Here’s a rich, bold Cajun shrimp pasta that’s creamy, a little spicy, and packed with flavor:
🍤 Cajun Shrimp Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 oz pasta (fettuccine or penne work well)
- 1 lb shrimp (peeled & deveined)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup chicken broth
Seasoning (Cajun blend):
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp oregano
- ½ tsp cayenne (adjust to taste)
- Salt & black pepper
Optional: sliced bell peppers, onions, fresh parsley
Instructions
1. Cook pasta
- Boil salted water and cook pasta until al dente.
- Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
2. Season shrimp
- Toss shrimp with half of the Cajun seasoning.
3. Cook shrimp
- Heat oil + 1 tbsp butter in a pan.
- Cook shrimp 1–2 minutes per side until pink. Remove and set aside.
4. Build the sauce
- In the same pan, add remaining butter.
- Sauté garlic (and veggies if using).
- Pour in chicken broth → simmer 2–3 minutes.
- Add cream + remaining seasoning → cook until slightly thickened.
5. Make it creamy
- Stir in Parmesan cheese until smooth.
- Add a splash of reserved pasta water if needed.
6. Combine
- Add pasta + shrimp back to the pan.
- Toss until coated and heated through.
Finish
- Garnish with parsley and extra Parmesan.
- Optional squeeze of lemon for brightness.
Tips for the best flavor
- Don’t overcook shrimp—they turn rubbery fast
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for smoother sauce
- Adjust cayenne depending on your heat tolerance
If you want, I can give you a lighter (no cream) version or a restaurant-style extra creamy version like you’d get at Olive Garden.
