Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta
This creamy cajun shrimp pasta delivers bold flavor, a luxurious sauce, and restaurant-quality results in just 30 minutes. Cajun-spiced shrimp, bell peppers, and garlic come together with pasta in a silky, spicy cream sauce for a crowd-pleasing weeknight dinner or date night dish.
Equipment
- Large Pot for boiling pasta
- Large skillet or sauté pan
- Tongs for tossing pasta and shrimp
- Colander for draining pasta
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cutting board and sharp knife
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning (plus more for sauce)
- 1 lb penne, fettuccine, or linguine pasta
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1–2 bell peppers, sliced (red, yellow or orange)
- 5–6 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tbsp butter, divided
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1.5 cups heavy cream
- 0.5 cup chicken broth or pasta water
- 0.5 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (optional)
- 0.5 lemon, juiced
- 0.25 cup chopped fresh parsley
- salt and pepper to taste
- red pepper flakes (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining.
- Pat shrimp dry with paper towels. Season with 1–2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning and toss to coat.
- Heat 1 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Sauté shrimp in batches for 2–3 minutes, flipping once. Remove and set aside.
- In same skillet, melt remaining butter. Add bell peppers and onion; cook 3–4 minutes until soft. Add garlic and cook 1 minute.
- Add more Cajun seasoning to taste, then pour in broth and scrape the pan. Stir in cream and bring to simmer. Let reduce 3–4 minutes.
- Add parmesan, Dijon, Worcestershire (optional). Stir until melted and smooth. Adjust thickness with pasta water if needed.
- Return pasta to skillet. Toss to coat. Add shrimp, parsley, lemon juice. Toss again. Garnish with more parmesan and red pepper flakes if desired.
Notes
Use large shrimp for best texture and flavor. Adjust spice level by controlling the amount of Cajun seasoning. For extra depth, try a splash of Worcestershire or Dijon. Leftovers reheat best with a splash of cream or broth. Avoid overcooking shrimp — they cook fast!
Nutrition
Calories: 620kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 34gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 16gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 235mgSodium: 860mgPotassium: 530mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1850IUVitamin C: 48mgCalcium: 280mgIron: 3.6mg
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