This popcorn shrimp recipe is low-carb, gluten-free, and keto friendly. Made with clean ingredients, keto bread crumbs, and wild-caught shrimp. Bake in the oven, pop in the air fryer, or fry in a skillet — all in under 20 minutes!
What Is Popcorn Shrimp?
It’s a funny name but popcorn shrimp are just small shrimp that are breaded and (usually) fried. This gluten-free fried shrimp recipe is a low-carb version that involves baking them in the oven, resulting in a side dish that is salty, crunchy, and scrumptious! Old Bay seasoning is used to season gluten-free breadcrumbs for a classic coastal flavor.
What Is Old Bay Seasoning? Is It Clean & Gluten-Free?
Iconic for its yellow tin can, Old Bay seasoning is one of the most common seasonings used in American seafood. While not organic, it is clean. Old Bay comprises celery salt, spices (including red pepper and black pepper), and paprika. It does not contain maltodextrin, sugar, or other yucky ingredients. It also does not contain wheat, barley or rye, which are the three main types of gluten-containing grains, so is generally regarded as gluten-free. However, if you have celiac disease, check the label for cross-contamination labels.
What To Serve With Old Bay Popcorn Shrimp
Popcorn shrimp can be served by itself as a snack or as a side dish. But if you’d like make it the focal point of your meal, you can serve alongside it cauliflower rice, zucchini noodles, broccoli, green beans, asparagus, sauteed spinach or kale, or a green salad with keto-friendly dressing.
Farm-Raised vs. Wild-Caught Shrimp
While farm-raised shrimp are very inexpensive and abundant in grocery stores, they come with a price. (pun intended) Farm-raised seafood are typically fed terrible quality diets, which often include dyes, to make them plump and pink. What the shrimp eat, you eat, too. Farm-raised seafood conditions are often unsanitary and can pass on toxins and chemicals to you. Yikes! When I am shopping for my keto seafood recipes, I always make sure to budget for wild-caught. It is purer, cleaner, and tastes like it was freshly caught.
How To Cook These Gluten-Free Popcorn Shrimp
This gluten-free popcorn shrimp recipe may be made in the oven, air fryer, or fried in a skillet. The easiest method is baking in the oven.
- Oven– 475 degrees for 12 minutes
- Air Fryer– 400 degrees for 5 minutes
- Skillet– nonstick over medium heat with 2 tablespoons of oil, 2 minutes per side. Similar to these fried salmon patties.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs large wild-caught shrimp
- 1 egg, beaten
- 2 tbsp half & half
- 1 batch gluten-free bread crumbs
- 3 tsp Old Bay seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 475 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a baking rack on top.
- Prepare a breading station. In a shallow bowl (a pie plate works well), mix the beaten egg with the half ‘n’ half. In a separate shallow bowl, mix the bread crumbs and the Old Bay seasoning.
- Dredge the shrimp through the egg mixture until it is well coated.
- Transfer the shrimp to the breading mixture and coat thoroughly. Use your hands, a fork, or tongs to make sure the shrimp are well coated. Work in batches until all shrimp are breaded.
- Place the breaded shrimp on the baking sheet. Bake for 6 minutes, flip, and cook for 6 more minutes. (You can skip the flip but the underside may be slightly less crunchy)
- Remove from oven. Let cool 1 minute before transferring to a serving dish.
FAQs
No, Old Bay seasoning is 0 carbs. It is suitable for keto, gluten-free, Paleo, and Whole30 lifestyles.
It is best to purchase large wild-caught shrimp with the tails on. The shrimp will shrink when cooked so a large sized raw shrimp yields the perfect sized popcorn shrimp!
Try one of these dips with your low-carb popcorn shrimp: Homemade Tartar Sauce, Homemade Cocktail Sauce, reduced-sugar ketchup.
How To Store Old Bay Popcorn Shrimp
Let the popcorn shrimp cool completely. You can then store it in the fridge in an airtight container for up to three days or in the freezer for up to three months. Just let it thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating. The texture and crispiness of the shrimp may suffer from being stored, and while you can microwave them, i recommend putting them in the oven or on the skillet.
Old Bay Popcorn Shrimp (Low-Carb, Gluten-Free)
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds large wild caught shrimp
- 1 egg beaten
- 2 tablespoons half & half
- 1 batch gluten free bread crumbs
- 3 teaspoons old bay seasoning
Instructions
- Preaheat oven to 475 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a baking rack on top.
- Prepare a breading station. In a shallow bowl, like a pie plate, mix the beaten egg with the half n half. In a sepearte shallow bowl, mix the bread crumbs and the old bay seasoning.
- Dredge the shrimp throught the egg mixture until it is well coated.
- Transfer the shrimp to the breading mixture and coat thoroughly. Use your hands, a fork, or tongs to make sure the shrimp are well coated. Work in batches until all shrimp are breaded.
- Place the breaded shrimp on the baking sheet. Bake for 6 minutes, flip, and cook 6 minutes longer. (You can skip the flip but the underside may be slightly less crunchy)
- Remove from oven. Let cool 1 minute before transferring to a serving dish.
Notes
Nutrition
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