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    Home » Recipes » Dinner

    Cajun Shrimp Pasta

    Published: January 17, 2019 · Updated: September 8, 2019 · By: Krissy · 292 Comments
    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    creamy cajun shrimp pasta easy dinner recipe

    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!

    recipe for creamy cajun shrimp pasta

    CAJUN SHRIMP PASTA

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    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!

    cajun shrimp with creamy penne pasta

    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 and pasta on fork

    close up of fork with cajun shrimp pasta in cream sauce

    Cajun Shrimp Pasta

    Cajun Shrimp Pasta with a spicy and rich cream sauce is a quick and easy dinner recipe with just the right amount of kick!
    4.99 from 383 votes
    Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!

    CLICK TO PLAY RECIPE VIDEO

    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Scale: 6 servings
    Recipe Created By: Krissy Allori

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
    • 8 ounces penne pasta
    • 1 pound raw shrimp (deveined, cleaned, tail removed)
    • 2 tablespoons cajun seasoning (*see note below, use this quantity if making my homemade seasoning blend; may turn out too salty if using store bought )
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 1 cup heavy cream
    • ½ cup parmesan cheese (finely grated from a block (a microplane works best); pre-grated or not real authentic parmesan won't melt as nicely)

    Instructions

    • Add salt to pot of water and bring to a boil. Cook pasta to al dente doneness. Before draining, scoop out at least ½ 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.
      cajun shrimp pasta dinner recipe

    Notes

    I've had a few viewers comment that this recipe turned out too salty. If you use my homemade cajun seasoning (link below), then it will turn out perfectly delicious. If you use a store bought cajun seasoning blend, which most likely contains much more salt than I use in my blend, you should start with a small amount, taste, and continue to add to your liking. 
    https://selfproclaimedfoodie.com/homemade-cajun-seasoning-mix/

    NUTRITION INFORMATION

    Calories: 429kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 255mg | Sodium: 1919mg | Potassium: 235mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1855IU | Vitamin C: 3.3mg | Calcium: 247mg | Iron: 2.7mg
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    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.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Joey

      January 22, 2023 at 8:14 am

      5 stars
      This was so good! It was a bit spicy for my kiddo, but next time I'll put in less pepper for the seasoning. From a Cajun woman, this was fantastic!

      Reply
    2. Sarah

      January 17, 2023 at 3:37 pm

      4 stars
      Definitely worth trying. I double everything but the pasta anf it was great. My people aren't huge pasta fans so the meat to pasta ratio was better for us. Super quick and easy.

      Reply
    3. Maggie

      January 16, 2023 at 3:38 pm

      5 stars
      My son is a very picky eater. He won't eat any pasta but spaghetti, but this dish had him asking me if I could make it again. Thanks!

      Reply
    4. sandra

      December 20, 2022 at 3:58 pm

      5 stars
      Perfect! Absolutely loved it. Used cajun spice mix as listed, very best.

      Reply
    5. Em

      December 07, 2022 at 8:45 am

      What size shrimp do you use?

      Reply
      • Krissy

        December 11, 2022 at 7:34 am

        Any kind will work, but I prefer large. It's a matter of preference and cooking times need to be adjusted based on size.

        Reply
    6. Myra

      November 30, 2022 at 4:22 am

      Is the spice mix all equal parts?

      Reply
      • Krissy

        December 04, 2022 at 6:41 am

        No. You can go to https://selfproclaimedfoodie.com/homemade-cajun-seasoning-mix/ and scroll down to the recipe to see the quantities. Enjoy!

        Reply
        • Loïc

          December 07, 2022 at 5:08 pm

          5 stars
          Thanks for this recipe. I just tried it and followed instructions for the Cajun spices. I never add salt to water and let the Parmesan add its salt to the recipe just to be safe. I used salted butter and I was out of olive oil so I replaced it with avocado oil. Followed all other instructions and ingredients and it came almost perfect and that’s because I overlooked the shrimps (first time cooking shrimps). My wife is Jamaican and she absolutely loved the seasoning . Thanks a lot !!

          Reply
    7. Jo ann seals

      November 13, 2022 at 6:28 pm

      I would love to add some garlic. Do you think that would ruin the flavor or I Han ever it?

      Reply
      • Krissy

        November 27, 2022 at 8:12 am

        I'm always a fan of garlic! It will work with this recipe.

        Reply
      • Margaret

        December 26, 2022 at 1:57 pm

        I’ve made this pasta with many different twists .. like throw some black olives or peppers or even andouille sausage all together .. sauce is excellent for dipping so make extra

        Reply
    8. Dar

      November 03, 2022 at 4:16 pm

      Oh my I made the Cajun shrimp pasta dish for my friend and I and it was delicious… I used onion powder instead of onion salt and doubled the Cajun seasoning so I will have more for something else.. awesome and thanks for the recipe. Would really like to go to New Orleans. Just for the food. Have a great night!!

      Reply
    9. Sara

      November 03, 2022 at 11:38 am

      5 stars
      Amazing recipe - make this recipe all the time, my grand daughter personally requests it

      Reply
    10. Kristine

      November 02, 2022 at 8:07 pm

      5 stars
      I made the spice blend and added a little extra by caramelizing some onions in the pan before cooking the shrimp and it was everything I was craving.

      Reply
    11. James

      October 14, 2022 at 9:10 pm

      5 stars
      Spend the extra 5 minutes and make the cajun seasoning (amazing btw) very restaurant quality overall. I didn't have onion salt so I used the onion powder w kosher 50/50. Def recommended

      Reply
    12. Rhonda

      October 10, 2022 at 6:48 pm

      4 stars
      I love this recipe! I did, however, use a bit more Cajun seasoning than the recipe called for. I’ve made it a few times and I’ve never been disappointed! I wonder if andouille sausage and chicken as opposed to the shrimp would work well? Has anyone tried it?

      Reply
    13. Cayla B

      October 01, 2022 at 12:50 pm

      Would like to make with 2 lbs of shrimp. Do I just double everything?

      Reply
      • Krissy

        October 05, 2022 at 5:49 am

        Yep!

        Reply
        • Denise

          October 22, 2022 at 1:22 pm

          Do you defrost the shrimp if using frozen

          Reply
          • Krissy

            November 08, 2022 at 2:07 am

            yes

            Reply
    14. Shelly

      September 25, 2022 at 8:45 pm

      5 stars
      I just made this tonight and it was simple, fast and delicious! Thanks sharing! A keeper in our recipe book!

      Reply
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