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Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta Recipe

4.84 from 12 votes
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posted: 08/31/20

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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

This Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta Recipe is going to be your new favorite weeknight night meal! This easy 30 minute meal will win you over with perfect cajun seasoning and the best cream sauce.

creamy cajun shrimp pasta recipe on a plate

My very favorite types of meals to make for you are the ones that taste like you ordered them at a restaurant, but they come together in 30 minutes. Based of my Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta, you will love this meal!

This Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta totally fits the bill. It starts with my Homemade Cajun Seasoning. While I love the taste of homemade, that’s not always doable. You can absolutely use store bought seasoning to make this even faster.

READER REVIEW

My family absolutely loved this recipe. Even my finicky eaters.

How to Cook Cajun Shrimp Pasta

This creamy cajun shrimp pasta recipe is really super simple, it’s bound to become a favorite in your house.

  1. Toss the shrimp with cajun seasoning and olive oil.
  2. Sauté the shrimp until cooked through. Remove them from the pan and then give it a quick rinse so the residual cajun seasoning doesn’t burn.
  3. Melt your butter and add in the garlic, making sure not to burn it.
  4. Whisk in some flour. Then you want to very slowly add the heavy cream.
  5. Finally melt in some cheese, add some more cajun seasoning, toss in some cooked pasta and return the shrimp to the pan.
overhead view of cajun shrimp pasta

Using Frozen Shrimp

I love keeping frozen shrimp on hand. It is great in so many recipes and makes this a meal you can make last minute.

Follow the package instructions for thawing the shrimp or thaw it in your refrigerator overnight.

I left the tails on the shrimp because they just look better in photos that way, but it will definitely make it easier on your family to remove them.

Cajun Seasoning

What makes this dish flavorful and perfect is the Cajun Seasoning. As mentioned above, I love using my own. I have a great that makes a large amount, or just enough for one recipe.

I have a whole post on why I use what seasonings and how you can control the flavor of it by making your own.

That said, don’t skip making this because you don’t have time to throw together the seasoning. You can use store bought seasoning and still love this!

How to Make a Roux

The thing that makes this dish creamy is the roux. Here is what you need to know:

  • Fat and flour combine to make a roux. In this dish it is the butter we use to the sauté the garlic.
  • You need to allow the butter and flour to cook for about 30 seconds.
  • The trick to a good roux is to add your liquid nice and slow. It will seem like a paste at first but in the end it will be a beautiful creamy sauce.
dish of creamy cajun shrimp pasta recipe

What to Serve with Cajun Shrimp Pasta

This is a great filling dish, but if you are looking to squeeze in some vegetables, here are a few ideas:

If you make this Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta or any of my other recipes leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

spoonful of creamy cajun shrimp pasta tasty
creamy cajun shrimp pasta recipe on a plate
4.84 from 12 votes

Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta Recipe

Serves: 4 people
(tap # to scale)
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
This Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta Recipe is going to be your new favorite weeknight night meal! Made with homemade cajun seasoning, delicious shrimp, creamy sauce, and penne noodles, it comes together in a snap.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound raw shrimp frozen is fine as long as you thaw it first
  • 8 ounces penne pasta cooked to package instructions
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons cajun seasoning divided
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups half and half
  • 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • diced tomates optional
  • fresh parsley optional

Instructions

  • Cook the pasta according to package instructions.  When finished, drain and rinse with cold water.  Set aside.
  • While the pasta is cooking, in a bowl combine the shrimp, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and 2 tablespoons cajun seasoning.  Toss to coat.
  • In a large skillet over medium heat, heat 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, add the shrimp and cook until pink and cooked through, about 7 minutes.  Remove the shrimp and set aside.
  • Give the pan a quick cleaning and return to the stove top. Over medium heat, melt the butter.  Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.  Whisk in the flour.  Very slowly, whisk in the half and half.  You want to just whisk in a small bit at a time, so that you can create a roux. If you whisk in too much at a time you won’t get a nice creamy sauce.
  • Once you have whisked in all of the half and half, stir in the parmesan cheese, melting it to combine.  Then stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning.  Add salt and pepper to taste.
  • Stir in the pasta and return the shrimp to the pan.  Serve with diced tomatoes and fresh parsley!
Calories: 547kcal (27%) Carbohydrates: 49g (16%) Protein: 29g (58%) Fat: 26g (40%) Saturated Fat: 13g (81%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 7g Cholesterol: 218mg (73%) Sodium: 1399mg (61%) Potassium: 104mg (3%) Fiber: 3g (13%) Sugar: 5g (6%) Vitamin A: 1950IU (39%) Vitamin C: 28.1mg (34%) Calcium: 300mg (30%) Iron: 3.2mg (18%)
Author: Lisa Longley
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
creamy cajun shrimp pasta recipe on a plate

did you make this

Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta Recipe

I’d love to see what you made! Tag me @lisasimplejoy and hashtag it #simplejoyrecipes!

Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

Reader Interactions

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  1. Amelia Fletcher says

    5 stars
    Thanks for shearing!

    • Merry Ellen Bailey says

      I am going to make this. Thanks

      • Lisa Longley says

        I hope you enjoy it!

  2. Renae says

    5 stars
    Family loved this dish!
    Thank you very much for posting.

    • Lisa Longley says

      That’s always so great to hear, thank you!

  3. Keyanna N/A Daniels says

    5 stars
    Love it

  4. Nicole Roberts says

    Can I use heavy cream in place of half and half

    • Lisa Longley says

      I haven’t tried that but I think it should work fine!

  5. easy diet says

    Look soo good! <3

  6. Phyllis Brenna says

    My family absolutely loved this recipe. Even my finicky eaters. They would like me to make it again using chicken. Do you have any suggestions as far as differences for the chicken? I just love your recipes.

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad to hear it! I do have a chicken version you can find here: Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta.

  7. Joan Lisowski says

    5 stars
    This recipe sounds awesome & I can’t wait to try making it. One question though, you do not state what size shrimp to use; medium, large, extra large or jumbo. The size shrimp will depend upon how long to cook the shrimp that is why I ask. Thank you.

    • Lisa Longley says

      You are right! We usually use medium, but I would say that it’s far more important to just keep an eye on your shrimp. You want to cook it until it just turns pink being careful not to cook it too long.

  8. Karen says

    5 stars
    Love this recipe. I use heavy cream and garnish with chopped scallions and tomatoes.

  9. Lana Bischoff says

    I am definitely going to make this.

  10. Traci Austin says

    Thanks for sharing, I’m making this tonight. My husband is excited about me making something new

    • Lisa Longley says

      I hope you love it, Traci!

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