Low-Calorie Shrimp Scampi Over Pasta

Written by
Kimberley Eggleston
Kimberley Eggleston is a registered dietitian, nutrition class instructor, and food writer who specializes in healthy cooking.
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Kimberley Eggleston
Updated 04/14/21
Easy Low-Calorie Shrimp Scampi

The Spruce
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 15 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
235 Calories
8g Fat
21g Carbs
20g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 235
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8g 10%
Saturated Fat 2g 11%
Cholesterol 148mg 49%
Sodium 742mg 32%
Total Carbohydrate 21g 8%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 20g
Vitamin C 7mg 34%
Calcium 111mg 9%
Iron 2mg 9%
Potassium 234mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Scampi is the Italian word for prawn (which is another word for shrimp), so translated in English "Shrimp Scampi" means "Shrimp Shrimp." But no matter what the name of this well-known and well-loved dish means, it is defined as a delicious preparation of shrimp cooked in butter, garlic, and parsley, often served over pasta.

While most shrimp scampi recipes are made with loads of butter, this easy shrimp scampi uses only a bit of butter as the base, supplemented with aromatic olive oil to give it a healthier bent with extra flavor. Since the cooking time is as long as it takes for the pasta to cook, it is perfect for a weeknight dinner. And although simple to prepare, this dish is impressive, and can easily be doubled; plus, the pasta base means only a side vegetable is needed to round out the meal.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound angel hair pasta

  • 1 teaspoon unsalted butter

  • 4 teaspoons olive oil

  • 4 cloves garlic, finely minced

  • 1 pound (31 to 35) large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined

  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

  • Dash of kosher salt

  • 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Low-Calorie Shrimp Scampi ingredients
    The Spruce

  2. Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package.

    Cooked angel hair pasta in a pot
    The Spruce 

  3. Meanwhile, in a skillet, heat the butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 3 minutes, watching to make sure the garlic doesn't brown.

    Olive oil, butter in garlic in frying pan
    The Spruce

  4. Add the shrimp, parsley, lemon juice, and salt, and cook until the shrimp are pink and curled, 2 to 3 minutes a side.

    Shrimp, parsley, lemon juice in frying pan
    The Spruce

  5. Drain the pasta and toss it together with the shrimp mixture and the Parmesan cheese.

    Easy Low-Calorie Shrimp Scampi
    The Spruce

  6. Serve and enjoy.

Tip

You can buy raw (usually deveined) shrimp either from your local fish market or frozen in bags from your supermarket. If you are using frozen shrimp, place in a colander and run under cold water until thawed. Peel and dry with a paper towel before cooking.