This recipe for Keto Fried Shrimp with Sugar-Free Cocktail Sauce features golden-crisp jumbo shrimp coated in a gluten-free, low-carb breading. They’re irresistibly crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside, and perfect for any occasion.  

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❤️ Why You'll Love This Keto Fried Shrimp Recipe

• Crispy, gluten-free, Keto-friendly coating
• Tender, succulent jumbo shrimp
• Homemade sugar-free cocktail sauce with bold, zesty flavor
• Quick to prepare yet perfect for entertaining
• Great for dinner or a hearty appetizer

Because of the carbs in traditional fried shrimp, people find it challenging to find a breading that will work without all the carbs. The combination that I use works so well, you'll never have any issues with the breading coming off and the flavor is so good, with the perfect crispy texture.

The great thing about this recipe, is you can also use it to fry clams, fish, oysters or calamari in the same way! The key is to grind everything together in a food processor or mini chopper to a fine powder. I find that adheres to whatever I'm frying so much better this way.  

You could also use this same breading for chicken tenders, mozzarella sticks, fried zucchini, pretty much whatever you like.  You might want to adjust the seasoning a little, depending on what you're making.

For Italian foods, I always add some dried basil, parsley and garlic powder or garlic salt. I think you'll find that the flavor and texture is absolutely perfect! With this recipe, you'll no longer have to worry about all the carbs in fried shrimp, but instead can enjoy it guilt-free!

🛒 Ingredients for Low Carb Fried Shrimp

• Jumbo shrimp: Use fresh or thawed shrimp and keep the tails for easy flipping.
• Super fine almond flour: Helps create a crispy, light coating that sticks well.
• Ground pork rinds (plain): Adds crunch and keeps it keto.
• Parmesan cheese (grated): Adds salty depth and blends into the coating.
• Smoked Paprika: Gives a hint of smoky flavor.
• Eggs: Acts as the binder to hold the breading onto the shrimp.
• Keto friendly oil: Light olive oil or avocado oil work great.
• Sugar-Free Ketchup: The base of the sauce, but without the added sugar.
• Prepared horseradish: Start with a little if you like it mild.
• Fresh lemon juice: Brightens everything up.
• Salt: Just a little to round out the flavor.

*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

🥣 Recommended Tools

• food processor
• skillet

🔪 How to Make Gluten-Free Fried Shrimp

Grind the pork rinds, parmesan cheese, almond flour and smoked paprika in a food processor or chopper until well combined and finely ground. Add to a small bowl and set aside.  Add 2 eggs to a separate bowl and beat together.

Time to set up your breading station. Take your cleaned and well dried shrimp, dip into the egg, allowing an excess to drip off, then dip into the breading.  

Do not press the shrimp into the breading, but set the shrimp down in the breading and cover the top with more breading, then shake off any excess. Place gently on a plate.

Heat a large nonstick skillet to medium and add in your oil.  Once the oil is hot (test with a speck of the breading), fry your shrimp for a few minutes, flipping half way through.  I use tongs to flip them by the tails, as to not disturb the breading.  

Once they have cooked, they'll turn pink, so take them out and allow to drain on a plate lined with paper towels.  I was able to do all my shrimp in 3 batches.  The number of batches will of course depend on the size of your skillet and shrimp.

Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to combine.

If you like it very mild, you might first try using 2 teaspoons of the horseradish sauce and taste it before adding any more.  

If you like a little more zing, you can add in 3 teaspoons.  The nice thing about this sauce is if you make it too strong, you can always add in a little more ketchup to tone it down some.

Because you're using sugar- free ketchup, the carbs in cocktail sauce are so much lower, making this recipe a great alternative to store bought sauce.

Serve this deliciously crunchy Keto fried shrimp with some lemon wedges on the side. Store leftover low carb cocktail sauce in the fridge for 1-2 days or freeze it up to 3 months.

☑️ Storage Instructions

Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Reheat in a skillet or air fryer for best texture. I do not recommend freezing them because the texture changes way too much and they lose their crispiness.

🍴 What to Serve with Keto Breaded Shrimp

You can serve these shrimp with other tasty appetizers or with one of these easy sides for a complete meal:

• Bang Bang Coleslaw
• Lime Cilantro Cauliflower Rice
• Thai Cucumber Salad
• Lime Cilantro Broccoli Slaw
• Coconut Cauliflower Rice

💡 Tips

• Make sure your shrimp are completely dry before breading so the coating sticks.
• Don’t overcrowd the pan or your shrimp won’t cook evenly or crisp up.
• Use tongs to flip the shrimp by the tails to avoid disturbing the coating.
• Test your oil first with a pinch of breading. It should sizzle but not burn.
• To prevent sogginess, drain on a paper towel-lined plate to remove any excess oil.
• Watch closely. Shrimp cook fast and will turn rubbery if overdone.

🔄 Substitutions and Additions

• Heat: Add a pinch of cayenne or chili powder to the breading for a little heat. You can also add splash of hot sauce or extra horseradish to the cocktail sauce if you love bold flavor.

• Seasoning: Swap the smoked paprika for regular paprika if you prefer a milder flavor. You can also mix a little Old Bay Seasoning into the coating for a classic seafood vibe.

• Herbs: Stir some chopped parsley into the breading mix for a fresher finish.

• Serving suggestions: Serve the shrimp in lettuce cups with avocado slices for a light low-carb meal.

Why Won’t My Breading Stick?

If your shrimp are too wet, the breading won’t hold. Pat them dry before dipping.

Can I Make These in An Air Fryer?

Yes, just lightly spray with oil and cook at 400°F for 7-9 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Can I Use Frozen Shrimp?

Yes, just make sure they are fully thawed and very well dried before you start.

How Do I Know When the Shrimp Are Done?

They should turn pink and the coating will be golden brown. It usually takes just a few minutes per side.

Can I Use A Different Sauce Than Cocktail Sauce?

If you'd like to change things up from cocktail sauce, you can make Bang Bang Sauce, zucchini fries zesty dipping sauce or this Tartar Sauce.

Are There Carbs in Shrimp?

Shrimp are very low in carbs. In fact, there's approximately 1 gram of carbohydrates in 6 ounces of cooked shrimp!

Are Shrimp Keto Friendly?

Absolutely! Not only are shrimp very low carb and low calorie, they're packed with nutrition. The amount of protein in shrimp is very impressive, making up over 70% of their calories.

They're a good source of selenium, B12 and iron. If you'd like to read more about the nutrition in shrimp, check out this article.

🍽️ More Keto Shrimp Recipes

• Grilled Lime Cilantro Shrimp Skewers
• Shrimp alla Vodka
• Creamy Shrimp Alfredo
• Keto Shrimp Scampi with Cauliflower Rice
• Bang Bang Shrimp
• Spicy Shrimp in Lettuce Wraps

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Keto Fried Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce

This recipe for Keto Fried Shrimp with Sugar-Free Cocktail Sauce features golden-crisp jumbo shrimp coated in a gluten-free, low-carb breading.

5 from 2 votes

Author: Julianne

Servings 6

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PREP 5 minutes mins

COOK 10 minutes mins

TOTAL 15 minutes mins

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

For the Shrimp

• ▢ 1 pound raw jumbo shrimp, peeled, deveined & tails on
• ▢ ⅔ cup super fine almond flour
• ▢ ⅓ cup ground pork rinds, plain
• ▢ ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
• ▢ 2 eggs, beaten
• ▢ Keto friendly oil of your choice, for frying- I used light olive oil

For the Cocktail Sauce

• ▢ ⅔ cup sugar-free ketchup
• ▢ 1-3 teaspoons prepared horseradish
• ▢ 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• ▢ Pinch of salt

Instructions

 

• Grind the pork rinds, parmesan cheese, almond flour and smoked paprika in a food processor or chopper until well combined and finely ground. Add to a small bowl and set aside. Add the 2 eggs to a separate bowl and beat together.
• Set up your breading station and taking your cleaned and well dried shrimp, dip into the egg, allowing an excess to drip off, then dip into the breading. Do not press the shrimp into the breading, but set the shrimp down in the breading and cover the top with more breading, then shake off any excess and set on a plate.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet to medium and add in your oil. Once the oil is hot (test with a spec of the breading), fry your shrimp for a few minutes, flipping halfway through. I use tongs to flip them by the tails, as to not disturb the breading.
• Once they have cooked, they’ll turn pink, so take them out and allow to drain and excess oil onto a plate lined with paper towels. I was able to do all my shrimp in 3 batches. The number of batches will of course depend on the size of your skillet and shrimp.
• While your shrimp are frying you can mix all the ingredients for the cocktail sauce. If you like it very mild, you might first try using 2 teaspoons of the horseradish sauce and taste it before adding any more. If you like a little more zing, like I do, you can add in 3 teaspoons total. The nice thing about this sauce is if you make it too strong, you can always add in a little more ketchup to tame it down some.
• Serve with some lemon wedges on the side. Store leftovers in the fridge for 1-2 days or freeze.

*Make sure to scroll up and read the post for substitutions, additions and helpful tips for making this recipe.

Course Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine American

Calories 195kcal

Nutrition Facts

Keto Fried Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce

Amount per Serving

Calories

195

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

9

g

14

%

Saturated Fat

 

2

g

13

%

Carbohydrates

 

5

g

2

%

Fiber

 

1

g

4

%

Sugar

 

1

g

1

%

Protein

 

23

g

46

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

*Nutritional data is provided as a courtesy and is accurate to the best of my knowledge. You can verify it using the nutrition calculator of your choice. All data is based on net carbs, without sugar alcohol: Swerve, Erythritol, Monk Fruit or Allulose.

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*Originally published on November 7, 2019, updated on July 22, 2025 with improvements to the recipe, new photos, new recipe information and helpful tips.