Weeknights are always busy. One of my all-time favorite recipes, garlic butter shrimp and zucchini noodles (zoodles) with tomatoes, basil, and spinach, is ready in less than 12 minutes. It’s packed full of healthy fats, protein, and nutrients and oh so satisfying. To make this recipe I use my spiralizer. I love my spiralizer, and highly recommend investing in one if you’re on a real-food based way of eating. If you don’t have one, no worries! Almost every store carries spiralized vegetable noodles (including Wal-Mart!), either fresh or frozen. Both work well for this simple recipe. And if you don’t have shrimp lovers in your house, you can also chop up chicken breasts or steak as well. Heck even if you do love shrimp but want some variety, any protein will do!
Garlic Butter Shrimp and Zoodles
For one serving (and increase as needed)you will need: 1 zucchini, 1 tbsp butter (or olive oil to be dairy free) 8-10 medium sized thawed and peeled cooked shrimp*, 1-3 cloves of garlic, 8-10 grape tomatoes, 5-8 fresh basil leaves (or 1/2 tsp dried basil), 1 handful baby spinach, and salt to taste.
First, preheat your skillet on medium heat. While the skillet is preheating, mince your garlic. Add butter to the hot skillet and melt completely. Now add in garlic. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring a couple times to prevent the garlic from burning. Add in tomatoes and cover with a lid for 3-4 minutes. Remove lid and stir tomatoes around then recover for another 2-3 minutes. While the tomatoes are cooking, chop the basil and spiralize your zucchini. Stir in your basil and spinach, stir in and cook until wilted, about 2-3 minutes. Add in zucchini noodles, stir in with the other ingredients, and cook for 1-2 minutes. (Zoodle cooking tip: do not add salt! They’ll release too much water and become mushy.)
Serve immediately. Salt to taste.
*If you want to cook your own raw shrimp, that works too! Cook in the butter garlic mixture, remove from the pan, cook as directed, then add back in at the end.
Have you tried this recipe? Please leave a comment and let me know your thoughts below!
Garlic Butter Shrimp and Zucchini Noodles
Ingredients
- 1 zucchini
- 8-10 medium cooked and peeled shrimp
- 1 tbsp butter or olive oil
- 1-3 cloves of garlic
- 8-10 grape tomatoes
- 5-8 leaves fresh basil
- 1 handful baby spinach
- salt, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your skillet on medium heat.
- While the skillet is preheating, mince your garlic. Add butter to the hot skillet and melt completely.
- Now add in garlic. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring a couple times to prevent the garlic from burning.
- Add in tomatoes and cover with a lid for 3-4 minutes. Remove lid and stir tomatoes around then recover for another 2-3 minutes.
- While the tomatoes are cooking, chop the basil and spiralize your zucchini.
- Stir in your basil and spinach, stir in and cook until wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add in zucchini noodles, stir in with the other ingredients, and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Serve immediately. Salt to taste.
