brandi!
WHY do people ask the author about substitutions, how to split up the recipe, alterations? We're all adults here, do your own research. "Can I use something else for zucchini in this recipe?" Absolutely. Is it the author's responsibility to have done all of that work for you? Absolutely NOT.
staysnatched says
You're welcome! And I agree with all of this!
Diondra Newton says
This recipe was delicious! I used 2 pkgs of frozen zucchini spirals since I didn’t have a spiralizer on hand and drained them well. I also added some chopped tomatoes for a little color. Super quick and simple to pull together. The family loved it! Thank you! 💜
staysnatched says
I love that you used frozen zucchini noodles!
Bekah says
AMAZING! When I seen someone else say “better than a restaurant” I rolled my eyes 😐. But after literally just eating it (5 minutes ago) I HAD to write a review! It is amazing!!! Soo good and better than any Italian restaurant I’ve ever ate at! I also added scallops and quite a bit more whipping cream! But will now be a family favorite. EVERYONE in my house loved it!!!
staysnatched says
haha skeptic turned believer!
Carmen Munoz says
This is my go-to when I’m craving pasta. So yummy and creamy. Brandi’s Alfredo sauce is on point.
staysnatched says
The sauce is the best part!
Josilyn York says
Delicious!!!!! My husband loved it and didn’t even miss the noodles.
staysnatched says
That's so good to hear!
Pamela says
I made this for dinner tonight. Of course, I didn't have enough zucchini, so I added baby spinach and baby kale. I didn't have cream cheese so I used some Mascarpone and creme fraiche I had leftover from another dish. Fortunately, I had all the other ingredients. This was THE BEST Alfredo I've EVER made! It wasn't too heavy and had great depth of flavor. It was very filling in a good way. I'm definitely saving this recipe and using this one exclusively from now on. I like how this recipe stretches! I frequently cook for friends and this will make a fast, easy, delicious and economical dish to gift. In the future, I'm going to try chicken, Italian sausage and vegetarian.
staysnatched says
I love those substitutions!
Dawn Marie says
Made this tonight! De-lish!!! So flavorful and creamy. I appreciated the tips on doing your zucchini then putting on paper towel with salt. I’ve used zucchini noodles before and I did not do this. You’re right, it adds way too much water to recipe.
I moved shrimp to plate, then wiped out the pan before I added the butter. I also increased butter to 3 TBLS, cream cheese to about 3/4 of block, 1 C heavy cream. I find so many recipes leave little sauce.
Thank you for your wonderful recipe!
staysnatched says
I'm glad you appreciated the tips!
Simone says
This was sooooo fire (good)! I added bell peppers to mine because I love them in my pasta. AND she's not lying about those noodles and letting them sit. I learned the hard way 🙂
staysnatched says
haha that step is so important!
Amy says
So good and so easy. It’s a recipe that you can edit to your liking without making it more difficult. I added mushrooms to mine. Definitely a good go-to!
staysnatched says
I love the sound of that!
Linda Temple says
Made this today for just myself ....OMG Delicious
staysnatched says
Wonderful! So glad you enjoyed it!
Kathryn says
I stumbled across this recipe about a year ago and it has been a staple (the sauce particularly) in our home ever since. I love it and more importantly, my teen daughter loves it! It is to die for, seriously. Thanks for sharing with the masses!
staysnatched says
Glad to hear it's a staple.
Abbie says
Everything about this recipe is amazing! Definitely will be making this a lot more, thanks!!
staysnatched says
Thank you so much!
Rose. says
I made this dish last night for dinner and it was delicious! I'm not a fan of cream cheese and I almost didn't add it, but I can just hear my daughter in my head telling me that I never follow a recipe (sigh...) so I tried it and it was very good. My husband enjoyed it as well (he had it with pasta) 🙂
staysnatched says
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Ken says
This was great ! I ran out of cream and used almond milk and it was still great
staysnatched says
Glad to hear it worked!
Erika says
Great recipe! I added old bay like someone suggested and it was delicious.
staysnatched says
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Lauren says
Absolutely delicious! I might be addicted. Loved the tip about drying out the zucchini noodles beforehand. Very helpful.
staysnatched says
I'm glad the tip worked out.
Heather says
This was delicious!! I’ve been wanting to kake this for a year!! SO hlad I finally did. Though, I don’t think I let my zoodles sit long enough to drain as the sauce got a little liquidy….Total user error. It was STILL delicious and will make again and agan! Thanks Brandi for the delicious recipe!
staysnatched says
I'm glad you got to make it!
Natalya says
Made this for dinner last night and it was delicious! My 2yr old loved it. Definitely adding to the dinner rotation, quick and easy!
staysnatched says
Wonderful! So glad you enjoyed it.
Simonè Dumas says
My favorite part about this meal is how easy and quick it is. Loved the zucchini noodles as a replacement for pasta noodles. I wish I would’ve let them sit more on the napkin, I was impatient. I wonder how it’ll taste with some sautéed spinach?
staysnatched says
Definitely have to be patient if you don't want it watery.
Erica says
I needed the find the best Alfredo sauce, and I knew right where to come!! Did NOT disappoint! This was so easy and so delicious! My cross country running daughter and her teammate are eating good tonight! Thank you!
staysnatched says
Wonderful! I'm so glad to hear it.
Collier L says
Love this delicious keto meal! The sauce is so easy to make so please put those jars down. Creamy, packed with flavor and guilt free! The red pepper flakes add that extra pop of flavor too!
staysnatched says
That sounds so good!
Amanda G. says
I made this the other night for dinner and it turned out great. I was craving a creamy seafood dish so this was perfect. I’m not keto so I served it with pasta instead of the zucchini and added spinach for some greens, then had your air fried lobster tail on the side! So good!
staysnatched says
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Brenda says
This recipe was so quick, easy and so delicious. I used half the cream cheese because that was all I had on hand, added a little extra cream and Parmesan, it was still so creamy and rich.
staysnatched says
I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Heather says
WOW! So creamy and flavorful. I didn't have enough zucchini, so I just made this with shirataki noodles - also a great combination. Thanks for another wonderful recipe 🙂
staysnatched says
That sounds so good!