sweet chili sesame shrimp and zoodles in a bowl with chopsticks

It’s true what they say that no two children are alike – even if they’re siblings. While Lincoln was content to sit and observe life as an infant, Cam spends his days grasping for anything and everything within reach. Strangers had to work to get a smile from Lincoln, while an ant passing by on the sidewalk is enough to give Cameron the giggles. Lincoln ate what I put on his high chair, nothing more or less, while Cameron bangs two tiny fists on his tray when the last puff is gone.

I get the food fury, I do. Clearly he got it from his Mama because I totally feel like hurling my bowl across the room in agony when the last bite of Sweet Chili Sesame Shrimp and Zoodles is gone. This easy, summery dish requires just 5 ingredients, 1 skillet, and less than 15 minutes of cooking time. It is SO darn good!

Watch How to Make It!

Sweet Chili Sesame Shrimp and Zoodles

Sweet Chili Sesame Shrimp and Zoodles tastes like a cross between sesame shrimp and lo mein yet is low-fat, low-carb, and gluten-free too. A sweet and savory mixture of sweet chili sauce, gluten-free Tamari, and sesame oil is not only drizzled over sizzling shrimp, but acts as the sauce for a bed of sauteed zoodles. I love when you can get multi uses out of one sauce – couldn’t be easier!

sweet chili sesame shrimp and zoodles in a bowl with chopsticks

Prepare Sweet Chili Sesame Shrimp and Zoodles on a hot summer night when you don’t want to heat up the kitchen, or truly any time you’re craving a sizzling and satisfying, flavor-packed dish. Who’s hungry?

chopsticks picking up zucchini noodles out of a bowl

How to Make This Recipe

Start by spiralizing 3 medium or 4 small zucchini, that are the same width from top to bottom, with your machine’s largest noodle blade. I love my Paderno Spiralizer.

To ensure you don’t get soggy zucchini noodles place the zoodles in a colander set atop a bowl then lightly salt and toss with your fingers. Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour, to give the salt time to pull some moisture out of the zoodles, then pat dry with a kitchen towel or paper towels. Done!

spiralized zucchini on a paper towel

Meanwhile, whisk together sweet chili sauce, reduced sodium gluten-free Tamari or soy sauce (dish will not be GF if using tradditional soy sauce,) and sesame oil in a large bowl. Scoop half the sauce into a small dish and reserve, then add 16/20-count jumbo shrimp that have been peeled, deveined, and patted dry to the bowl with the remaining sauce and toss to coat.

Next heat a large skillet over medium heat then spray with nonstick spray or mist with extra virgin olive oil and add half the shrimp. Saute for 2 minutes on one side then flip and spoon a bit of the reserved sauce on top and saute for another 1-2 minutes, or until the shrimp are cooked through. Remove to a plate then repeat with remaining shrimp.

jumbo shrimp cooking in a skillet

Last step is to add the zoodles. Saute for 1 minute then add as much of the remaining sauce as you like and continue to cook until the zoodles are al dente – I like them to be rather crisp in this dish! Finally, add the shrimp back into the skillet to warm through.

shrimp and zoodles cooking in a hot skillet

Minutes later, Sweet Chili Sesame Shrimp and Zoodles! So incredibly easy, I can hardly even stand it! I hope you love this yummy, summery dish – enjoy!

sweet chili sesame shrimp and zoodles in a bowl with chopsticks

5-Ingredient Sweet Chili Sesame Shrimp and Zoodles

4.5/5 (3 REVIEWS)

Description

Sweet Chili Sesame Shrimp and Zoodles takes minutes to cook and is full of tongue-tingling flavor. This light and healthy gluten-free recipe calls for just 5 ingredients!

Ingredients

serves 2

  • 4 small or 3 medium zucchini, ends trimmed
  • 1/4 cup + 3 Tablespoons gluten-free sweet chili sauce (I like Grama's)
  • 1/4 cup reduced-sodium gluten-free Tamari or soy sauce
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 3/4lb 16/20-count jumbo shrimp, peeled, deveined and patted dry

Directions

  1. Spiralize zucchini using the fattest noodle blade to create zoodles then add to a colander set atop a bowl. Lightly salt then toss with your fingers to coat and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour to drain excess liquid. Remove zoodles from refrigerator then pat dry with kitchen or paper towels.
  2. Meanwhile, add sweet chili sauce, Tamari or soy sauce, and sesame oil to a large bowl then whisk to combine. Spoon 1/2 the sauce into a small dish and reserve, then add the shrimp to the remaining sauce in the bowl and toss to coat.
  3. Heat a large, 12" skillet over medium heat then spray with nonstick spray or mist with extra virgin olive oil. Add half the shrimp then saute for 2 minutes on the first side, and flip. Spoon a bit of the reserved sauce on top of the now cooked side then continue to saute for another 1-2 minutes, or until cooked through. Remove to a plate. Respray or mist skillet then add remaining shrimp and cook, repeating spooning sauce over the second side, and remove to the plate.
  4. Turn heat up to medium-high then add zoodles and saute for one minute. Spoon desired amount of remaining reserved sauce into the skillet, depending on how saucy you want the zoodles, then toss to coat and continue to saute until zoodles are crisp-tender, 1-2 additional minutes (I like them more crisp for this dish.) Add shrimp back into the skillet to warm through then scoop into bowls and serve.

Notes

This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.

Video

Photo collage of sweet chili shrimp and zoodles