Craving a delicious, low-carb dinner that’s both quick to prepare and bursting with flavor? Look no further! This Creamy Spicy Keto Shrimp and Sausage Skillet is the ultimate one-pan wonder, promising minimal cleanup and maximum satisfaction. Imagine succulent shrimp and savory smoked sausage, perfectly seasoned with bold Cajun spices, all swimming in a rich, velvety cream sauce. It’s a guaranteed hit for any weeknight meal, delivering a restaurant-quality experience right in your kitchen.

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Creamy Spicy Keto Shrimp and Sausage Skillet: Your Ultimate Low-Carb Weeknight Meal

Skillet dinners are a busy cook’s best friend, and this recipe is a prime example of why. In less than 40 minutes, you can create a meal that feels both indulgent and remarkably effortless. The combination of tender shrimp and hearty smoked sausage, coated in a luscious, spicy sauce, offers a dynamic taste experience that will awaken your taste buds. Not only is it incredibly flavorful, but it’s also perfectly aligned with a ketogenic lifestyle, making it a fantastic choice for anyone managing their carbohydrate intake without sacrificing deliciousness.

Why This Keto Skillet Will Become Your New Favorite Dinner

This dish stands out for its incredible balance of flavors and textures. Each bite offers the juicy tenderness of shrimp, complemented by the satisfying chew of smoked sausage. The Cajun seasoning provides an exciting kick, while the creamy sauce mellows the heat, creating a harmonious blend that’s both comforting and exhilarating. Beyond its fantastic taste, this recipe shines for its simplicity and adaptability. It’s a versatile foundation, easily customized to suit your preferences, whether you crave more heat, extra vegetables, or a different protein blend. Plus, the one-pan nature means less time scrubbing dishes and more time enjoying your fantastic meal.

Mastering the Creamy, Flavorful Sauce for Your Skillet

The heart and soul of this shrimp and sausage skillet lies in its thick, rich, and wonderfully creamy sauce. We achieve this luxurious texture primarily with heavy whipping cream, which is a staple in keto cooking due to its high fat content and low carb count. Heavy cream not only provides an unparalleled richness but also creates a beautiful mouthfeel that elevates the entire dish.

Customizing Your Creamy Skillet Base

For those with lactose sensitivities or dairy allergies, fear not! You can easily adapt this recipe by substituting the heavy whipping cream with full-fat canned coconut milk. Make sure to use coconut milk from a can, not the thinner carton variety, as the canned version offers the necessary richness and creaminess required for the sauce. It will lend a subtle tropical note, which beautifully complements the spicy Cajun flavors.

Another fantastic aspect of this keto skillet is its minimal net carb count, coming in at just 4 grams per serving. This makes it an ideal choice for strict ketogenic diets. If your daily carb allowance permits, feel free to enhance the dish with more vibrant vegetables like additional bell peppers and onions. These not only contribute a delightful crunch and natural sweetness but also boost the fiber content and add a spectrum of essential nutrients and antioxidants, making your meal even healthier and more satisfying.

The Perfect Protein Pair: Shrimp and Smoked Sausage

The culinary magic of this dish truly comes alive with the harmonious pairing of shrimp and smoked sausage. Shrimp offers a delicate, sweet flavor and a tender, quick-cooking texture, while smoked sausage brings a robust, savory, and slightly smoky depth that stands up beautifully to the spicy cream sauce. This combination ensures a memorable and incredibly delicious meal every time.

Protein Alternatives and Flavor Boosters

While the shrimp and sausage duo is exceptional, this recipe is wonderfully flexible. If you have a preference or specific ingredients on hand, you can certainly make this skillet with just shrimp or just sausage. Both options will still deliver a fantastic, keto-friendly meal, albeit with a slightly different flavor profile. For an extra layer of decadence and crunch, consider topping your finished skillet with a sprinkle of crispy bacon crumbles. The salty, smoky crunch of bacon provides a delightful textural contrast and an additional burst of savory flavor that truly elevates this dish above other recipes.

Essential Ingredients for Your Keto Skillet Success

Crafting this outstanding Creamy Spicy Keto Shrimp and Sausage Skillet relies on a few key ingredients. Understanding their role and how to select them will ensure your dish is nothing short of perfect.

Shrimp: Opt for high-quality shrimp, whether fresh or frozen. If using frozen, ensure it’s fully thawed and patted dry before cooking to prevent excess moisture and ensure a good sear. Peeled and deveined shrimp with the tails removed are typically preferred for skillet dishes, making them easier to eat.
Smoked Sausage: The type of smoked sausage you choose can significantly impact the flavor. Look for a good quality, low-carb smoked sausage. Andouille sausage is a popular choice for Cajun-inspired dishes, offering a spicy kick, but any fully cooked smoked sausage will work. Always check the labels for hidden sugars or high-carb fillers if you’re strictly keto.
Olive Oil & Butter: These healthy fats form the cooking base. Olive oil is excellent for sautéing at medium-high heat, while butter adds a rich, nutty flavor to the sauce base.
Cajun Seasoning & Cayenne Pepper: Cajun seasoning is the backbone of the dish’s spicy flavor. You can use a store-bought blend (again, check for carbs) or make your own for customized heat. Cayenne pepper allows you to fine-tune the spiciness to your exact preference.
Onion & Bell Peppers: These aromatics create a flavorful foundation for the sauce. Red and green bell peppers add color, sweetness, and a mild crunch, while onions contribute a savory depth. Feel free to use different colored bell peppers for a more vibrant presentation.
Chicken Broth & Heavy Whipping Cream: Chicken broth adds liquid and savory depth to the sauce, while heavy whipping cream provides its signature richness and creamy texture.
Minced Garlic: Freshly minced garlic offers the best flavor, but jarred minced garlic can be used for convenience. It’s a crucial aromatic that ties the savory elements together.
Salt & Pepper: Essential for seasoning and bringing out the best flavors of all ingredients. Always taste and adjust as you cook.

Serving Suggestions: What to Pair with Your Keto Shrimp and Sausage Skillet

This creamy, spicy shrimp and sausage skillet is a robust and flavorful main course that pairs beautifully with a variety of low-carb side dishes. Here are some fantastic options to complete your meal:

Low-Carb Cheesy Asparagus: The slight bitterness of asparagus complements the rich sauce, and a cheesy topping adds another layer of indulgence.
Keto Cauliflower Fried Rice: A versatile and flavorful alternative to traditional rice, perfect for soaking up every drop of that creamy sauce.
Zucchini Noodles or Palmini Noodles: These low-carb noodle alternatives are excellent for creating a more substantial meal, mimicking a pasta dish without the carbs.
Complementary Seafood: While already featuring shrimp, this skillet also works well alongside other keto-friendly seafood recipes like a Keto Tuscan Salmon or a Keto Cajun Cod Skillet if you’re looking to expand your seafood feast.
Unique Sides: For a truly unique and incredibly tasty experience, try serving it with Bacon-Wrapped Avocado Fries. The crispy, fatty goodness is a perfect match.
Simple Green Salad: A light, crisp green salad with a low-carb dressing can provide a refreshing contrast to the richness of the skillet.
Steamed or Roasted Vegetables: Broccoli, green beans, or Brussels sprouts, simply steamed or roasted with a bit of olive oil and salt, are excellent and easy side options.
Mashed Cauliflower: A creamy, smooth mashed cauliflower can serve as a comforting base, similar to mashed potatoes, but without the carbs.

Easy Meal Prep & Storage Tips for Your Skillet Dinner

This Creamy Spicy Keto Shrimp and Sausage Skillet is best enjoyed fresh, hot off the stove, when the aromas are most potent and the flavors are at their peak. However, it also makes an excellent candidate for meal prep, allowing you to enjoy delicious, low-carb meals throughout the week with minimal effort.

To store leftovers, allow the dish to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight food storage container. It can be kept in the refrigerator for up to three days. For best results when reheating, gently warm the skillet on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. If the sauce has thickened too much, you can add a splash of chicken broth or a little extra heavy cream to restore its creamy consistency. Avoid microwaving if possible, as it can sometimes make the shrimp rubbery, though it’s an option for convenience.

More Delicious Keto Skillet Inspirations

If you’ve fallen in love with the convenience and flavor of creamy skillet dinners, there are many more low-carb options to explore. My Creamy Keto Corned Beef & Cabbage Skillet has been a huge hit with my family, offering a hearty and comforting meal. And for those chicken cravings, my Keto Chicken Skillet with Tomato Basil Cream Sauce is a flavorful go-to. These recipes demonstrate the versatility of skillet cooking, allowing you to create diverse and delicious low-carb meals with ease. While a cast iron skillet is my preferred choice for its excellent heat retention and even cooking, any large non-stick skillet will work perfectly for this recipe.

Creamy Spicy Keto Shrimp and Sausage Skillet Recipe

Get ready to cook! Below, you’ll find the precise ingredients and step-by-step instructions to create this mouthwatering creamy spicy keto shrimp and sausage skillet. All measurements are clearly laid out for your convenience.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
Servings: 6
Net Carbs: 4 net carbs per serving

Ingredients:

1 pound Shrimp (peeled, deveined, tails off)
1 pound Smoked Sausage (sliced into coin-sized pieces)
1 tbsp Olive Oil
2 tbsp Butter
2 tsp Cajun Seasoning (divided)
1/2 Onion (finely sliced or diced)
1/2 Red Bell Pepper (sliced or diced)
1/2 Green Bell Pepper (sliced or diced)
1/3 cup Chicken Broth
1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
2 tsp Minced Garlic (about 2-3 cloves)
Salt and Pepper (to taste)
Cayenne Pepper (to taste, for additional heat)

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Prepare the Skillet: Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet (a cast iron skillet works wonderfully here) over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Ensuring your skillet is adequately preheated is key to achieving a good sear on your proteins.

Cook Proteins: Add the peeled and deveined shrimp and sliced smoked sausage to the hot skillet. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of the Cajun seasoning over them, tossing to coat evenly. Sauté for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the shrimp turn pink and the sausage is nicely browned and cooked through. Remove the cooked shrimp and sausage from the skillet and set aside on a plate; this prevents overcooking while you prepare the sauce.

Sauté Aromatics: Reduce the skillet heat to medium. Add the butter to the same skillet, allowing it to melt and incorporate any remaining flavorful bits (fond) from the cooked proteins. Then, stir in the sliced onions and bell peppers. Sauté for about 5-7 minutes until the vegetables have softened and become tender-crisp. This step builds the aromatic base for your delicious sauce.

Add Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and continue to sauté for another 30 seconds until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic, as it can turn bitter quickly.

Build the Creamy Sauce: Pour in the chicken broth and the remaining 1 teaspoon of Cajun seasoning. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Slowly stir in the heavy whipping cream. Continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes, or until the sauce visibly thickens to a rich, creamy consistency. If you desire more heat, add cayenne pepper to your preference at this stage.

Combine and Serve: Return the cooked shrimp and sausage to the skillet with the thickened sauce. Stir gently to ensure all the proteins are well combined and coated in the rich, creamy sauce and heated through. Taste the dish and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper as needed. For an extra kick, sprinkle with additional cayenne pepper. Serve your delicious Creamy Spicy Keto Shrimp and Sausage Skillet immediately and enjoy!

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Creamy Spicy Keto Shrimp and Sausage Skillet

Print Recipe

Keto Shrimp and Sausage Skillet With Creamy Spicy Sauce

Indulge in a flavor-packed, low-carb feast that’s ready in under an hour! This creamy, spicy keto shrimp and sausage skillet is a guaranteed family favorite, minimizing dishes while maximizing deliciousness.

Course
Dinner, Main Course, Low-Carb

Keyword
Keto Shrimp, Low Carb Skillet, Cajun Shrimp, Creamy Sausage, One-Pan Meal

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 345 kcal

Ingredients

1
pound
Shrimp
peeled and deveined, tails off
1
pound
Smoked Sausage
sliced into coin-sized pieces
1
tbsp
Olive Oil
2
tbsp
Butter
2
tsp
Cajun Seasoning
1/2
Onion
finely sliced or diced
1/2
Red Bell Pepper
sliced or diced
1/2
Green Bell Pepper
sliced or diced
1/3
cup
Chicken Broth
1
cup
Heavy Whipping Cream
2
tsp
Minced Garlic
Salt and Pepper
to taste
Cayenne Pepper
to taste, for additional heat

Instructions

Prepare the Skillet: Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet (cast iron works wonderfully) over medium-high heat until shimmering.
Cook Proteins: Add the peeled and deveined shrimp and sliced smoked sausage to the hot skillet. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of the Cajun seasoning over them, tossing to coat evenly. Sauté for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the shrimp turn pink and the sausage is nicely browned and cooked through. Remove the cooked shrimp and sausage from the skillet and set aside on a plate; this prevents overcooking while you prepare the sauce.
Sauté Aromatics: Reduce the skillet heat to medium. Add the butter to the same skillet, allowing it to melt. Then, stir in the sliced onions and bell peppers. Sauté for about 5-7 minutes until the vegetables have softened and become tender-crisp. Add the minced garlic and continue to sauté for another 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
Build the Creamy Sauce: Pour in the chicken broth and the remaining 1 teaspoon of Cajun seasoning. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Slowly stir in the heavy whipping cream. Continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes, or until the sauce visibly thickens to a rich, creamy consistency. If you desire more heat, add cayenne pepper to your preference at this stage.
Combine and Serve: Return the cooked shrimp and sausage to the skillet with the thickened sauce. Stir gently to ensure all the proteins are well combined and coated in the rich, creamy sauce and heated through. Taste the dish and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper as needed. For an extra kick, sprinkle with additional cayenne pepper. Serve your delicious Creamy Spicy Keto Shrimp and Sausage Skillet immediately and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Calories per serving: 345 kcal
Net Carbs per serving: 4 grams

The nutritional information provided is an estimate and should be used as a guide only. Actual nutritional values may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.

More Irresistible Keto Shrimp Recipes to Explore

If you’re a fan of this incredible creamy shrimp and sausage dish, you’ll love these other low-carb shrimp creations. Each recipe is designed to be flavorful, easy to make, and perfect for your ketogenic lifestyle:

Keto New Orleans BBQ Shrimp: A zesty, buttery, and flavorful dish reminiscent of classic Louisiana cuisine.
Keto Honey Garlic Shrimp: Sweet and savory with a perfect garlicky kick, surprisingly low-carb and incredibly satisfying.
Keto Honey Walnut Shrimp: A delightful blend of crispy shrimp and crunchy walnuts in a sweet, creamy sauce, all keto-friendly.
Keto Creamy Shrimp Salad: A refreshing and protein-packed salad, perfect for a light lunch or meal prep.
Keto Coconut Shrimp: Enjoy the exotic flavors of crispy, golden coconut shrimp without the carb overload.