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    Home » Recipes » Dinner

    Cajun Shrimp Pasta

    Published: January 17, 2019 · Updated: September 8, 2019 · By: Krissy · 261 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

    recipe for creamy cajun shrimp pasta

    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!
    5 from 339 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
    Hover to scale: 6 servings
    Chef: 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.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Natalie

      January 30, 2022 at 4:24 pm

      5 stars
      I make a lot of shrimp dishes, and holy crow, this one blows them all out of the water. Your Cajun seasoning is mandatory (although I paired down the cayenne and red pepper flakes due to pregnancy heartburn). This recipe is absolutely going in my rotation!!! I added a bunch of cut spinach right at the end for some extra vitamins. 10/10 recipe. I'm going to have to peruse the rest of your recipes now!

      Reply
      • Krissy

        January 31, 2022 at 5:30 am

        Thank you! I always love throwing spinach into dishes like this too. Glad you liked it and it was able to satisfy those pregnancy cravings!

        Reply
    2. Shanda

      January 18, 2022 at 4:41 pm

      5 stars
      I followed this recipe to the T...it was so good! Thank you, I will make this again!!!

      Reply
    3. Kim

      January 05, 2022 at 10:59 am

      5 stars
      SO GOOD! I made the homemade cajun seasoning but used Onion powder, and added about a tablespoon of Tony Chachere’s (salt added) plus a little iodized salt and it was perfect! My fiance said that "it's a keeper." Thank you!

      Reply
    4. Christina

      January 04, 2022 at 6:14 am

      5 stars
      My kids loved this dish so much. Thank you ☺️

      Reply
    5. LaDusta Brown

      December 27, 2021 at 3:51 pm

      This is the best dish ever. Love the Cajun spices recipe! We use it for other dishes too! I would rate this dish a 10 plus!!

      Reply
      • Ellen

        February 01, 2022 at 3:39 pm

        5 stars
        A keeper! Thank you. I'm currently watching my husband inhale a plateful.

        Reply
    6. Madison

      December 16, 2021 at 6:11 pm

      5 stars
      Always a crowd pleaser at my house!

      Reply
    7. Myke

      December 08, 2021 at 8:54 pm

      This recipe was great!!! I added andouille sausage. In addition to melting the Parmesan cheese as stated in the recipe, i sprinkled Parmesan cheese on top with parsley.

      Reply
    8. Dennis Crowley

      November 17, 2021 at 2:37 pm

      Several comments. I use Tony Chachere’s salt free Cajun seasoning. I buy it in my supermarket. They also have a web site.

      Reply
    9. Jerry

      November 13, 2021 at 3:32 pm

      Krissy,

      I found the site for seasoning recipe thank you so much

      Reply
      • Kaye

        January 04, 2022 at 4:23 pm

        I always sneak veggies into recipes linked this, so I added a small onion, zucchini and mushrooms. Family loved it and kids ate veggies with no complaints because they were tossed in the yummy spicy sauce. Served over rice with roasted cauliflower on the side. Super delish❣️

        Reply
    10. Jerry

      November 13, 2021 at 3:19 pm

      Krissy

      Where do I find the Cajun Seasoning Recipe for this particular dish.

      Thank you for your time.

      Reply
    11. Lisa

      November 12, 2021 at 11:01 am

      5 stars
      I've literally made this recipe dozens of times. Don't use store-bought cajun seasoning...this recipe is much more flavorful. The only thing I do differently is to add only 1/4 tsp of the cayenne to cut down on the spiciness.

      Reply
    12. Taylor

      October 22, 2021 at 3:38 am

      What brand of smoked paprika do you use? Also, is this recipe really spicy? Reason being I have a 8 year old and 2 year old . Thank you!!

      Reply
      • Krissy

        October 22, 2021 at 4:12 am

        I used Trader Joe's smoked paprika. This isn't too spicy, but I would definitely start with just a small amount of spice, taste, and continue adding more until it's just how you like it. The cream sauce definitely tames the heat, but not for sensitive taste buds.

        Reply
        • Brandye C.

          October 24, 2021 at 1:33 pm

          5 stars
          ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!!! I made the Cajun seasoning as recommended, used block Parmesan that I grated, added red bell pepper, minced garlic and zumo sausages along with the shrimp and everything else the recipe calls for. My husband and kids looooved it! It was not too salty or too spicy at all (my youngest is 8years old and no complaints) I will be making this regularly for sure!! Thank you for sharing this recipe.

          Reply
    13. Theta

      October 06, 2021 at 8:48 pm

      5 stars
      I made this tonight and it was delicious. I did add a few things such as bell pepper and mushrooms along with the shrimp. After reading the notes I only used 1 Tbsp of Cajun Seasoning so it wouldn’t be too salty. Next time I make it I will try the homemade Cajun Seasoning.

      Reply
    14. Amanda Becerra

      September 16, 2021 at 10:27 pm

      5 stars
      Did everything in the recipe and added cherry tomatoes. So easy and delicious! I used cheese stuffed pasta pillows and everyone loved it! Adding this to our nightly rotation!

      Reply
    15. Deb K

      September 09, 2021 at 6:22 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious and so easy! I used Penzies Cajun spice and didn't add any additional salt. Just a wonderful recipe - thanks!

      Reply
    16. Michelle

      August 12, 2021 at 11:29 am

      Amateur question
      I haven’t worked with shrimp a lot. Do you keep the shrimp frozen or defrost them? Thanks so much!

      Reply
      • Krissy

        August 13, 2021 at 5:01 am

        When frozen, they hold a lot of liquid and if you cook them frozen, you'll have way too much shrimpy liquid in your meal. Definitely defrost fully and even pat them dry before you cook them. Thanks for asking!

        Reply
    17. April

      August 10, 2021 at 2:10 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe! A few notes from my kitchen:
      - made it GF using a 1 # box of GF spaghetti
      - Instead of the cream and cheese, I used 1 cup cream and 2 egg yolks as the sauce (works in another recipe). I put the parmesan on the table for folks to use as they wished as not all were parmesan-friendly :).
      - I marinated the shrimp for 30 minutes in the homemade Cajun seasoning (loved it!) plus about 2 tsp of olive oil, then sautéed the shrimp (two batches).
      - used 1 lb. 8 oz bag of frozen raw small shrimp (what I had in my freezer); didn't increase anything else and it came out fine.
      - this made about 6 servings.
      - seasoning: I used 1/4 red pepper flakes instead of 1/2 to be on safe side and put the flakes on the table (and extra Cajun seasoning) for those who might want a bigger kick.

      Reply
    18. Tori

      June 27, 2021 at 6:10 pm

      5 stars
      Love love love this! I’ve made it probably 5X now. It’s super easy and I love how it’s in 1 pan for even easier clean up. I used McCormick Cajun seasoning because I’m lazy and like things to be as EASY as possible and I personally didn’t think it was too salty.

      If I wanted this to be thicker/creamier what would you suggest?

      Reply
      • Krissy

        July 21, 2021 at 7:09 am

        glad you like it! If you want the sauce to be thicker/creamier, I would just increase the amount of parmesan you use or slightly reduce the amount of cream.

        Reply
    19. Camil G

      June 14, 2021 at 7:21 pm

      5 stars
      Very tasty and great for a “quick” weeknight dinner. Will definitely make this again.

      Reply
    20. Michael Pfaffinger

      June 02, 2021 at 4:05 pm

      4 stars
      Do not use slap your mama Cajun seasoning it is extremely salty x2
      Also parmesan Regina melts all that better all in all the recipe was very good. Protect my word for it the slap your mama seasoning is extremely salty You will not be happy.

      Reply
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