Cajun Shrimp Pasta with a spicy and rich cream sauce.
This is a quick and easy dinner recipe with just the right amount of kick! Tender whole shrimp smothered in a quick and easy spicy cream sauce with just the right amount of perfectly cooked pasta. YUM!
CAJUN SHRIMP PASTA
Pin it to your DINNER BOARD to SAVE it for later!
Follow Self Proclaimed Foodie on Pinterest for more great recipes!
This Cajun Shrimp Pasta dinner recipe has everything you could possibly want. Tender and succulent shrimp is coated in the cajun seasoning which adds just the right amount of flavor. The cream sauce only takes a few minutes to come together and the pasta soaks up all the flavor.
There are two things I can always make for dinner that will have my family drooling: shrimp and pasta. On the nights when I go that extra mile and actually make homemade pasta, we all eat way too much because nothing quite beats the taste of fresh pasta. But, most nights call for a quick and easy dinner, so dried pasta from the store is in order.
I wasn't sure if my kids would like the cajun seasoning, and although it was more spicy than the foods they typically eat, they simply couldn't resist the fact that I made sauteed shrimp with pasta in a cream sauce. It's basically their love language. The apples don't fall far from the tree!
How to make Cajun Shrimp Pasta:
This really is a quick and easy dinner recipe perfect for a busy weeknight. Since there is little measuring and no chopping, the entire recipe can pretty much be cooked in the amount of time it takes to cook the pasta. That means that in 10-15 mintues, you can have a complete dinner.
This recipe starts by boiling the pasta in salted water. It's important to use a full tablespoon of salt in your pasta water because the salt will flavor the pasta. Before you drain the pasta, be sure to reserve some of the pasta water to thin out the sauce later, if needed.
While the pasta is cooking, saute the shrimp. They will cook quickly over relatively high heat. You'll remove the shrimp from the pan and set them aside and then use that same pan to make the sauce.
The cajun cream sauce is simply a mixture of heavy cream that you bring to a boil and parmesan cheese that melts in creamy smooth. There's enough cajun seasoning ont he shrimp and in the pan to give the sauce plenty of flavor. The sauce thickens within minutes and then you simply toss everything together to serve.
What to serve with Cajun Shrimp Pasta:
Since this recipe is rich and heavy, this pasta dish is wonderful with vegetables of some kind. Either a healthy green salad or a side of steamed broccoli or spinach goes great with this dinner. The Cajun Shrimp Pasta has so much flavor the the vegetable side dish you choose should be simple and light to help balance everything out.
What type of shrimp is best for Cajun Shrimp Pasta:
I always opt for wild caught shrimp over farmed shrimp. I find that there is a huge difference in taste and texture and it's worth it to eat wild caught.
Also, with shrimp, I most often recommend bigger is better. I'm not a fan of those teeny tiny bay shrimp. I prefer my shrimp be at least two bites worth.
Rather than buying fresh shrimp, I often buy frozen shrimp by the pound so that I always have some at the ready in the freezer!
Cajun Shrimp Pasta
RECIPE VIDEO WILL AUTOPLAY
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- 1 pound raw shrimp (deveined, cleaned, tail removed)
- 2 tablespoons cajun seasoning (*see note below)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Add salt to pot of water and bring to a boil. Cook pasta to al dente doneness. Before draining, scoop out at least 1/2 cup of the cooking water. Drain pasta and set aside.
- While the pasta is cooking, cook the shrimp and sauce. Combine shrimp with cajun seasoning and olive oil in bowl. Toss to combine.
- Heat large skillet over medium high heat. Add butter and melt. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook until golden brown on each side, turning only once. You may have to cook shrimp in two batches to allow enough room. Once done cooking, transfer cooked shrimp to a clean plate and reduce heat to medium low.
- Add heavy cream to pan and scrape bottoms to release any food that is stuck to the bottom. Allow cream to bubble. Reduce heat to low and stir in parmesan cheese to melt. Add cooked pasta and shrimp and stir to coat. If sauce needs to be thinned, add pasta water, one tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is achieved.
Notes
NUTRITION INFORMATION
This post was originally created for Centsless Meals where I was a contributor and has been updated with more fun facts and tidbits for your reading pleasure.
cami
SOOOOO GOOOD!
Jane
Made for Valentine's dinner! It was awsome. I did make the seasoning but added a tbs of regular paprika as our taste didn't want that strong of a smoked flavor.
Mara
This was seriously amazingly delicious. Hubs says it’s the best pasta dish I’ve ever made. I added some cajun seasoning to the cream while it was bubbling and it enhanced the flavor a lot. So so delicious, thank you!!
Mj
I used 1 tablespoon of creole seasoning instead of Cajun because that is what I had. It was delicious. The whole family loved it.
Esmeralda
Oh my..delicious! I only used about 1/2 tbsp of Cajun seasoning because 2 yr old daughter is eating as well. But it came out perfect! Still had the flavor just not spicy at all. My child is a very picky eater and she didn’t fight me at all. Thanks!
Renee
Made last night & this was so good & easy to make!! Thank you for the recipe!
Randy
Added some andouille sausage and a little red pepper flakes. Family said it’s the best pasta they’ve ever had.
Krissy
Great suggestions! So glad you enjoyed.
Claudia Riggins
Amazing! My son loved this recipe. He said it's the best pasta dish I've ever made. I'll definitely be adding this to my dinner rotation.
Lorraine
I was looking for something similar to Friday’s Cajun shrimp and pasta dish. This is Really good! The only difference I made to the recipe is I added minced garlic and cayenne pepper . My son and I like a little kick. Otherwise great recipe!!!
Juana
Hands down, AMAZING! My family loved it tonight & so did I!
Aydrelle
It’s so yummy. I added spinach, red bell pepper, green bell pepper and garlic. It turn out amazing
Meghan
LOVE this. Spice level is really easy to customize with the recipe provided. Super easy, super delicious. Perfect on a cold day, or on a warm evening to enjoy with a beer!
Meghan H
Didn’t see the too salty comment. Was a little to much seasoning but my hubby likes it. I added fresh green onions. Thanks for this quick meal. We are always looking for something a little different during lent.
Sherri
Absolutely delicious! Super easy, not too spicy, and great flavor! The family loved it- new favorite!
Katalina
Sauté 2 cloves of garlic before you add the shrimp and throw in a can of rotel tomatoes. You’re welcome.
Alisha
This recipe is so easy to make and we all LOVE it! Thank you!
Stephaine Biggs
Absolutely amazing! I added more shrimp as they reduce in size. I sauted onions and garlic before adding the shrimp, butter, and olive oil. I added a lot more parmesan. It came out perfectly! I added texas garlic toast. I added chopped tomato after all prepared which was an amazing addition. Thank you for the recipe and thank you who recommended the onion, garlic, and tomato from reviews. 🙂
Kendra
Would half and half work in the sauce? It's what I have on hand.
Krissy
Yep! Sorry for the late reply.
Reed Kesinger
I just made this last night and my husband said it was the best pasta he may have ever had! I have to agree with him 🙂 Thanks for the recipe!
Linda
This was delicious! Used your seasoning blend, and made recipe as written, except.....used cauliflower rice instead of pasta. I will definitely make this again.
Susan
Very yummy and easy recipe to make. My family of 4 including 2 teenagers, loved this dish. This is a new family favorite. Thank you!!