Cajun Shrimp Pasta

Creamy Cajun shrimp pasta with bold spices, tender shrimp, and a soul-warming sauce. The perfect weeknight shrimp pasta recipe. Comforting but not too heavy!

Jump to: ℹ️ Overview | 🛒 Ingredients | 📷 How To Make | 📹 Watch The Video | 👩‍🍳 Recipe Tips | 🥗 Serving Suggestions | 📝 Full Recipe Card | 🍽 More Shrimp Recipes

If you’ve never had Cajun Shrimp Pasta before, just know this: it’s creamy, smoky, and unapologetically bold.

Inspired by the soul food roots of Louisiana cooking, this dish features the “holy trinity” of onion, celery, and bell pepper cooked down into a rich sofrito with tomatoes for sweetness and tang. Then we swirl in light cream and Parmesan for that dreamy texture. It’s kind of like Cajun shrimp pasta Alfredo.

The shrimp are coated in a blackened spice mix that hits you with smoky paprika, thyme, and a little cayenne zing. It’s creamy, but not heavy. Spicy, but not blow-your-head-off hot. And it all comes together in one pan.

Per serving, you’re looking at around 550 calories with 30 grams protein — give or take, depending on your cream and pasta choice. I’ve made this a couple times now, and it never fails to impress.

👩‍🍳 You might also like: for something light, try my Cajun salmon with cauliflower tomato rice, if you love shrimp, try my garlic butter shrimp or shrimp lo mein, for something creamy, try my pesto chicken pasta or chicken pasta alfredo with broccoli.

What You’ll Need

Here is what you’ll need for this creamy Cajun shrimp pasta recipe. Find the full measurements in the recipe card below.

For the Cajun shrimp:

• Shrimp – or prawns for my Aussies, you want large, peeled, and ready to soak up that blackened spice (you can keep the tails on). No shrimp? Chicken or even chickpeas work well, too.
• Olive oil – helps sear them into golden perfection. You’ll also need a little for the sauce.
• Onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne, oregano, thyme – the spice mix that makes the shrimp sing.
• Salt – don’t skip it, it brings the whole mix alive.

For the sauce:

• Onion, celery, green bell pepper – the holy trinity! Essential for that authentic flavor base.
• Garlic & tomato – adds richness and a little sweetness.
• Light cream (or half-and-half) – makes it creamy without the food coma.
• Chicken stock – keeps it light and flavorful.
• Parmesan – salty, nutty, creamy goodness.
• Lemon juice – to brighten everything up.
• Salt – taste and season as you go.

For the pasta:

• Penne pasta – holds the sauce like a champ. Use gluten-free pasta or a short-cut whole wheat version.
• Reserved pasta water – the secret sauce fixer.

How To Make Cajun Shrimp Pasta

Find the full recipe and nutritional information below. Here are some handy step-by-step photos for how to make this creamy shrimp pasta.

• Toss shrimp with oil and all the seasoning spices.
• Dice all the veggies, tomatoes, and garlic.
• Cook pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve a bit of pasta water before draining.
• Sear shrimp in a hot pan until just cooked, about 1–2 minutes per side. Set aside.

• Deglaze the pan with a splash of water, scraping up all those tasty browned bits.
• Add onion, celery, and pepper, and season with a little salt. Sauté until softened. Once water evaporates, add a splash of oil.
• Stir in tomato and garlic, cook until jammy and golden. Add a little more paprika to the mix, if you like (I usually do).
• Pour in stock, cream, and Parmesan. Simmer briefly until slightly thickened.
• Add pasta and shrimp back into the pan. Toss to coat.
• Loosen with reserved pasta water if needed.
• Finish with lemon juice, I find that it needs a little acidity. Serve hot with extra Parmesan and chives.

Watch The Video

Recipe Tips

• Make ahead: You can make the sauce and cook the shrimp a day in advance. Just store them separately and reheat gently before combining.
• Storage: Leftovers keep well for up to 3 days in the fridge. Reheat with a splash of water or stock to bring the sauce back to life.
• Variations: Swap shrimp for chicken, sausage, or even tofu. Add spinach or kale at the end for a green boost.
• Spice level: Adjust the cayenne to taste! I go mild for family dinners, but add a little kick for myself.

Serving Suggestions

This pasta is a full meal on its own, but it pairs beautifully with a crisp green salad (like this Japanese cabbage salad) or some garlicky sautéed greens (try my garlic pan-fried broccoli or lemon garlic asparagus). A slice of crusty bread to mop up the sauce? Yes please. And if you’re feeling fancy, a chilled glass of white wine like a Sauvignon Blanc really works here.

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More Shrimp Recipes