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This Mediterranean Garlic Shrimp is inspired by one of my all-time favorite dishes from Spain—gambas al ajillo.
It’s simple, bold, and full of flavor. Juicy shrimp baked in a garlicky olive oil sauce, finished with lemon, tomatoes, and a sprinkle of feta—it’s the kind of dish that feels special, but is incredibly easy to make at home.
Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- A Little Backstory
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- Calories and WW Points
- How to Make Low Carb Garlic Shrimp
- Recipe Tips & Notes
- Serving Suggestions
- Ways to Use Leftovers
- Mediterranean Garlic Shrimp (Easy, Low Carb & WW-Friendly) Recipe
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Easy Shrimp Recipes
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ready in about 20 minutes
- Big, bold garlic flavor
- Naturally low carb and protein-packed
- Simple ingredients with a Mediterranean twist
- Perfect for dinner, entertaining, or tapas-style meals
A Little Backstory
I lived in Spain for four years while serving in the U.S. Navy, and it’s still one of my favorite places in the world.
We were stationed near the coastal town of Rota, where fresh seafood, strong coffee, and simple meals were part of everyday life. On a recent return trip, not much had changed—and one dish we kept coming back to was gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp).
This recipe is my easy, at-home version—simple, flavorful, and reminiscent of those meals we enjoyed so much.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Large shrimp (peeled and deveined) – The star of the dish. You can use fresh or frozen (thawed). Smaller shrimp will cook faster—just adjust timing.
- Garlic (minced) – Essential for that classic flavor. Fresh is best, but jarred works in a pinch.
- Olive oil – Adds richness and helps carry the garlic flavor.
- Butter – Adds depth and a silky finish. You can reduce or replace with more olive oil if preferred.
- Salt & pepper – Simple seasoning to enhance the shrimp.
- Crushed red pepper flakes (optional) – Adds a little heat—adjust to your taste.
- Fresh lemon juice – Brightens everything and balances the richness.
- Roma tomato, diced – Adds freshness and a pop of color. Cherry tomatoes work well too.
- Feta cheese, crumbled – Adds a salty, tangy contrast. You can omit or substitute with goat cheese if preferred.
- Fresh parsley or basil, chopped – Adds a fresh finishing touch.
Calories and WW Points
According to my calculations, each serving has 246 calories and 7 WW Points.
To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
(You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)
7 PointsPlus (Old plan)
How to Make Low Carb Garlic Shrimp
Step 1:
Preheat oven. Add olive oil, butter and garlic to an 8-inch square pan. Heat in oven until garlic sizzles.
Step 2:
Add seasoned shrimp to hot pan with oil and garlic and cook.
Step 3:
Remove pan and turn the shrimp. Add the lemon juice, diced tomatoes, feta and parsley or basil.
Step 4:
Return to oven until shrimp are done.
Recipe Tips & Notes
- Don’t overcook shrimp—they become tough quickly
- Preheating the oil, butter, and garlic makes a big difference in flavor
- Use a wide dish so shrimp cook evenly
- Pat shrimp dry before cooking for best texture
Serving Suggestions
This dish is incredibly versatile:
- Serve with warm crusty bread or flatbread and a green salad.
- Try it over your favorite pasta.
- Keep it low carb by using zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash.
- Serve alongside brown rice and steamed broccoli.
- Enjoy it with grilled or oven roasted vegetables.
Ways to Use Leftovers
- Add to a salad or grain bowl
- Use as a topping for flatbread or pizza
- Stir into scrambled eggs or an omelet
- Turn into a quick soup with broth, greens, and beans or orzo
If you’ve made this Mediterranean Garlic Shrimp, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
Mediterranean Garlic Shrimp (Easy, Low Carb & WW-Friendly)
Ingredients
- 1 pound large shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 lemons, juiced
- 1 Roma tomato, diced
- 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley or basil, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F degrees.
- Add olive oil, butter and garlic to an 8-inch square pan. Heat in oven 2-3 minutes or until garlic sizzles.
- Pat dry shrimp and season with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes.
- Add shrimp to hot pan with oil and garlic. Return to oven and cook for 5 minutes.
- Remove pan and turn the shrimp. Add the lemon juice, diced tomatoes, feta and parsley or basil.
- Return to oven for 7-10 minutes or until shrimp are done.
Notes
- If you are using smaller shrimp, reduce cooking time.
- Thaw frozen shrimp overnight in the refrigerator or more quickly by soaking in cool water for 10-15 minutes.
(Must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.) 7 PointsPlus (Old plan)
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use frozen shrimp?
Yes—just thaw completely and pat dry before using.
How do I know when shrimp are done?
They should be pink, opaque, and slightly curled.
Can I make this on the stovetop instead?
Yes—sauté garlic in oil and butter, then cook shrimp and finish with toppings.
Is this very garlicky?
Yes—in the best way! You can reduce the garlic if you prefer a milder flavor.
Can I make this dairy-free?
Absolutely—just skip the butter and feta or replace with olive oil.
More Easy Shrimp Recipes
If you enjoyed this one, you might also like:
I made this dish for my family and we loved it! Very easy recipe to follow.
I added some diced onions to the garlic butter stage of cooking, plus upped Roma tomatoes from one to two, and bumped up the feta from 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup.
Awesome!
Hi Karol, So glad you liked it. Thanks for taking the time to let us know!! ~Martha
So delicious and easy!!!
Will definitely make this again!
I’m looking forward to trying this recipe. Is the shrimp frozen cooked shrimp or raw shrimp? Thank you Marilyn Schmidt
Raw shrimp.
I had made a similar recipe for this dish, but once I tried this one – there was no question that it was much more flavorful. It’s now the standard Greek Shrimp that is my go-to.
Substituted sweet paprika for the red pepper flakes and it was amazing. I served it over stir fried cauliflower rice with mushrooms, green onions, veggie broth and herbs. Fantastic meal for someone watching their carb intake Diabetic).
Thanks for letting us know Kathi! ~Martha
My copy of this recipe says Low Calorie not Low Carb when I printed it on June 5 2019, however it is the same. We really loved it; it was so light and summery. I did put it over whole wheat thin spaghetti and didn’t have feta cheese so I used parmesan. It was wonderful and light. Thanks for great recipes and it helps me a lot in my journey to lose weight on Weight Watchers.
I have made this recipe — and LOVE it!! Another great idea I have for using it – but haven’t gotten to doing so yet – is to use it as a topping for baked potatoes!!!!
Much more tasty and less caloric than the usual potato stuffings of broccoli, cheese, sour cream, bacon and other items that we are familiar with.
Thank you so much for sharing this dish! My father was stationed at Rota from 1963-66 and Gambas al Ajillo was an absolute favorite of ours. I have such wonderful memories of strolling the streets in the evening to have this as an appetizer with Fanta (for us kids) and Sangria for my folks; such a looked forward to treat. I think the only thing that matched it in our opinion was the wonderful fresh calamari fritti that was consumed right alongside it. I have such wonderful memories of Rota and playing on the beaches there and at Puerto de Santa Maria.
Makes a great meal or appetizer. I love versatile dishes that come together quickly. This recipe is definitely a keeper.
What a fantastic dish! I used to live in Spain during my Navy days and loved the Tapas; garlic shrimp was at the top of my list. It’s simple and delicious. I went back for a nostalgic visit two years ago and immediately sought out the garlic shrimp tapas. I thought, “nothing could be better than this”. I was wrong. Adding feta cheese to this Spanish classic brought a Greek influence that amplified the flavors, surpassing all expectations. Add some French bread and a glass of white wine and you have the perfect paring!