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15 Healthy Shrimp Recipes That Are Perfect for Weight Loss

We've lightened up all your favorite ways to eat this beloved shellfish.
FACT CHECKED BY Faye Brennan
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The secret to making shrimp one of the easiest—and healthiest—weeknight meals of all time is in the preparation. Whether you buy it peeled and deveined or ask for that to be done at the seafood counter, the beauty of this versatile food is that it tastes just as good served cold as it does hot. Shrimp can easily transform into dinner or a perfect, pre-packed lunch, and it's not complicated to cook: It has a built-in timer in that, once it turns translucent and pink, it's done.

Shrimp also happens to be an excellent source of lean protein. With almost zero fat and plenty of omega-3s, selenium, B-12, iodine, and other important nutrients, it should be a regular part of your diet.

However, the trick to keeping shrimp healthy is to make sure your sauces are free of excess butter and oil and to skip the deep frying. But, that doesn't mean you need to say goodbye to your beloved scampi or coconut shrimp.

Read on for the best healthy shrimp recipes that cut the greasy preparation without sacrificing any flavor. (Plus, check out our 21+ Best Healthy Salmon Recipes for Weight Loss.)

Spanish Garlic Shrimp

Healthy spanish garlic shrimp
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Healthy olive oil is infused with tons of garlic and spice and then the shrimp is quickly sauteed in the fragrant oil. Serve this delicious dish with steamed veggies and rice or some crusty bread to soak up the flavorful oil.

Get our recipe for Spanish Garlic Shrimp.

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Shrimp Succotash Salad Recipe

shrimp succotash salad
Courtesy of Kentucky Derby / Churchill Downs

This protein-packed salad is great for a healthy weekday lunch because it is delicious served cold. Bonus: If you present the dish on a fancy platter, it's also perfect for a party.

Get our recipe for Shrimp Succotash Salad.

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Instant Pot Shrimp and Broccoli

shrimp and broccoli with cauliflower rice sprinkled with sesame seeds green onions and sriracha
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

This saucy shrimp and broccoli recipe is as quick as it gets. Have dinner on the table in one minute with the use of your trusty instant pot.

Get our recipe for Instant Pot Shrimp and Broccoli.

 30+ Healthy Instant Pot Recipes for Weight Loss

A Crispy Coconut Shrimp Recipe That Isn't Fried

Healthy coconut shrimp
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

This impossible-to-resist appetizer is baked not fried, so be sure to add this to your holiday table.

Get our recipe for Crispy Coconut Shrimp.

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Low-Calorie Shrimp Fra Diavolo Recipe

Healthy shrimp fra diavolo
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Skip the diet-busting shrimp scampi and make this spicy shrimp pasta dish instead. White wine, garlic, and a touch of red peppers make this an easy, healthy, and delicious weeknight meal.

Get the recipe for Low-Calorie Shrimp Fra Diavolo.

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Shrimp Scampi With Linguine Pasta

Garlic shrimp scampi recipe with linguine on a marble counter with squeezed lemon
Kiersten Hickman / Eat This, Not That!

If you're still craving the lemon garlic butter of this classic, try this recipe which slashes the fat and still gives you all of the decadent flavor.

Get the recipe for Shrimp Scampi With Linguine Pasta.

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Shrimp in Tomato-Olive-Caper Sauce with Polenta

shrimp with polenta
Courtesy of Kristine Kidd

This recipe builds upon flavor instead of adding fat. Tomatoes, olives, and capers cook down in a white wine sauce and creamy polenta catches all of the tangy goodness.

Get the recipe for Shrimp in Tomato-Olive-Caper Sauce.

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Oven-Roasted Shrimp Cocktail Recipe

Healthy shrimp cocktail
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Roasting shrimp with Old Bay seasoning gives another dimension to this classic appetizer. Plus, once you see how easy it is to make your own cocktail sauce you'll never go back to the wimpy bottled stuff.

Get the recipe for Oven-Roasted Shrimp Cocktail Recipe.

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Southern-Style Shrimp and Grits Recipe

Low-calorie shrimp and grits
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Turkey kielbasa lightens up this nod to the classic Southern dish, leaving room for a bit of cheddar cheese to fortify the grits.

Get the recipe for Southern-Style Shrimp and Grits Recipe.

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Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp

coconut shrimp 2
Carlene Thomas/Eat This, Not That!

The trick to making this dish a winner is toasting the unsweetened coconut before coating the shrimp. A quick dip in coconut milk adds a hint of tropical flavor.

Get the recipe for Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp.

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Low-Calorie Shrimp Lo Mein Recipe

Low-calorie shrimp lo mein
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

When you see how easy it is to make your own lo mein at home you'll never want to gloppy take-out stuff again. Bonus, you can mix and match your favorite veggies.

Get our recipe for Low-Calorie Shrimp Lo Mein.

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Chipotle Shrimp Quesadilla

Chipotle shrimp quesadilla
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Marinating shrimp in a combination of orange juice, chipotle pepper, and garlic infuses this dish with sweet-and-spicy flavor. Tip: To make more than one quesadilla at a time use the oven instead of a saute pan.

Get our recipe for Chipotle Shrimp Quesadilla.

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Healthy Shrimp and Spinach Salad With Warm Bacon

Healthy spinach salad with warm bacon dressing
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

A classic warm bacon dressing makes this protein-packed salad perfect for a quick lunch but also fancy enough for guests.

Get our recipe for Healthy Shrimp and Spinach Salad With Warm Bacon.

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Shrimp Taco With Pickled Onions Recipe

Healthy spinach salad with warm bacon dressing

When life gives you leftover shrimp, turn it into these easy weeknight tacos.

Get our recipe for Shrimp Taco With Pickled Onions.

Shrimp and Mango Summer Roll Recipe

Healthy summer rolls
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Summer rolls are spring rolls lean and clean cousin. The mild flavor of shrimp is the perfect foil for crunchy veggies, tangy mango, and super thin rice noodles.

Get our recipe for Shrimp and Mango Summer Roll.

 

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Meaghan Cameron
Meaghan Cameron is Deputy Editor of Restaurants at Eat This, Not That! Read more about Meaghan