Low Sodium Shrimp Scampi Recipe
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Jump to RecipeThis low sodium shrimp scampi recipe is light, flavorful, and simple to make – with unsalted butter, fresh garlic, lemon juice, and herbs! A quick and tasty recipe that’s ready in about 20 minutes.
Along with this delicious recipe, I’ll outline tips for picking the lowest sodium shrimp. I love serving this shrimp scampi as a sauce over linguine, or alongside roasted potatoes with a large chopped salad.
I’ve been looking for more protein options for dinner, and found some fantastic low sodium shrimp that I cooked up in a classic scampi sauce! I got my shrimp from Trader Joe’s (which I highlighted in my low sodium Trader Joe’s guide) which has the lowest sodium amount I’ve been able to find for shrimp.
Start by sautéing garlic in unsalted butter, toss in the shrimp and cook with a little white wine, lemon juice, and top with fresh parsley! A delicious and hearty meal that goes great with so many low sodium side dishes.
Why Make Low Sodium Shrimp Scampi?
- It’s quick!
- Made with simple ingredients
- A great dinner idea
- It goes with so many sides
- It’s a good meal idea any time of year
- Ready in less than 30 minutes!
How To Find Low Sodium Shrimp
Shrimp can be one of the most difficult foods to find low in sodium. That’s because shrimp are often packed in salt before being processed. With any food, make sure to only buy shrimp that have a nutrition label! That way you know exactly what you are getting.
The lowest sodium shrimp I have been able to find are the frozen medium shrimp at Trader Joe’s which have 160 mg of sodium per 85 grams (or 20 of their shrimp) which is what I used for this recipe.
And be careful of ‘fresh shrimp’ at your local markets, which can just be thawed shrimp that has previously been frozen in packages. Our local fish market (right on the ocean!) sells thawed shrimp, which turns out is very high in sodium as it was packed in salt. So don’t buy any unless the shrimp has a nutrition label, even if you live in the gulf coast where you can find fresh shrimp.
Ingredients in Low Sodium Shrimp Scampi
See the recipe card below for a full list of instructions and ingredient amounts!
Shrimp
As stated above, make sure you buy shrimp that has a nutrition label on it. And check the frozen section of your grocery store! You may be able to find different options, even a smaller shrimp size that can fit in with your needs.
Unsalted Butter
Which makes the base of this scampi sauce. The butter melts and sautés the garlic, which adds a wonderful flavor to the shrimp. You could also substitute olive oil instead.
Garlic
Use fresh garlic if you can, which gives a great flavor to this dish! Since there aren’t many ingredients, I find using the best fresh garlic brings this recipe up a notch!
Lemon
Like the garlic, fresh is best! The lemon juice adds a nice acidity and is a classic pairing with protein.
White Wine
I added just a little white wine (1/4 cup) to this recipe for flavor, as it’s a classic component of shrimp scampi. I used a pinot grigio, but you can use any good white wine variety you prefer.. If you need a substitute for wine, you can use a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar which gives a nice tartness too.
Fresh Herbs
I finished off my low sodium scampi with fresh parsley. You could also use fresh basil too, if desired.
How To Make Shrimp Scampi Low Sodium?
- In a medium pan or skillet, add the unsalted butter and melt over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add in the shrimp to the pan – if the shrimp are pre-cooked, then saute for 3 minutes on each side. If shrimp are uncooked, cook them for 5 minutes on each side until the shrimp are no longer transcalent and pink.
- Add the white wine, black pepper, and chili flakes, and cook for 2-3 minutes over medium heat until the sauce begins to reduce.
- Remove from heat and add squeeze the fresh lemon juice over the shrimp, add in the fresh parsley, and toss well to combine.
- Serve hot, over pasta, grains or potatoes, and enjoy. Store leftover shrimp in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 1 day.
More Low Sodium Dinner Ideas You May Enjoy
- Low Sodium Fish Tacos
- Low Sodium Cashew Chicken
- Easy Low Sodium Goulash
- Low Sodium Meatloaf Recipe with Ground Turkey
- Low Sodium Baked Halibut Recipe
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Low Sodium Shrimp Scampi
Equipment
- Pan or Skillet
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 large cloves garlic minced
- 12 ounces low sodium shrimp peeled and deveined, see notes above for picking the best shrimp
- ½ cup white wine I used pinot grigio
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red chili pepper flakes
- 1 lemon juiced, about 1 tablespoon
- ¼ cup chopped parsley
Instructions
- In a medium pan or skillet, add the unsalted butter and melt over medium heat. Add the garlic and saute for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add in the shrimp to the pan – if the shrimp are pre-cooked, then saute for 3 minutes on each side. If shrimp are uncooked, cook them for 5 minutes on each side until the shrimp are no longer transcalent and pink.
- Add the white wine, black pepper, and chili flakes, and cook for 2-3 minutes over medium heat until the sauce begins to reduce.
- Remove from heat and add squeeze the fresh lemon juice over the shrimp, add in the fresh parsley, and toss well to combine.
- Serve hot, over pasta, grains or potatoes, and enjoy. Store leftover shrimp in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 1 day.
Notes
Nutrition
*Please note, all nutrition content is estimated based on the ingredients we used, it may vary based on your ingredients. Always check your nutrition labels to verify sodium amounts.
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Love this shrimp meal
Loved the sauce and it was amazingly flavorful for low-sodium. However, cooking the shrimp for 5 min/side is a tad too long. I will definitely repeat this recipe but will make the sauce and add the shrimp at the end. Your site is such a help finding tasty low-sodium recipes. Thanks!!
A super meatless meal