Description
A comforting and flavorful pasta dish featuring tender shrimp in a creamy, spicy Cajun sauce. Perfect for quick weeknight dinners or cozy evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth or seafood stock
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 8 ounces fettuccine or linguine pasta
- Optional garnishes: fresh parsley, chopped; red pepper flakes; lemon wedges
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 9-11 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water. Set pasta aside.
- Toss shrimp with Cajun seasoning until well coated.
- Heat olive oil or butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook about 2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to skillet and melt. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in heavy cream and chicken broth, stirring to combine.
- Stir in smoked paprika, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Simmer gently for about 5 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
- Add cooked pasta and shrimp back to skillet. Toss to combine, adding reserved pasta water as needed to thin sauce.
- Adjust seasoning to taste. Garnish with parsley, red pepper flakes, and serve with lemon wedges.
Notes
Do not overcrowd the pan when cooking shrimp to ensure proper searing. Let the sauce simmer gently to thicken without curdling. Use reserved pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Fresh garlic and freshly grated Parmesan cheese enhance flavor. For dairy-free, substitute heavy cream with coconut or cashew cream and Parmesan with nutritional yeast.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 40
- Saturated Fat: 20
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 30
Keywords: Cajun shrimp pasta, creamy shrimp pasta, spicy shrimp pasta, comfort food, quick dinner, Cajun seasoning