Low-Carb Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta Recipe

Have you ever had bang bang shrimp? It's all about the creamy, spicy sauce that pairs perfectly with sweet and succulent shrimp. This meal happens to be a PERFECT pairing for pasta—and if you're watching your carbs, you can still indulge!

We’ve made over bang bang shrimp into a crave-worthy, satisfying pasta dish that’s about to become your new favorite low-carb dinner. Wait until you try this one! You’re going to fall in love!

What is Bang Bang Shrimp?

Bang bang shrimp is a riff on the Sichuan dish bang bang chicken. While you might think the name stems from the kicky, spicy sauce, it's actually named for the chicken preparation. Bang bag refers to a meat mallet called a "bàng" in Mandarin. It was used to pound and tenderize chicken. The shredded chicken could then readily absorb delicious sauces.

Bang bang chicken was often served as a cold, shredded chicken dish with a complex sauce (known as guài wèi or “strange flavor). The sauce brings the flavor with many potent ingredients, including chili oil, vinegar, sesame paste, and herbs.

In the Western adaptations of this dish, the sauce has evolved—keeping the spice, but now featuring a creamy base (typically from mayonnaise, along with chili sauce for heat). The creamy version of this dish gained popularity at many American restaurants, with bang bang shrimp being particularly popular at the Bonefish Grill restaurant chain, where it became their signature appetizer.

The dish features crispy fried shrimp tossed in a creamy, spicy, slightly sweet sauce for a balance of heat, tanginess, and creaminess. Basically, this dish has a LOT going on, and it's no wonder the mix of contrasts draws people in.

Not only do you get the interesting flavor combination of the sauce, but the shrimp served in bang bang shrimp is often fried and crispy, adding a texture combination against the sauce too.

Now, there are plenty of ways to make this dish low-carb, and you may not think that turning it into a “pasta dish” is one of them. But with It’s Skinny, we’ve taken bang bang shrimp off the appetizer menu and elevated it to the main course.

If you're following keto, you'll want to replace the sugar-heavy chili sauce with a sugar-free option that contains keto-friendly sweeteners (we'll give you all the details below).

This dish is adaptable with lots of proteins and even veggies. Some vegetarian riffs include bang bang tofu, bang bang broccoli, and bang bang cauliflower. No matter what, once you try this sauce, you’ll agree that it’s darn near perfect.

Going Low-Carb with Pasta

We know it sounds counter-intuitive, but if you want to boost your meals and make them more filling, turn them into (It’s Skinny) pasta dishes!

It’s Skinny is made from a very special ingredient—Konjac root. Konjac root is a vegetable that’s chockful of satisfying glucomannan fiber. That means, unlike regular pasta dishes, there’s no carb high and then crash. Instead, your blood sugar levels stay steady and you simply feel pleasantly full.

What's even better about It’s Skinny shirataki pasta made from konjac root? There are ZERO net carbs! A two-serving pack has only 9 calories, and it’s the perfect way to bulk up your meal without guilt.

Keto followers have found that It's Skinny is a great tool for staying on track. When you're full and enjoying dishes you love, it's hard to feel deprived, and you're less likely to cheat on your diet and go off the rails.

It’s Skinny is even an excellent solution for intermittent fasters, who can enjoy a helping of plain It’s Skinny pasta with a little salt, pepper, and oil, without even breaking their fast! Who would have believed that the secret to staying on track with your diet was pasta?!

It’s Skinny is available in all your favorite pasta shapes too, so it’s easy to find the perfect low-carb swap for any recipe. In this bang bang shrimp pasta, we chose classic spaghetti, which goes well with the textures of this dish.

But the secret is—you can enjoy any shape of It’s Skinny in any recipe:

·       Angel Hair

·       Fettuccine

·       Pappardelle

·       Couscous

·       Orzo

·       Spaghetti

·       Noodles for Soup

No matter what you’re craving, there’s an It’s Skinny shape to fit the bill and provide the perfect base for dinner.

It’s Skinny has another advantage over its traditional pasta counterparts—it takes just minutes to cook. All you need to do is open the pack, drain, rinse, and set your noodles aside while you bring together the other ingredients.

When everything’s ready, add It’s Skinny to the pan and let it heat through for 2-3 minutes. That’s it! There’s no boiling water or waiting for that just al dente texture.

It’s Skinny takes on the flavors of surrounding ingredients, making it wonderful in spicy and flavorful dishes. If you want more of that crave-worthy bang bang sauce, It’s Skinny is the perfect delivery device!

Making Keto Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta Your Way

This keto bang bang shrimp pasta is a riff and a nod to a traditional dish. But if you want to add your own spin, feel free! There are lots of ways to customize in the kitchen, and we always encourage support of the culinary arts.

If you’re looking for a few ideas to makeover this recipe, here are some modifications to try.

Can I use another protein?

Since this dish was originally made from chicken, it’s a great option for changing up the protein. Once you try the fantastic sauce, you might realize it tastes good on nearly everything—particularly chicken, so feel free to go that route if you prefer.

You could also try this with small pieces of pork, tofu, and other types of fish. The sauce can be delicious with salmon, drizzled on a poke bowl, or used as a dip too. When you taste the sauce, you'll likely agree that it's unbeatable.

Can I add vegetables to this dish?

Vegetables are simply divine in this dish. There are an endless number of possibilities, too. If you're on keto, you’ll want to check any ingredient swaps or additions to make sure you’re correctly tracking carbs (yes, even veggies have carbs).

Some keto-friendly options to play with: broccoli, cauliflower, red bell pepper, mushrooms, bok choy, and any type of leafy green. You could also try bang bang sauce with squash, zucchini, or celery.

What makes this recipe keto-friendly?

All It’s Skinny pastas are gluten-free, low-carb, and keto-friendly. They're also plant-based, making them a good answer for practically any eating style. So yes, it’s keto-friendly pasta that you can enjoy any time.

Traditional bang bang shrimp is breaded and deep fried, but we use keto-friendly almond flour to bread our shrimp, so there are no worries there. The other issue is usually the sweet chili sauce. Fortunately, there are some keto-friendly, sugar-free chili sauces out there, along with keto-friendly mayonnaise options. Basically, you CAN have this dish and let yourself dig in and enjoy.

Keto Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta (with It’s Skinny)

Alright, who’s ready for some killer low-carb bang bang shrimp? The sauce, the noodles, the sweet little shrimp—it all goes together in a perfect dish that will crush your cravings and keep you feeling full.

This keto-friendly spin combines crispy shrimp with creamy, spicy bang bang sauce and It’s Skinny Pasta. Prepare to meet your new favorite dinner!

Ingredients:

·        It’s Skinny Spaghetti

·        8 oz medium raw shrimp, peeled and deveined

·        1 tsp salt

·        ½ tsp black pepper

·        ½ tsp smoked paprika

·        ¼ cup almond flour

·        1 egg, beaten

·        1 tbsp avocado oil

·        ¼ cup keto-friendly mayonnaise (such as Duke’s or Primal Kitchen)

·        1 tbsp sugar-free sweet chili sauce (such as G. Hughes or homemade)

·        1 tsp sriracha (use sparingly as sriracha has some carbohydrates)

·        1 tsp lime juice

·        1 tsp minced garlic

·        1 tsp butter

·        1 tbsp heavy cream (optional)

·        1 tbsp chopped green onions

·        1 tbsp sesame seeds

Instructions

Step 1: Open the pack of It’s Skinny Spaghetti, drain, rinse, and set aside.

Step 2: Pat the shrimp dry and season with salt, pepper, and paprika. Dip each shrimp into the beaten egg, then dip in the almond flour to lightly coat. Begin to heat avocado oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and fry shrimp for 2-3 minutes per side; set the shrimp aside.

Step 3: In a small bowl, whisk the mayo, sugar-free chili sauce, sriracha, and lime juice.

Step 4: Heat the butter in the same skillet over medium heat. Saute the garlic for 30 seconds. Add the It’s Skinny Spaghetti to the pan and stir in the heavy cream (optional). Allow the pasta to heat through for 3 minutes.

Step 5: Plate the pasta, top with the crispy shrimp, and drizzle generously with the bang bang sauce. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds to taste!