Description
This Cajun Shrimp Pasta recipe combines perfectly seasoned shrimp with a creamy, flavorful sauce accented by bell peppers, onions, and a medley of classic Cajun spices. Cooked pasta is tossed in the luscious sauce to create a hearty, spicy, and satisfying meal that’s quick to prepare and sure to impress.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp and Seasoning
- 1 pound uncooked shrimp (peeled, deveined, tails removed)
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cayenne
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Vegetables & Sauce
- 2 bell peppers (1 green, 1 red, de-stemmed, seeded, diced)
- 1 medium yellow onion (diced, about 3/4 cup)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (divided)
- 3 tablespoons flat leaf parsley (chopped, plus more for garnish)
Pasta
- 12 ounces bowtie pasta
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the bowtie pasta and cook until al dente, usually about 9-11 minutes. Before draining, reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- Prepare Cajun Seasoning & Shrimp: In a small bowl, combine paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, Kosher salt, black pepper, oregano, and thyme. Set aside 1 tablespoon of this seasoning. In a larger bowl, toss the shrimp with olive oil and the remaining Cajun seasoning until evenly coated.
- Cook Shrimp: Heat 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat in a large skillet or Dutch oven. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook for about 1-2 minutes per side until they curl into a “C” shape and are opaque. Cook in batches if necessary. Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Vegetables & Create Sauce: In the same skillet, add the diced bell peppers and onions, along with 2 tablespoons of butter and 1 tablespoon of reserved Cajun seasoning. Sauté for about 4 minutes until the vegetables soften. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute. Pour in the heavy cream and stir well. Bring the sauce to a gentle boil, then mix in chopped parsley.
- Combine & Serve: Return the cooked shrimp to the sauce and stir thoroughly to coat. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss until evenly coated with the sauce. Gradually add reserved pasta water if the sauce needs thinning. Garnish with additional parsley and serve immediately. Enjoy your flavorful Cajun Shrimp Pasta!
Notes
- Adjust cayenne pepper quantity for desired level of spiciness.
- Use freshly chopped parsley for best flavor and garnish appearance.
- To make it gluten-free, substitute the pasta with gluten-free pasta.
- Cook shrimp in batches if your pan isn’t large enough for an even layer.
- Reserve pasta water to help thin the sauce and improve sauce adherence.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Cajun, American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 210 mg
Keywords: Cajun shrimp pasta, spicy shrimp pasta, creamy Cajun pasta, shrimp dinner, easy seafood pasta
