Crockpot Spaghetti Squash Shrimp Scampi

Crockpot spaghetti squash shrimp scampi is a healthy one-pot recipe that’s easy to make. Lighten up your diet while the slow cooker does the work with this low-carb, paleo, and Whole30 compatible seafood recipe! Instructions to make this shrimp scampi alternative in the Instant Pot are also included.

Ingredients For Spaghetti Squash Shrimp Scampi

Like a traditional shrimp scampi, the ingredients for this recipe are simple.

• Spaghetti Squash: Find a spaghetti squash that will fit a 6-quart slow cooker or Instant Pot when cut cross-wise. For me that means a spaghetti squash that is approximately 2 pounds.
• Shrimp: One pound of your preferred shrimp whether it’s peeled, shelled, tail-off, tail-on, etc. Just make sure they’re cleaned & deveined first.
• Onion: 1 small onion. Use more or less if you like.
• Lemon: 1 medium lemon, juiced.
• Ghee or Butter: If you want this shrimp scampi to be paleo or whole30 compliant, you will need to use ghee. If you’re not worried about that, feel free to use butter.
• Garlic: I love garlic so for me, 3 garlic cloves is playing it safe. Use it as a guide and use as little or as much garlic as you want to add.
• Broth: Only 1 cup of broth is used. Keep in mind that 2 additional cups of liquid will be added later.
• Coconut Milk/Whipping Cream: Whether you use coconut milk or whipping cream will depends on whether or not you want this recipe to be paleo/whole30 compliant.
• Seasonings: The seasonings for this scampi recipe are simple: parsley, salt, and pepper.

How To Make Spaghetti Squash Shrimp Scampi 

Prepare The Spaghetti Squash:

Cut spaghetti squash in half, crosswise. Scoop out the seeds.

Slow Cooker

1. Add broth, lemon juice, onion, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, and melted ghee to the slow cooker. Stir to mix well. Add the prepared spaghetti squash the slow cooker, hole side down.
2. Cook on for HIGH 2 to 3 hours or LOW 4 to 6. It’s done when the the spaghetti squash is soft.
3. Carefully remove the spaghetti squash from the slow cooker, it will be hot.
4. Stir in the coconut milk or whipping cream. Add shrimp and cook an additional 10 minutes or until the shrimp is pink.

Instant Pot

1. Add ghee to the Instant Pot and select sauté. The ghee doesn’t have to be melted first, that’s only for the slow cooker. Once hot add the onion and cook for 2 to 5 minutes or until the onions are soft. Add the garlic and cook an additional minute.
2. Turn off the Instant Pot. Pour in the broth & deglaze the bottom of the pressure cooker by scraping all the bits off with a wooden spoon. Stir in the lemon juice, parsley, salt, and pepper. Add the prepared spaghetti squash, hole side down.
3. Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook for 25-30 minutes* or until the squash is soft.
4. When cooking  time is complete, quick release the pressure. If the squash is tender to the touch, it’s done. If this is the case, cook an additional 2 minutes.
5. Carefully remove the spaghetti squash (it will be hot) from the Instant Pot and set aside.
6. Turn the pressure cooker to sauté. Stir in the coconut milk or whipping cream. Gently stir in the shrimp and cook an additional 5-10 minutes or until the shrimp are pink.

To Serve:

Using a fork, scrape the side of the spaghetti squash so you have long, spaghetti-like strands. Top with shrimp and sauce from the slow cooker or Instant Pot.

FAQs & Tips

What Is Spaghetti Squash?

Spaghetti squash is a cucurbita pepo vegetable. In other words, it’s a squash. The seeds inside spaghetti squash are similar to pumpkin seeds. When cooked, the inside flesh is scraped into spaghetti-like strands. Hence why spaghetti squash exploded on the scene a few years ago as a popular, healthy,  alternative to spaghetti. You can cook spaghetti squash several ways, including in the slow cooker; either by itself or as a part of a recipe like you see here.

What Is Shrimp Scampi?

Shrimp scampi is a popular Italian-American dish where you sauté shrimp in butter, garlic, onion, and other ingredients. I say other ingredients because shrimp scampi is another recipe where you have leeway to really make it your own. Obviously this isn’t a traditional shrimp scampi because it’s made in the slow cooker. This slow cooker shrimp scampi is also uses spaghetti squash instead of pasta noodles. 

Is this healthy?

This can be as healthy as you want it to be. For the recipe to be paleo and Whole30 compatible, you will need to use coconut milk & ghee. For low-carb/keto, you can use coconut milk & ghee as well but you also have the option to use whipping cream (or heavy whipping cream) and butter. What you see in the pictures is the healthier version using coconut milk and melted ghee.

How do you store leftovers?

Store leftover crockpot spaghetti squash shrimp scampi in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 

What size slow cooker should you use?

I used a 6-quart slow cooker or Instant Pot.

Spaghetti Squash Recipes

• Chicken

• Meatballs

• Meat Sauce

• Pizza

Crockpot Spaghetti Squash Shrimp Scampi

Pin Recipe

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 1 review

Crockpot spaghetti squash shrimp scampi is a healthy one-pot recipe that’s easy to make. Lighten up your diet while the slow cooker does the work with this low-carb, paleo, and Whole30 compatible seafood recipe! Instructions to make this shrimp scampi alternative in the Instant Pot are also included.

• Author: Shannon Epstein
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 3 hours
• Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
• Yield: Serves 4
• Category: Dinner, Main
• Method: Pressure Cooking, Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Gluten-Free, Keto, Low-Carb, Paleo, Whole30

Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 spaghetti squash, cut in half crosswise (approx. 2 pounds)
• 1 pound shrimp
• 1 cup vegetable or low-sodium chicken broth
• 15 ounces coconut milk or whipping cream
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 small onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon salt (or more)
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/4 cup ghee, melted

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Prepare The Spaghetti Squash:

Cut spaghetti squash in half, crosswise. Scoop out the seeds.

Slow Cooker

1. Add broth, lemon juice, onion, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, and melted ghee to the slow cooker. Stir to mix well. Add the prepared spaghetti squash the slow cooker, hole side down.
2. Cook on for HIGH 2 to 3 hours or LOW 4 to 6. It’s done when the the spaghetti squash is soft.
3. Carefully remove the spaghetti squash from the slow cooker, it will be hot.
4. Stir in the coconut milk or whipping cream. Add shrimp and cook an additional 10 minutes or until the shrimp is pink.

Instant Pot

1. Add ghee to the Instant Pot and select sauté. The ghee doesn’t have to be melted first, that’s only for the slow cooker. Once hot add the onion and cook for 2 to 5 minutes or until the onions are soft. Add the garlic and cook an additional minute.
2. Turn off the Instant Pot. Pour in the broth & deglaze the bottom of the pressure cooker by scraping all the bits off with a wooden spoon. Stir in the lemon juice, parsley, salt, and pepper. Add the prepared spaghetti squash, hole side down.
3. Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook for 25-30 minutes* or until the squash is soft.
4. When cooking  time is complete, quick release the pressure. If the squash is tender to the touch, it’s done. If this is the case, cook an additional 2 minutes.
5. Carefully remove the spaghetti squash (it will be hot) from the Instant Pot and set aside.
6. Turn the pressure cooker to sauté. Stir in the coconut milk or whipping cream. Gently stir in the shrimp and cook an additional 5-10 minutes or until the shrimp are pink.

To Serve:

Using a fork, scrape the side of the spaghetti squash so you have long, spaghetti-like strands. Top with shrimp and sauce from the slow cooker or Instant Pot.

Nutrition

• Serving Size:
• Calories: 334
• Sugar: 8.3 g
• Fat: 18.3 g
• Saturated Fat: 11.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 20.7 g
• Fiber: 3.9 g
• Protein: 25.2 g
• Cholesterol: 213 mg

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive money if you make a purchase using this link. For more about my disclosure policy see here: https://fitslowcookerqueen.com/about/disclosure-policy/, https://fitslowcookerqueen.com/about/disclosure-policy/affiliates/