This tasty Whole30 and Keto Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta is one of the best copycat recipes I’ve had! Complete with spicy fried shrimp and a creamy Bang Bang Sauce, this healthy weeknight dinner is a crowd pleaser. It's also Paleo and easy to make AIP. Use zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash for a low carb pasta option!
Is this recipe healthy?
This Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta is a healthified twist on a restaurant favorite! When you order Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta from a restaurant, you can expect a carb-heavy meal laden with inflammatory fats. Use this Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta for your cravings fix!
Here are some of the healthy swaps in this Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta:
Shrimp
Well, there’s no swap for this antioxidant- and nutrient-rich seafood! Luckily, shrimp is already a healthful food. Shrimp provides you with protein, Omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, B12, phosphorus, and more. Choose wild-caught, sustainably-sourced shrimp over farmed.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is the oil of choice for pan-frying your shrimp. Unlike inflammatory restaurant oils, coconut oil is an easily-absorbed form of saturated fat that provides you with lauric acid.
Coconut Flour & Arrowroot Powder
I use coconut flour and arrowroot powder as the grain-free breading for these Bang Bang Shrimp. Both provide fiber and nutrients!
Low-Carb Noodles
I use Hearts of Palm pasta noodles, zucchini noodles, or spaghetti squash to keep this dish on the low-carb side of things!
How to make Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta
You’re in luck — Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta may seem like a complicated dish but it’s actually super easy. This pasta has three major components: the crispy shrimp, the spicy Bang Bang sauce, and the tasty pasta. Let’s start with the shrimp.
First, make your shrimp by coating peeled and deveined shrimp in the whisked egg (omit this step for AIP or egg sensitivities.) Then dredge the egg-coated shrimp in your arrowroot and coconut flour mixture to ‘bread’ it. Place them on a baking sheet while you heat your coconut oil in your skillet over medium-low heat.
You’ll fry your breaded shrimp in a single layer for about 2-3 minutes each side (pro tip — if the breading ‘sticks’ to the skillet when you try to flip, it’s not ready! Shrimp are ready to flip when they easily come up.) Place on a paper towel to absorb excess oil. Set aside while you make your sauce.
Now comes the Bang Bang Sauce — arguably the best part! To make the sauce, you’ll simply whisk your mayo, hot sauce, ketchup, coconut aminos, and seasonings until well-combined. That’s all!
Now gently toss your shrimp in your sauce to evenly coat. Top with sliced scallions and sesame seeds, if desired. Place a serving on top of some grain-free noodles and enjoy!
Customize this recipe for your diet
This recipe is very adaptable for a variety of diets. Here are a few tips on how to customize this recipe to suit your needs.
Make it Keto
To make this Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta keto or low-carb, use zoodles, Hearts of Palm pasta, or spaghetti squash and serve alongside an extra serving of fat. You’ll also want to swap the arrowroot flour for a keto-friendly flour like almond.
Make it Paleo & Whole30
To make this recipe Paleo & Whole30, simply follow the above directions! You can choose any of the low-carb pasta options, or increase the complex carb count with spaghetti squash, sweet potato noodles, or grain-free pasta like Cappello’s (Capello's is not Whole30 approved).
You can click here for the easiest way to cook spaghetti squash (in the Instant Pot!)
Make it AIP
To make this recipe AIP, carefully follow the AIP version (listed beneath the Paleo and Whole30 version). The AIP recipe omits egg, uses AIP versions of ketchup and mayo, and replaces hot sauce with horseradish. You can use any of the pasta options listed for AIP, except for Cappello’s.
Pro tips for making this paleo pasta recipe quick and easy:
- Before starting to coat your shrimp, set up an assembly line for all the steps. This makes it easy to move from one step to the next.
- The best way to get an even coating on your shrimp is to keep your fingers clean between each step of the dredging. I keep an extra bowl of water and a hand towel nearby.
- In order to get a golden brown coating, be sure to keep your burner on medium-low heat.
- If the breading ‘sticks’ to the skillet when you try to flip, it’s not ready! Shrimp are ready to flip when they easily come up.
More AIP, Whole30, and Paleo copycat recipes you’ll love:
Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta (Whole30, Keto, & Paleo)
Equipment
- pot
- skillet
- tongs
Ingredients
For the Shrimp
- 1 pound shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup coconut flour
- 1/4 cup arrowroot flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoon coconut oil
- sliced green onions optional, for garnish
- sesame seeds optional, for garnish
For the Bang Bang Sauce (Paleo and Whole30 version)
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise Whole30 approved
- 2 tablespoon hot sauce Whole30 approved
- 1/3 cup ketchup Whole30 approved
- 2 tablespoon coconut aminos
- 2 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
Options for the Pasta
- Hearts of Palm pasta noodles
- Zucchini Noodles
- Spaghetti Squash
Instructions
- Break egg into a shallow, wide bowl and whisk until scrambled. Set to the side.
- Stir together coconut flour, arrowroot flour, and salt in a large bowl.
- One at a time, coat shrimp in the egg then dredge in flour mixture. Place on a baking sheet.
- Over medium heat, melt coconut oil in a large skillet. Fry shrimp in a single layer, adding more oil as needed. You’ll likely need to cook the shrimp in batches depending on the size of your skillet.
- Let the bottom of the shrimp brown before you flip (about 2-3 minutes) and cook through on the other side. Once fully cooked and crispy, remove the shrimp from the skillet and onto a towel or paper towel to absorb excess oil.
- Whisk together the ingredients for the sauce in a large bowl. Carefully add fried shrimp to the ⅓ cup of the sauce and toss. Combine prepared noodles of choice with the remainder of the sauce and toss to coat evenly.
- Plate the noodles and top with shrimp. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.
Notes
Whole30 variations:
- Be sure to use Whole30 approved mayonaise, ketchup, and hot sauce.
- Use zoodles, sweet potato noodles, or spaghetti squash for the noodle option.
Keto variations:
- Swap the arrowroot flour with almond flour.
- Use Hearts of Palm Noodles or zoodles for the noodle option.
Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta (AIP)
Equipment
- pot
- skillet
- tongs
Ingredients
For the Shrimp
- 1 pound shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1/3 cup coconut flour
- 1/4 cup arrowroot flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup coconut milk canned or from a carton
- 2 tablespoon coconut oil
- sliced green onions, for garnish optional
For the Bang Bang Sauce (Paleo and Whole30 version)
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise AIP
- 1/3 cup ketchup AIP
- 2 tablespoon coconut aminos
- 1 tablespoon Organic Horseradish Powder optional, for spice
- 2 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
Options for the Pasta
- Hearts of Palm pasta noodles
- Zucchini Noodles
- Spaghetti Squash
Instructions
- Pour coconut milk into a shallow, wide bowl. Set to the side.
- Stir together coconut flour, arrowroot flour, and salt in a large bowl.
- One at a time, coat shrimp in the coconut milk then dredge in flour mixture. Place on a baking sheet.
- Over medium heat, melt coconut oil in a large skillet. Fry shrimp in a single layer, adding more oil as needed. You’ll likely need to cook the shrimp in batches depending on the size of your skillet.
- Let the bottom of the shrimp brown before you flip (about 2-3 minutes) and cook through on the other side. Once fully cooked and crispy, remove the shrimp from the skillet and onto a towel or paper towel to absorb excess oil.
- Whisk together the ingredients for the sauce in a large bowl. Carefully add fried shrimp to the ⅓ cup of the sauce and toss. Combine prepared noodles of choice with the remainder of the sauce and toss to coat evenly.
- Plate the noodles and top with shrimp. Garnish with green onions.
Notes
Amazing! My husband who HATES the idea of AIP recipes cooked this for our family. I guess COVID-19 is really getting to him! The entire family including him LOVED IT. Definitely a redo for us.
So happy you all loved it!