Skinny BBQ Shrimp is a lighter take on the classic New Orleans BBQ shrimp. It keeps the bold, garlicky, slightly spicy flavor of the original while cutting back significantly on butter and oil, making it a quicker, lower-calorie option that works well as a main dish or appetizer.
Traditional New Orleans BBQ shrimp is famously rich and buttery, but you don’t need a heavy sauce to get great flavor. This version trims the fat without losing the essentials: garlic, lemon, Worcestershire sauce and a blend of spices. The shells are left on the shrimp to add depth to the sauce, and a splash of hot sauce and green onions round out the dish.
Use fresh shrimp if you can, or properly thaw frozen shrimp. Keep the shells on to extract more flavor into the pan sauce. In this recipe I use only 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter, plus lemon juice, Cajun or Creole seasoning, paprika, Worcestershire, oregano, thyme, green onions, and a dash of hot sauce for heat.
Serve Skinny BBQ Shrimp with crusty French bread to soak up the sauce, or pair it with roasted vegetables and a green salad for a lower-carb meal. The dish comes together quickly and delivers a satisfying, Southern-style flavor with far fewer calories than the traditional version.
Only 210 calories per serving!
Skinny BBQ Shrimp
Skinny BBQ Shrimp is a lighter version of the classic New Orleans BBQ shrimp recipe. It is still full of flavor and spice, but I’ve cut way back on the amount of butter and oil so that it is easier on the waistline.
Main Course
Southern
Ingredients
-
2
tablespoons
olive oil -
1
tablespoon
butter -
1
tablespoon
minced garlic -
1
tablespoon
Worcestershire sauce -
1 1/2
teaspoons
paprika -
1 1/2
teaspoons
oregano -
1/2
teaspoon
dried thyme -
1 1/2
teaspoons
Cajun or Creole seasoning -
1/4
teaspoon
pepper -
1
teaspoon
hot sauce - juice of half a lemon
-
2
green onions,
sliced -
1
pound medium to large
fresh shrimp,
unpeeled
Instructions
-
Add all ingredients except the green onions and shrimp to a large skillet or pan. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat so the flavors meld and the garlic softens.
-
Stir in the green onions and add the shrimp. Cook, stirring frequently, for 3 to 5 minutes or until the shrimp are opaque and cooked through. Avoid overcooking—shrimp will continue to finish cooking off the heat. Taste the sauce and add salt if needed; the Cajun seasoning and Worcestershire sauce often provide enough seasoning on their own.
Calories from Fat 99