Cajun Shrimp Pasta is a hearty, oh so satisfying seafood pasta dish that is simple yet packed with so much flavor. It's also an easy pasta recipe that you can make in under 30 minutes. The perfect dinner dish for busy weeknights!
I must confess to you that this easy Cajun Shrimp Pasta recipe is one of my personal FAVORITE pasta dishes of all time.
It's a huge hit in my house! It's packed with a flavorful Cajun creamy sauce and succulent shrimp, and yet it is both light and hearty.
It's simply AMAZING, and always has me going back for seconds. In fact, I love it so much, I shared it in one of my monthly KATU-TV/ABC AfternoonLive segments!
Click the image below to watch my TV segment online.
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🍤 A hearty, flavorful cajun shrimp pasta
I just love the big flavors of Cajun cooking. A lot of people misunderstand it, and assume Cajun food is spicy. Not true!
One of the best things about making Cajun food at home is that you can adjust the spice levels to your tastebuds. I always keep a jar of homemade Cajun seasoning in my spice drawer, which I make somewhat mild because our family isn't big on super spicy food. But there's just enough kick to really make this dish sing!
If you enjoy this recipe, you also might like to try my Instant Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta recipe. Or other seafood pasta recipes like my Pasta with Clams and White Wine Sauce, Crab Pasta, or Tuna Pasta with Capers and White Wine Sauce.
👩🏽🍳 Recipe ingredients
- Olive oil & Garlic - The flavor foundation of this delectable dish is the garlic sautéed in olive oil
- Deveined Shrimp - Use raw large shrimp that is peeled and deveined, and if frozen, thaw it completely before cooking. If you're in Oregon or Washington, check out Newmans Fish Market. I used their wild shrimp for this recipe. The plump, juicy shrimp is some of the best I've cooked with. It's so good!
- In a pinch, you could use frozen previously cooked shrimp that is thawed, but make sure you watch the cooking carefully and adjust as needed.
- Cajun seasoning - You can either make your own homemade Cajun seasoning (my Cajun seasoning recipe is so fast and easy!). Or, you can buy Cajun seasoning at your local grocery store.
- Pasta - Thick, long noodles such as linguine, pappardelle, and fettuccine work really well for this creamy seafood pasta dish. But penne pasta also works well, as does rotini, fussili, or rigatoni.
- Butter - Some unsalted butter adds to the luxuriousness of this dish.
- Cream - I always make this recipe using my favorite lactose free heavy cream. However, you can use any heavy cream or even half and half.
- Parmesan cheese - I use dairy-free grated parmesan, but you can use regular parmesan cheese. You can also substitute nutritional yeast for the same nutty flavor that parmesan cheese brings.
- Tomatoes - Use Roma tomatoes, or whatever tomatoes you have on hand.
- Lemon Juice - Add a squeeze of lemon juice to finish the pasta.
- OPTIONAL - Garnish with chopped parsley, if you like.
✅ Step-by-step instructions
Here are some step-by-step photos to help you make this delicious Cajun shrimp pasta recipe. You'll find the full list of ingredients with measurements, plus more detailed cooking instructions, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
First, cook the pasta according to package instructions. Meanwhile, make the shrimp and sauce.
Peel and devein the shrimp, if needed. Pat the shrimp dry, then season with kosher salt and pepper.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shrimp and cook for 1 - 2 minutes, turning over to just start to get a little bit of color on each side. Shrimp cooks very quickly, so take care to NOT fully cook the shrimp yet!
Add the garlic and sauté for 1 more minute.
Slowly pour in the cream, then add the butter and parmigiano reggiano cheese. Stir together just until the cheese melts.
Turn off the heat.
Drain the cooked pasta, and add the pasta to the skillet.
Sprinkle in the cajun seasoning, tomatoes, and parsley.
Toss all of the ingredients together well, until the pasta is well coated.
Squeeze fresh lemon juice over just before serving.
Enjoy!
💡Recipe FAQs
Cajun cooking is considered to be more rustic, home comfort cooking. Whereas, Creole cuisine tends to be considered city cuisine that's a blend of culinary influences from Africa, Germany, and Italy.
Typically, Cajun seasoning contains spices and herbs like paprika, cayene, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, thyme, oregano, salt, and red pepper flakes. Making your own homemade Cajun seasoning is easy! Our recipe also goes over the difference between Cajun and Creole seasoning.
Allow the pasta and seafood to cool completely. Then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
🥣 Kitchen tools and equipment
For this recipe, you just need a few basic kitchen tools:
- Cutting board and knife - You'll need a sturdy cutting board and sharp knife.
- Large pot - You'll need a large pot to cook the pasta in.
- Large skillet - Use a large skillet to make the cream. A large skillet with high sides is preferable, since you'll be adding the pasta to the pan.
🍽 What to serve with Cajun shrimp pasta
This is an amazing seafood pasta recipe that you can add a simple green salad too and call it a full, satisfying meal.
You can also balance out the richness of this shrimp pasta with light side dishes. This simple Cucumber Tomato Salad would be a great companion.
Or make this Garlic Rosemary Focaccia Bread or Garlic Parmesan Knots. You could also make this Classic Tomato Bruschetta with Balsamic Vinegar recipe, which would be delightful with the pasta.
🍷 Best wine pairings for cajun pasta
This Cajun Shrimp Pasta dish is so versatile, that you can enjoy it with either a white or a red wine. In fact, enjoy it with a glass of Rosé, too!
If you are in the mood for a white wine, pair this seafood pasta with a Sauvignon Blanc or a dry Riesling. These white wines help bring out the spices of the dish.
Choose a lighter red wine such as a Pinot Noir or a Gamay if you're in the mood for red. These wines will enhance the seafood flavors of this pasta.
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If you like this recipe, try one of these delicious flavorful recipes too!
Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!
Cajun Shrimp Pasta
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 ounces linguine or other pasta shape
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 Roma tomatoes, diced
- ¼ cup freshly grated parmigiano reggiano cheese
- ¼ cup Cajun seasoning
- 1 Tablespoon chopped parsley
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, make the shrimp and sauce.
- Pat the shrimp dry, then season with salt and pepper.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shrimp and cook for 1 - 2 minutes, turning over to just start to get some color on each side.
- Add the garlic and sauté for 1 more minute.
- Slowly pour in the cream, then add the butter and parmigiano reggiano cheese. Stir together just until the cheese melts.
- Turn off the heat. Drain the pasta, and add the pasta to the skillet. Sprinkle in the cajun seasoning, tomatoes, and parsley. Toss together until the pasta is well coated. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over just before serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.
Sara says
SO much flavor in this and I LOVE how easy it was to make! Thanks for the great recipe.
Jamie says
This is such a satisfying and flavorful cajun pasta dish! My whole family loved it!
Tavo says
DE-LI-CI-OUS. I hadn't tried cajun seasoning with pasta before! Great finding! Definitely making it again!
Anita says
Perfect weeknight dinner. This is better than our family's favorite shrimp pasta.
Gwynn says
This recipe is so easy to make and so delicious and creamy too. I love the combination of flavors!
Tara says
Such a fantastic weeknight meal packed with spice! I love how everything comes together in under 30 minutes. SO much flavor!