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4.80 from 10 votes

Need dinner in a hurry? Dinner doesn’t get much faster than this easy Shrimp Fra Diavolo recipe! This shrimp in tomato sauce recipe is so good and so easy! You control the level of spice! Serve on a bed of zucchini zoodles or pasta; you can’t beat this flavorful dinner. Make this recipe in just 15 minutes!

Two plates of shrimp diavolo over zucchini noodles.

❤️ Sandi’s Summary

  • Perfect for busy weeknight dinners. Dinner is ready in 15 minutes.
  • Uses gluten-free pasta or zoodles.
  • If you make pasta, I share tips to prevent it from becoming mushy.
  • You control the level of spice, making it a favorite of both mild and spicy eaters.

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I am dedicating this quick and easy Shrimp Fra Diavolo recipe to all of my busy readers. You know who you are… your kids are in sports, participating in activities, and then you rush home to get dinner on the table. You need dinner ASAP.

We love shrimp; it is so quick and easy to cook. If your family enjoys shrimp, too, give this Honey Garlic Shrimp recipe a try! If you like a little spice, this Blackened Shrimp Fajitas recipe is so good!

Full disclosure here: I made my tomato sauce on the non-spicy side. My kids don’t like a lot of heat. I make the sauce, then add more crushed red pepper to my plate. This way, everyone is happy. It makes a great gluten-free seafood dish that you can serve at any time.

Photos of the fra diavolo ingredients.

Ingredient Notes:

For the full list of ingredients and amounts, please go to the recipe card below.

  • Cooked Shrimp – Make sure they are thawed, peeled, and deveined.
  • Onion – Use yellow onions or substitute leeks. I do not recommend purple onions in this recipe.
  • Diced Tomatoes – I recommend using canned diced tomatoes. You can use salted or unsalted.
  • Basil – If you have fresh, that is best. Dried basil will work if you don’t have fresh basil on hand.
  • Zucchini Noodles – Or your favorite gluten free pasta.
  • Olive Oil – I love extra virgin olive oil in this recipe, but other types of oil will also work.
  • Parmesan Cheese – This is delicious, sprinkled over the top of the shrimp. VioLife makes an incredible dairy-free Parmesan cheese if you are dairy-free.

This Italian shrimp recipe takes just 15 minutes from start to finish! If you love to cook seafood, don’t forget to check out this Grilled Coho Salmon recipe. It is also ready in just 15 minutes!

Sandi holding a tray of biscuits that are going in the oven to bake.

A Note From My Kitchen

This easy pasta dinner is one of the quickest dinner recipes on my blog. It delivers amazing flavor, protein, and the sauce even freezes well if you have leftovers. I have tested and tweaked this recipe a few times over the years, and I have even made the sauce with ground beef.

I know this isn’t part of this recipe, but you can also poach fish such as cod in this fra diavolo tomato sauce. I make the sauce and simmer it so the flavors blend in, and add the uncooked fish (pat it dry first) to the sauce.

How to Make Shrimp Fra Diavolo in 15 minutes:

Photos showing cooking the fra diavolo sauce and adding the shrimp.

Step 1: Cook the pasta according to the box directions. To make the homemade fra diavolo sauce! I brown the onion and garlic with olive oil over medium heat in a large, non-stick pan.

Step 2: Add the canned tomato sauce and diced tomatoes; I add lots of fresh basil and some crushed red pepper. You can use as much or as little hot pepper as you like!

Step 3: Cover the pan and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Boil for 4 to 5 minutes, then reduce the heat to low. This simmering helps the flavors all blend.

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Step 4: Add the thawed, cooked shrimp. (Don’t forget to drain the water out after they thaw. You only want to add the shrimp to the pan.)

Step 5: Mix the shrimp into the sauce, cover, and cook for 5 to 8 minutes so the shrimp warm up in the sauce.

You can see from the ingredients that it doesn’t take many fancy ingredients to make a healthy dinner. The Diavolo sauce uses only five ingredients plus salt and pepper!

Tips For Success:

  • If you are making gluten free pasta, be sure to give it an ice bath so that it stays al dente. You can read more about how to cook gluten free pasta to learn more.
  • Always peel and devein your shrimp. Here is a great tutorial to do this if you need more instructions.
  • If you plan to use raw shrimp, peel and devein them, then boil them in a small pot. Cook for 4 minutes until they become firm.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How do you prevent zucchini noodles from getting soggy?

I undercook my spiralized vegetables because they tend to get soggy very quickly. Also, the hot pasta sauce will cook them a little more.

Can you use frozen shrimp?

You can use frozen shrimp, but make sure they are peeled and deveined before use. You will need to cook this longer so the shrimp can cook through.

How long will this shrimp in tomato sauce keep fresh?

This recipe will keep fresh for up to 3 days in your refrigerator. Store it in an airtight container.

What is shrimp fra diavolo?

Fra Diavolo is one of my favorite Italian sauces. It is a simple tomato sauce, but you add crushed red pepper to make it spicy. It is straightforward to control the spiciness of this dish.

Prefer zucchini noodles?

To make the veggie spirals, wash your zucchini and put them into the spiralizer. Turn the crank, or follow the directions of the one you own. I love mine; this spiralizer is inexpensive and works great.

Heat a pan with a little olive oil. Sauté your zucchini for 3-4 minutes max. I undercook my spiralized vegetables because they tend to get soggy very quickly. Also, the hot pasta sauce will cook them a little more.

Another delicious recipe perfect for zoodles is this easy Air Fryer Scallops recipe! If seafood is on your menu often, I have 50 Delicious Gluten-Free Seafood Recipes to get more recipe inspiration from.

A fork full of zucchini noodles and a cooked shrimp.

Love This Recipe?

If you made and enjoyed this recipe, I would be incredibly grateful if you could leave a comment below. This will help others know this recipe is delicious. Thank you!

a fork full of zucchini noodles and a cooked shrimp

Shrimp Fra Diavolo with Zucchini Zoodles

Sandi Gaertner
This easy shrimp fra diavolo is full of bold, garlicky flavor with just the right kick of heat. It's ready in just 15 minutes. It's a quick gluten-free dinner that feels fancy but is super simple to make, perfect for busy nights.
4.80 from 10 votes
dairy free allergen icon
an egg free allergen icon
gluten free allergy icon
nut free allergen icon
soy free allergy icon
a sugar free allergen icon
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Gluten Free Dinner Recipes, Meal Recipes
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6 servings
Calories 108 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound cooked shrimp If using raw shrimp, see notes below
  • 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes
  • 14 ounces tomato sauce
  • ¼ cup diced onion
  • 3 cloves minced garlic
  • 3 tablespoons fresh basil
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper or more if you like spicy!
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 cups zucchini noodles or spaghetti

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Instructions
 

  • Use a spiralizer to make your zucchini spirals.
  • If you are using pasta, cook the pasta in a separate pot according to package directions.
  • In a skillet, add 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1/4 cup diced onion. Cook on medium heat until the onion becomes translucent.
  • Add 3 cloves of minced garlic, 14 ounces of tomato sauce, and 14.5 ounces of diced tomatoes.
  • Mix well and add 3 tablespoons fresh basil, 1 pound cooked shrimp (peeled and deveined!), 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper. Cover and bring to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for an additional 5 minutes, or until the shrimp are cooked.
  • Serve over zoodles or pasta

Notes

  1. Serve over zucchini zoodles or any gluten free pasta.
  2. Make sure you use peeled and devined cooked shrimp.
  3. You can use raw shrimp in this dish. Make sure to thaw, peel, and de-vein your shrimp before using. The shrimp can cook in the sauce; you will need to cook the shrimp in the sauce an extra 10-15 minutes. This is the same if you use frozen shrimp.
  4. If you don’t like a lot of spice, you can lower the amount of red pepper flakes you use.
  5. This recipe will keep fresh for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Store in an airtight container.

SPECIAL NOTE

Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn’t test, my rule of thumb is to add more flour if your dough or batter is wet and add more liquid if the dough or batter is too dry!

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 108kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 12gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 0.5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 95mgSodium: 945mgPotassium: 434mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 606IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 78mgIron: 2mg
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Nutrition Disclaimer

Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.

This post has been updated from an older March 2018 post to include more information about the recipe.

I truly hope you enjoy this recipe. I have been testing and creating gluten-free recipes for over 15 years. Creating gluten-free recipes that do not taste gluten-free is my goal for every recipe. Sometimes I only have to test a new recipe a couple of times, and others it takes multiple times. I do this so you get reliable, delicious results every time!

4.80 from 10 votes (10 ratings without comment)

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