Cajun Shrimp Pasta

This Shrimp Pasta recipe is deliciously buttery and robustly flavored with homemade Cajun seasoning! Enjoy this fancy yet easy seafood pasta from pan to plate in less than 15 minutes, making it the perfect weeknight dish.

Easy pasta dishes have always been my go-to when I need a satisfying meal that I can whip up in a jiff. My tuna pesto pasta and spicy pasta puttanesca are some of my favorite pasta dishes. Not only do they appear on my dining table on busy weeknights, but they are also fancy enough to serve during celebrations and holidays!

Quick and Easy Cajun Shrimp Pasta

This Cajun Shrimp Pasta is a quick, easy, yummy, and occasion-worthy dish that features plump, juicy shrimp and al dente pasta smothered in rustic, earthy, and mildly spicy seasoning. 

I used my homemade Cajun seasoning mix in this recipe. Not only do I get to control the level of spiciness to my liking, but I also get to use the herbs and spices I like. It is a mixture of paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, salt, dried thyme, ground and black pepper, and cayenne pepper. I always make a big batch and keep some for later! I use it often when I am in the mood for some Cajun seafood boil!

More treats with coconut milk !

Ingredients Needed

• Shrimp – I used medium raw frozen shrimp that are already shelled and deveined for easier prep. However, feel free to use fresh shrimp if you prefer.
•  Cajun seasoning- If you do not have the individual spices and herbs needed to make your own, you can always use store-bought Cajun seasoning.
•  Pasta- I like using spaghetti or fettuccine for this recipe. However, other types of long or short pasta will also work.
•  Water- to boil the pasta in. Reserve and reuse the pasta water to add to your sauce.
•  Oil- you can use olive or vegetable oil.
•  Butter- this will give the pasta a richer taste and the sauce a silkier consistency.
•  Garlic- though the Cajun seasoning contains garlic powder, sautéed fresh garlic still provides a flavorful base for the sauce.
•  Lemon- to give a bright tanginess to the sauce. I keep a few slices when serving for those who prefer drizzling it on their pasta before eating.
•  Garnishes- I love to serve this pasta dish with some chopped parsley and grated parmesan. They add more flavor to the dish and enhance the presentation too! These are optional, though, and you can skip them if you do not have them.

Cajun Shrimp Pasta Variations

Here are some ways to enjoy this Cajun Shrimp Pasta in different ways!

• Make it creamy. If you are a creamy pasta type of person, you can add a dash of milk or heavy cream to the sauce. Creamy shrimp Cajun pasta sounds delicious!
• Shrimp and sausage Cajun pasta. Make your pasta more filling and appetizing by adding slices of sausage. Andouille sausage or any type of smoked sausage would go amazingly well with this dish.
•  Add veggies. If you want to add more vegetables to your diet, try adding spinach, broccoli, bell peppers, mushrooms, asparagus, and fresh or roasted tomatoes to this recipe.
• Enjoy it with rice or grains! Aside from pasta, you can also enjoy the Cajun shrimp with rice or grains! Cauliflower rice, couscous, or quinoa are great alternatives if you want to keep it low-carb.
• Make it gluten-free! Just choose a gluten-free pasta brand to make this GF-friendly!

Cooking Tips for Cajun Shrimp Pasta

• Make sure you fully thaw the frozen shrimp before cooking so you can enjoy evenly cooked, juicy shrimp.
• Do not overcook shrimp, or they will turn tough and rubbery. You will know they are cooked when their flesh turns light pink and loses its transparency.
• You can add more Cajun seasoning depending on your taste. If you like it spicier, add more cayenne powder or sprinkle red pepper flakes onto your pasta.
• If your pasta looks too dry, add more of the reserved pasta water and toss until you get the right texture.

Serving and Storing Notes

Serve this Cajun shrimp pasta with slices of garlic bread or a side of green salad.

You can make this pasta ahead of time sans the shrimp and keep it refrigerated for up to three days. Make sure it is kept in an airtight container and that you cool it down fully before storing. Just prepare the shrimp ass usual just before serving.

Printable Recipe

Print Review

Cajun Shrimp Pasta Recipe

4.34 from 3 votes

This Shrimp Pasta recipe is deliciously buttery and robustly flavored with homemade Cajun seasoning! You will have this fancy yet easy seafood pasta from pan to plate in less than 15 minutes making it the perfect weeknight dish.

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 10 minutes mins

Total Time: 15 minutes mins

Course :Dinner, Lunch, Main Course

Servings =4 people

Print Recipe Rate this Recipe

Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

US CustomaryMetric

• ½ pound medium raw frozen shrimp shelled and deveined, thawed
• 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
• 8 ounces spaghetti or fettuccine uncooked
• 8 cups water
• 1 tablespoon salt
• ¼ cup olive oil or vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning (if using my Cajun seasoning recipe)
• ½ stick butter room temperature (¼ cup)
• 6 cloves garlic cut into halves
• 1 pc lemon
• 1 tablespoon parsley chopped for garnishing - optional
• 2 tablespoons grated parmesan for topping - optional

Instructions

 

• ½ pound medium raw frozen shrimp, 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
  In a bowl, mix shrimp with cajun seasoning then set aside until ready to use.
• 8 ounces spaghetti or fettuccine, 8 cups water, 1 tablespoon salt
  In a large pot, bring 8 cups of water to a rolling boil and add salt. Add the pasta and cook for 8-10 minutes or until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water and discard the rest.
• ¼ cup olive oil
  In a large skillet, heat1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Add the shrimp in a single layer and cook each side for 2 minutes or until cooked. Remove from oil and transfer to a bowl.
• ½ stick butter, 6 cloves garlic
  Add the rest of the oil and butter to the skillet. Add the garlic and cook until limp and aromatic.
• 1 pc lemon, 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
  Next, add the cajun seasoning and ¼ cup of reserved pasta water. Stir and cook for a minute. Squeeze half of the lemon into the sauce. Cut the remaining half into quarters for serving later.
• Add the cooked pasta and toss to coat with sauce. Turn off the heat and transfer pasta to serving dish or to individual plates.
• 1 tablespoon parsley, 2 tablespoons grated parmesan
  Top with cooked shrimp and sprinkle with some chopped parsley and grated parmesan, if desired.

Notes

• If your pasta is too dry, add more of the reserved pasta water until you get the right texture.
• Add more or less of the cajun seasoning to your liking. Add cayenne pepper powder or chili powder for added spiciness is desired.
•  

Nutrition

Calories: 518kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 20gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 124mgSodium: 235mgPotassium: 389mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 2210IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 107mgIron: 2mg

Have you tried this recipe?Mention @foxyfolksy or tag #FoxyFolksyRecipes!