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
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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!
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
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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.
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.
Silas
Awesome recipe... Been cooking for 49 years, and take it seriously! I've never heard of onion salt, (in your Cajun seasoning recipe) There's a huge difference between garlic salt vs garlic powder. I have onion powder on hand and used it. So I added 1/2 teaspoon salt to seasoning. And then another 1/2 teaspoon to finished with Alfredo mix In pan and stirred it in! It came out perfect! There seems to be a lot of controversy over salt with your recipe. Salt is I. The shaker on most tables, and. Can be added easily to preferences. So My note to this recipe is: onion powder.- not onion salt? And add 1/2 tsp salt to Cajun seasoning recipe! I also immediately doubled your recipe. It states 6 servings... For birds! And dumped the whole Cajun seasoning I to the mix @ 1 full teaspoon. Salt with 2 pounds shrimp and 16 oz. Of pasta. Scraping the bits into the Alfredo is a must. Where most Alfredo is made in separate pan. It would have killed the flavor doing this! Bottom line... It's now added to My personal favorites at 5 stars with a 6 person dinner party 2 thumbs up! Thank you!
Silas
It's a tall request... I'm a seasoned cook and never made this before. We're having a dinner party, That We love to do; but haven't in a long time / covid! After putting out a menu to Our guests, of very complicated personal and mastered fave's... My guests asked Me to do this! They're a younger couple, who said: They had this at a mom and pop's restaurant, years ago when they were dating, and loved it... They've been looking for a match since, un-successfully! As a master chef... I'm praying this does the trick? Can't wait to see If I can weave their dream! I follow up with a report!
Alicia
Very good recipe however the sauce doesn’t reheat well at all. The ingredients separate and basically it’s like reheating grease, which sucks because we like leftover pasta.
Krissy
Yes, you definitely have to reheat low and slow. Either on the stove or in the microwave at low power.
Ellen B
This is true of all authentic Alfredo (without stabilizers like a shelf sauce). Reheating on the stove will give you the best results, but Alfredo is best earing fresh.
Happy nana
Delish...I didn't have penne pasta so used tortellini instead. Grandson couldn't stop eating!!! Its a win hes 5 yrs old.
Makayla Golden
Best pasta recipe! Just enough heat in the seasoning to have flavor without being too hot.
Ron Spradling
Exceptional! If you like Cajun, as I do, tweaked by sauteing 2 tbsp of minced garlic, 5-6 green onions, 3 tbsp of parsley, add 1-tbsp more of butter and then add shrimp. I used Tony's instead of homemade..my bad lol. Dyyynooomite. Enjoy.
Sydney
Love this recipe I’ve made it with the shrimp, chicken, and even a smoked sausage! I love the homemade seasoning it’s perfect I always make extra and keep it on hand for other meals!
John Henry
Second time I've made this with your cajun seasoning, but this time I steamed six 4oz lobster tails and substituted it for the shrimp and also added garlic to the butter before I threw the lobster in for two minutes. AMAZING!!! This first time with shrimp was AMAZING also!!!
Lela
We’ve made this recipe several times, and it’s perfect. Do not use store bought Cajun seasoning.. the homemade Cajun seasoning is simple and well balanced.
Give it try you won’t regret it! Thank you again
Callalita
This recipe is so scrumptious and very simple once the shrimps are peeled. I've made it twice.
I like spicy but I'm not too fond of it taking away from inhaling my noodles so I reduced the cayenne in the homemade seasoning and now it is the perfect heat:noodle ratio. I also tried adding about double the seasoning, the cream & the parm as another commented and UGH it's the cajun pasta i have been craving for years🙏🏽👯♀️ THANK YOU
jeff m
i made this tonight, just as the recipe said, and it was wonderful! great heat, tremendous flavor and easy to throw together. the additions could be endless! thank you!
L. Stroughter
This recipe was absolutely perfect. I'm a real skeptic about trying new foods, but this recipe tasted great. My hubby really enjoyed it. I even made the homemade seasoning. Thank you for the recipe.
Yakeema
As my kids will say, this meal was bussin bussin! 🤣👏🏽
James
Okay, so take this comment with a grain of Cajun seasoning...
I have made this recipe like 10 times. But this here are my recommendations.
First off.... THROW AWAY YOUR STORE BOUGHT CAJUN SEASONING.
Seriously, the home made that the author linked is way better. Read this twice... way better.
Okay, so:
Double the cream and parmesan (don't get pre shredded parm. JUST DONT!
Use the entire Cajun seasoning you make instead of 2 tbsp.
That's it.
I have had sooooo many requests to make this for revisting family and friends.
To the author:
Great recipe, and even better recommendation to use your homemade Cajun seasoning. I look forward to seeing more of your recipes here.
Dave
I used store bought cajun seasoning, cut the salt, added a table spoon of tomato paste and it was so good. Thanks for the recipe!
Megan
Omg amazing! It was so easy to make and so delicious. My boyfriend eats like a bird and he went back for seconds 🙂
June Smiley
I followed the recipe to the letter, including the homemade Cajun seasoning, and it was incredibly salty.
Shelly-rae Suddaby
Amazing. Absolutely delicious.
Paul M.
Too much salt. It needs about 1/3 of the salt it calls for. The recipe is fine, just calls for too much salt.
Krissy
Did you use my Cajun seasoning blend or store bought? That will make all the difference.
Nancy
Can you use cream cheese instead of heavy cream? Just don’t have heavy cream on hand.
Krissy
You can... I'm just weird about using cream cheese in an alfredo sauce. It does work though.
Wendy
Wow. That’s really spicy. Wow. My mouth is on fire. I used he homemade Cajun seasoning and didn’t think it was salty at all. Fire spicy but not salty.
Christie
I have subbed evaporated milk for heavy cream. Do you have it on hand?