The secret to making shrimp one of the easiest – and healthiest – weekday meals ever is in preparation. Whether you buy it peeled and deveined or have it done at the fish counter, the beauty of this versatile food is that it tastes just as good cold as it is warm. Shrimp is easy to turn into a dinner or perfect prepackaged lunch, and it’s not complicated to cook: it has a built-in timer that is ready once it turns translucent and pink.
Shrimp are also an excellent source of lean protein. With almost zero fat and lots of omega-3, selenium, B-12, iodine, and other important nutrients, it should be a regular part of your diet.
The trick to keeping shrimp healthy, however, is to make sure your sauces are free of excess butter and oil and skip deep frying. However, that doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to your beloved scampi or coconut prawns.
Read on for the best healthy shrimp recipes that cut down on greasy prep without sacrificing flavor. (Also, check out our 21+ Best Healthy Salmon Recipes For Weight Loss.)
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald
Healthy olive oil is infused with tons of garlic and spices and then the shrimp are quickly fried in the fragrant oil. Serve this delicious dish with steamed vegetables and rice or some crusty bread to soak up the aromatic oil.
Get our Spanish Garlic Shrimp Recipe.
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Courtesy Kentucky Derby / Churchill Downs
This protein-rich salad is great for a healthy weekday lunch as it tastes delicious served cold. Bonus: If you present the dish on a fancy platter, it is also perfect for a party.
Get our recipe for Shrimp Succotash Salad.
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Kiersten Hickman / Eat this, not that!
This naughty shrimp and broccoli recipe is made ASAP. Your trusted instant pot will be ready to have dinner on the table in a minute.
Get our recipe for Instant Pot Shrimp and Broccoli.
RELATED: 30+ Healthy Instant Pot Recipes for Weight Loss
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald
This irresistible appetizer is baked, not fried, so be sure to add it to your holiday table.
Get our recipe for Crispy Coconut Shrimp.
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Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald
Skip the dietary shrimp scampi and make this flavorful shrimp noodle dish instead. White wine, garlic, and a touch of red pepper make this an easy, healthy, and delicious weekday meal.
Get the Fra Diavolo low-calorie shrimp recipe.
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Kiersten Hickman / Eat this, not that!
If you’re still in the mood for this classic’s lemon garlic butter, try this recipe that slices open the fat and still gives you all that decadent flavor.
Get the Prawn Scampi with Linguine Pasta Recipe.
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Courtesy Kristine Kidd
This recipe builds on flavor rather than adding fat. Tomatoes, olives, and capers are cooked in a white wine sauce, and creamy polenta captures all of the flavorful goodness.
Get the recipe for shrimp in tomato, olive and caper sauce.
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Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald
Roasting shrimp with Old Bay seasoning adds another dimension to this classic starter. And once you’ve seen how easy it is to make your own cocktail sauce, you’ll never go back to the soft bottle stuff.
Get the Recipe for Oven Roasted Shrimp Cocktail Recipe.
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Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald
Turkey keelbasa breaks up this allusion to the classic southern dish and leaves room for a bit of cheddar cheese to strengthen the grits.
Get the recipe for the Southern Style Shrimp and Grits Recipe.
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Carlene Thomas / Eat this, not that!
The trick to making this dish a winner is to roast the unsweetened coconut before coating the shrimp. A quick dip in coconut milk adds a touch of tropical flavor.
Get the Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp Recipe.
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Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald
When you see how easy it is to make your own lo mein at home, you’ll never want sticky takeaway items again. Bonus, you can mix and match your favorite vegetables.
Get our Lo Mein Low Calorie Shrimp Recipe.
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Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald
Marinating shrimp in a combination of orange juice, chipotle pepper and garlic gives this dish a sweet and tangy taste. Tip: To prepare several quesadillas at the same time, use the oven instead of a frying pan.
Get our recipe for Chipotle Shrimp Quesadilla.
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Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald
A classic warm bacon dressing makes this protein-rich salad perfect for a quick lunch, but also chic enough for guests.
Get our recipe for healthy shrimp and spinach salad with warm bacon.
RELATED: 35+ Healthy Salad Recipes for Weight Loss
If life gives you leftover shrimp, turn them into these easy weekday tacos.
Get our recipe for Shrimp Taco with Pickled Onions.
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald
Summer rolls are lean and clean spring rolls. The mild taste of prawns is the perfect foil for crunchy vegetables, spicy mango and super thin rice noodles.
Get our recipe for Shrimp and Mango Summer Roll.
Browse our easy, healthy seafood recipes:
